Home Interaction

In a penthouse space in a historic building at the center of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Whirlpool Corporation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of kitchen and laundry appliances, has opened a training center, meeting space, and showroom that embodies its commitment to innovation. The facility includes buyer showrooms for brand collections targeting several different consumer segments, space for internal and external product feature and sales training, and hospitality venues to welcome potential customers.

The new Chicago facility greets its guests in a variety of ways. National sales teams learn about product features during the day, break for lunch in the clock tower conference room, cook on the products they’ve spent the day learning about, have a glass of wine on the terrace, and eat the meal they have cooked together. A line of major appliances in the space simulates the display of products on their showroom floor. Jenn-Air and KitchenAid brands host receptions for designers, foodies, and kitchen design influencers, as well as charitable events.

The elevator doors open to a sun-filled lobby that looks out onto the outdoor space defined by a large terrace with a linear outdoor fireplace and outdoor demonstration kitchens. Indoor showrooms for each of Whirlpool Corporation’s primary brands are placed around the perimeter. The design for each of the brand kitchen display spaces began from a single word that expresses the brand’s essence: “precise” for Jenn-Air, “convivial” for KitchenAid, “innovative” for Whirlpool, and “durable” for Maytag. These words guided the different cabinetry forms, materials, details, and furniture for each space. To unify all the display spaces, a white plaster cove extends from the lobby and wraps the perimeter, starting at the floor, bending outward as it nears the ceiling, and becoming a canopy over the spaces containing appliances from each brand.

The rooftop penthouse overlooks the Chicago River on one side and the skyline of the city on the other three sides. The design team wrapped the showroom kitchen spaces around the outer edge, with simply finished shared kitchen, storage, and conference areas in the central supporting space adjacent to the showrooms.

The historic clock tower’s three levels house a boardroom, a lounge with leather sofas, and a flexible display venue behind the clock faces.

Architect: Valerio Dewalt Train Associates Location: Chicago, Illinois Client: Whirlpool Corporation Project Manager: Jones Lang LaSalle Total square footage: 30,000 sq. ft.

General Contractor: Leopardo Woodwork Contractor: Herner-Geissler Woodworking MEP Engineer: WMA Consulting Engineers Technical Kitchen Planning Consultant: Ellen Cheever & Associates Commercial Kitchen Designer: S20 Consultants Inc Lighting Consultant: Lighting Design Alliance Furniture Design: Searl LaMaster Howe Audio Visual: Avteg Consulting Engineers Photographer credit: Barbara Karant

Project Team Joe Valerio, FAIA Design Principal Randy Mattheis, AIA Managing Principal Christine McGrath, AIA Project Manager Elisa Dennis, LEED AP Bob Webber, AIA, LEED AP Nora Ames Lauren Nakles, AIA, LEED AP Blake Patten, AIA

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