The 268,243-sf office tower recently underwent a $24-million renovation, O'Connor says. The exterior was re-clad and windows were replaced with floor to ceiling windows with low e-glass. The common area was remodeled. All of the building's systems were replaced and a Chill Beam heating and cooling system was installed. Additionally, the elevators and elevator cabs were renovated. "Basically, the building is a brand new building," says John Dempsey, senior vice president with CB Richard Ellis. The structure is still the same but almost everything else is new making the building "a very green product" in that they reused the existing building structure, he said.

A conference center will also be added to the building, Dempsey says. An estimate of the size of the center was not available because plans are still being designed. The center should be open this fall when the first office tenants are moving into the building, Dempsey says.

D2 had plans to turn the building into office condos but the plans never materialized, O'Connor says. The building space will be leased by CB Richard Ellis as opposed to sold as condos. "Chicago is a leasing market," Dempsey says. The only leases signed so far for the building are for the retail space. Walgreen's and Panera Bread Co. have signed leases and plan to move into the building this summer. Dempsey says there has been a lot of activity and they have "received eight requests for proposals. It seems to be very well received," he adds.