A public realm designed for walkability, urban density and neighborhood connection

North Union

North Union is an 8-acre master plan development in Chicago's Near North neighborhood, just north of downtown. Bounded by the CTA Brown Line tracks and Oak, Chestnut and Wells streets, the mixed-use project will include a variety of low-, mid- and high-rise buildings, among them eight residential high-rises, with 2,656 residential units and 30,000 square feet of commercial space, alongside bars, restaurants and retail. Greenprint has supported multiple phases of this large-scale initiative, designing streetscapes, park spaces, and green roofs across the development.

That work includes the development's signature park, envisioned as a vibrant green heart for the community and part of 1.3 acres of public open space woven throughout the development. The park is a green roof set atop a parking structure, engineered to support the weight of its plantings while ensuring enough soil volume for them to thrive. A gently sloped central lawn sits at its core, bordered by perennial plantings that invite relaxation and gathering. Mounded planters, shaped by the way people naturally move through the space, buffer the lawn and create a natural separation from adjacent dining areas. The surrounding streetscape runs flush with native perennials and shrubs that support pollinators and offer low-maintenance beauty across the seasons.

Greenprint's design efforts so far for North Union's public realm center on three goals: strengthening connections between neighboring communities including Old Town, Gold Coast, Rush and Division, and Cabrini Green; introducing density and active uses within the site; and reinforcing circulation routes to nearby transit. The park and streetscapes reflect these ambitions, merging ecological function with a strong sense of place to create a welcoming, connected and walkable urban destination.