300 N State St | Marina City

In 1964 LIFE Magazine advertised a one bedroom apartment at Marina City for only $115/month!! With a floor plan shaped like a little pie wedge.

It wasn’t until ‘77, when the building was converted from rentals unit to condos, that it truly began challenging not just design standards, but the way we live —

Originally, many people thought living in the center of Chicago was a crazy concept. The Federal Government thought so, too — in fact, the FHA wouldn’t guarantee any mortgage loans at Marina City. Since it was well known that the city-dwelling occupants would be single, or coupled adults, and living in an urban location without children simply didn’t meet the FHA’s definition of “family” living. (Can you imagine?!)

Thankfully, Chicago-born Bertrand Goldberg, the architect behind Marina Towers, recognized the social issue and attempted a solution. He envisioned fostering a community within verticality, aiming to build residential life upward instead of outward. Eventually, Goldberg even convinced the federal government to redefine “family” to acknowledge couples without children 👏🏻 Marina City was ahead of it’s time in so many ways!!