Lake Shore Drive

History lesson: RDM restores vintage charm while updating Lake Shore landmark

by Sheila Burt

Gutting a 1920s high-rise can be a little like plunging your hand into an elaborate wedding cake. The architectural detail for which the era is celebrated gets destroyed if developers don’t strive to preserve it.

RDM Development was well aware of this fact when it bought 1400 Lake Shore Drive, a 22-story Gold Coast tower with numerous details worth preserving. Intricate metal grilles, hand-painted ceilings, walnut paneling, limestone floors and chandeliers are among the features that landed the building’s lobby on the National Register of Historic Places. Its limestone façade is typical of the Gold Coast, a nationally landmarked district.