Mango at Chicago, Michigan Avenue

After three years and 60 stores, Mango’s national expansion reached a milestone: an 18,000-square-foot flagship on Michigan Avenue in the heart of Chicago, one of America’s most architecturally significant cities.

The challenge: deliver Mango’s most ambitious U.S. store in a city with exacting design standards and complex permitting requirements. The two-story Michigan Avenue space demanded design sophistication worthy of Chicago’s architectural heritage while meeting aggressive budget and timeline constraints that could derail a flagship opening.

Our approach honored the context. Custom fabric patterns wrapping the staircase and brick walls referencing Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House connect the store to Chicago’s design legacy without pastiche. Behind the scenes, we navigated Chicago’s rigorous permitting process, managed intricate construction coordination in a two-level flagship, and controlled costs without compromising the elevated design the location demanded.

The result: eight-month delivery from construction start in March 2025 to opening in November 2025. Mango’s 60th store became their Chicago flagship, capping a three-year national expansion that established them as a major U.S. retail presence.

Project Scope:

Location: Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Client: Mango (60th store, flagship location)
Size: 18,000 square feet across two floors
Timeline: March 2025 – November 2025 (8 months construction)
Significance: Capstone of 3-year, 60-store national expansion
Design elements: Custom staircase fabric patterns, architectural brick details referencing Chicago heritage
Challenges: Complex permitting, two-story coordination, budget constraints, timeline pressure
Services: Design, permitting, bidding, construction administration

Project Details