Chicago Artillery Shed

An old brick artillery shed makes a stunning home for this couple.

More from Building Character
Filed under: Home Types

Fort Sheridan lies on Chicago’s exclusive north shore along Lake Michigan. When the Army moved out, the base’s empty buildings were turned into homes and condominiums. One building’s transformation is especially impressive.

Building 89 was an old brick artillery shed, really nothing more than a long rectangle with enormous arches running the length of both sides. Developer Richard Stein and his wife, Suzanne Lovell, a professional designer and architect, transformed the building into a stunning home. The building has 16 arches, each 10 feet high. The arches contain glass double doors, creating pools of patterned light within the home.

Ellsworth Mills, a local historian, enjoys the fact that one can still sense the building’s history. Through hard work and vision, the 1892 military structure is an inviting home with intimate spaces and unique touches.