Located at 5040 N Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, The Draper is an adaptive reuse project that transformed two connected office buildings into a residential development featuring modern living spaces, rooftop amenities, and thoughtfully integrated outdoor areas. Developed by CEDARst, designed by Booth Hansen, and constructed by Pepper Construction, the project reimagines a pair of mid 20th century buildings, preserving their existing concrete structures while adapting them to meet the needs of contemporary residential living.

Forefront Structural Engineers provided structural engineering services for the extensive renovation of the existing 11 story and 6 story buildings. Originally constructed with a combination of cast in place concrete flat slabs, one way joist systems, concrete columns, shear walls, and moment frames, the structures presented unique challenges in accommodating new residential layouts and amenities. The design required careful evaluation of the existing framing systems and strategic modifications to support the architectural vision while maintaining structural integrity.

Within the 11 story building, two story penthouse residences were created by introducing a new cold formed metal framing floor system within the height of the existing uppermost story. This approach allowed additional living space to be incorporated without substantially altering the building's overall height. Recessed window walls created private balconies within the existing floor area, while the concrete roof structure was strengthened through the addition of a composite concrete topping slab. New structural steel framing was also introduced to accommodate a combination of interior and exterior rooftop amenity spaces.

The transformation of the adjacent 6 story building required an equally significant structural intervention. A large opening was introduced through the existing floor plates at Level 3 and above, creating a central courtyard that brings natural light into the surrounding residential units. Because the removal of portions of the existing structure disrupted the original concrete moment frame system, Forefront designed new steel braced frames to provide the necessary lateral resistance. This solution allowed the architectural vision for an open courtyard to be realized while maintaining the building's structural stability.

Additional improvements included converting the existing roof into an outdoor amenity deck featuring a swimming pool. New localized cast in place concrete beams and slabs were integrated into the existing structure to accommodate the increased loading associated with the pool and surrounding amenity spaces.

Through close collaboration with Booth Hansen, CEDARst, and Pepper Construction, Forefront helped navigate the complexities of adapting two existing concrete structures to an entirely new use. The Draper demonstrates how creative structural engineering and thoughtful adaptive reuse can extend the life of existing buildings while introducing new architectural possibilities. The result is a revitalized residential development that contributes to the continued evolution of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.