A revision permit was issued this week by the City of Chicago for the new social club under construction at 205 West Superior Street in River North. With progress now up to the third floor on the exterior of The Lake, changes are coming for both the interior and exterior, according to the permit, which was issued on January 5. The reported cost of work to be done to which this permit pertains is $ 3 million.
To quote the permit’s language:
“Work to include layout modifications throughout 5-story masonry building, exterior material changes and architectural details, and reconstruction of existing basement vault walls due to field conditions. Layout changes include minor revisions to basement level men’s and women’s locker rooms, ground floor lobby and stair, level 2 library, level 3 corridor, bathroom, and restaurant, and new private dining room. Level 4 guestroom scope to be removed from the project and built out under a separate permit. Level 5 modifications include revisions to bathroom layouts, exterior openings, and new cigar locker room.”
To date, there is no pending permit in the Chicago Data Portal for the “Level 4 guestroom scope” addressed in the revision. A separate permit did through, however, on November 26, allowing for the installation of two passenger elevators inside the facility. Kone Elevator Company is listed in the permit as the installation contractor; Bulley & Andrews is the general contractor for the club’s construction.
A rendering of the project, including the one below posted by Mid-America Carpenters on its Facebook page, has been floating around for a couple years. It is unofficial, but illustrates a design by NYC’s Robert A.M. Stern Architects, with Chicago’s GREC Architects as the architect of record. It shows a four-story building topped by a partial fifth level, with a connected four-story portion in a different design. The arched windows on the second floor are in line with what can be seen now at the construction site. But bear in mind, the revised permit calls for “exterior material changes and architectural details.”
A purported RAMSA rendering of The Lake, posted by Mid-America Carpenters on Facebook
Construction progress as of January 02, 2026 is documented below:
From the Chicago L platform. Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking east on Superior Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
Arched windows, as illustrated by the purported rendering. Photo by Daniel Schell
the north façade. Photo by Daniel Schell
The Lake rises on the southwest corner of Superior and Wells Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
The Wells Street façade. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
As there is still virtually no public information available about The Lake, no opening date has been confirmed.
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Wow! How did I miss reporting on this one?! RAMSA!
Is there room in back for your coach and four?
We were all so upset about those two classic structures being razed. A surprisingly acceptable substitution!
Renderings look great!
Sweet
Still upset with them for demolishing an actual historic building to construct a faux historic building that is pretty much the same size as the previous building.
Nice building for New York, Chicago not so much. Big failure for DPD not landmarking the great Chicago building that was demolished for a private club that will likely be bankrupt within a few years.
Demolishing historic structures for imitation classicism. What a waste of money.
Wow that design looks fantastic!
Booo. It looks good but have the comments here forgotten what this is replacing? and not even for housing
Somehow, this neo-Georgian thing looks foolish. It’s giving this neighborhood a history it never had – this is not Boston or Philadelphia. Yes, borrowing from the past has its place – sometimes – but this doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Psh. I wanted something modern. All glass. Similar to the Apple Store. Let me see whats inside. lol rofl. But does anyone know what will be inside? I know its a private club so bottle service and stuff?