Architect Lucien Lagrange, shown with wife Melinda Jakovich-Lagrange, was honored with "Honorary Lucien Lagrange Way" in Streeterville on Sept. 19, with Alderman Brian Hopkins presenting the sign before a crowd of friends, fans and admirers. (Frank Jeffery photo)
Chicago added a new name to its streetscape on Sept. 19, honoring one of the architects whose work has helped define the city’s modern skyline. "Honorary Lucien Lagrange Way" was unveiled in Streeterville outside 840 N. Lake Shore Drive, one of Lagrange’s signature Chicago designs.
The sign was presented by Alderman Brian Hopkins before a crowd of Lagrange’s friends, fans and admirers who gathered to celebrate the beloved architect and his extraordinary contributions to Chicago. A party followed at Nomi in the Park Hyatt, another Lagrange-designed property.
Streeterville in Chicago has a new honorary street, Lucien Lagrange Way. (Michael Kutza photo)
For more than five decades, Lagrange has shaped the identity of Chicago through timeless architecture, thoughtful design and a commitment to creating spaces that enrich the lives of the people who experience them.
The honorary street designation is a fitting tribute to an architect whose work can be seen throughout the city. Lagrange has designed 35 buildings in Chicago alone, leaving an enduring mark on neighborhoods from Streeterville and the Gold Coast to Lincoln Park, River North and beyond.
Honorary Lucien Lagrange Way.
Among the projects highlighted in Lagrange’s portfolio are 840 N. Lake Shore Drive, Park Tower Chicago, RIU Plaza Chicago, 65 East Goethe, Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Plaza Escada, JW Marriott Chicago, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Lincoln Park 2550, Erie on the Park, The Pinnacle, Ambassador West, 10 East Delaware, the Carbide & Carbon Building, Kingsbury on the Park, The Blackstone Hotel, 60 West Erie, 2130 Lincoln Park West, 14th & Wabash and 175 West Jackson.
His architectural legacy also extends around the globe, with projects including The Touraine in New York, Sleepy Hollow in South Haven, Michigan, Blue Chip Hotel and Casino in Michigan City, Indiana, Rosewood Residences Turtle Creek in Dallas, Mansard Riyadh Hotel and Remaizan Group headquarters in Riyadh, and Porto Nuovo Milan in Italy.
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Lagrange’s work reflects his appreciation for proportion, craftsmanship, materials and architectural detail. His studio describes his philosophy as “Design That Endures,” an approach reflected in buildings that have become part of Chicago’s visual identity.
Now his name will be part of that identity, too. "Honorary Lucien Lagrange Way" offers a permanent reminder of the man behind so many of the city’s distinctive buildings and of a career that has helped shape the Chicago skyline for generations.
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