Michigan Avenue Plaza
Michigan Avenue Plaza in Chicago, Illinois
The addition of a bold red canopy to the decades-old Boulevard Towers at 225 Michigan Avenue has provided the buildings with a new distinctive basing in the Chicago architectural landscape.
While the buildings’ original design was completed in the early 1980’s by Fujikawa Johnson Associates (FJA Architects), this project was conceived as a renovation in the early 2000’s designed by FGM Architects.
Zahner was brought on to design and engineer the system, as well as providing the manufacture and installation of the prefabricated components of the distinctive red awning. Fabricated in aluminum panels with a red protective enamel coating, the understructure is made possible by a lightweight ZEPPS framework of preassembled panels.

The red aluminum canopy for Michigan Avenue Plaza in Chicago.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.
The new addition of new crimson canopy was imagined by FGM Architects and made possible by a design team including A. Zahner Company, H+P Engineering, and Reed Construction for the client MB Real Estate in Chicago.
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
Construction photo of the Michigan Avenue Plaza awning in Chicago.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.

Construction photo shows a man standing on the top of the Michigan Avenue Plaza awning in Chicago.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.

View of the red painted aluminum canopy from Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.

Detail of the Michigan Avenue Plaza canpopy ceiling panels.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.

The canopy continues into the building’s interior lobby, where an interior lighting system was integrated.

Detail of the recessed lighting system detailed in the aluminum canopy’s interior ceiling panels.
Photo © A. Zahner Co.