Journal
Notes from the making of Birken Lofts — construction, selections, and the building’s second century.
The House of Birkenstein: a century at 401 W. Ontario
Rags, rubber and iron: how one of Chicago's largest scrap houses built 401 W. Ontario in 1905 — and how the building became Birken Lofts.
First look: the finish selections
Pebble-grey cabinets, charcoal soapstone counters and wide-plank oak — the finish selections for Birken Lofts, as sampled against the original brick.
Where the conversion stands: construction begins October 2026
Design and permits are complete, adaptive-reuse construction begins October 2026, and first deliveries arrive October 2027.