September 2026 Doorperson of the Month: Richard Williams, Lake Point Tower

“I won’t leave Lake Point Tower. I’ll never retire. This is home.” 

For Richard, Lake Point Tower is more than a workplace. It is a community—and he has become one of its most familiar faces. 

Residents greet Richard by name as they make their way through the building’s majestic lobby, known for its dramatic waterfall.Lake Point Tower, which rises at the west end of Navy Pier, is the closest residential high-rise to Lake Michigan. 

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From the outside, Lake Point Tower can look glamorous and decidedly posh. But Richard says its heart is much more down-to-earth. 

“This is a family building, through and through,” he says. 

That family atmosphere is reflected in the amenities and activities available to residents. The building has an onsite playroom and park, along with movies and other activities for children. 

“We have events for all of the holidays, and we just had a great celebration during the Air and Water Show weekend,” Richard says. 

His Lake Point Tower story began in 1999. After taking a position offered by one of the building’s residents, he eventually returned in 2017—and has been a familiar presence ever since. 

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Lake Point Tower has been a prominent fixture on Chicago’s lakefront since its completion in1968. The building describes itself as a “city within a city,” with shops, services and an extensive collection of fitness amenities, including indoor and outdoor pools. 

At the center of it all is Skyline Park, a private 2.5-acre oasis featuring a pond and green space—a slice of tranquility near the bustle of Navy Pier. 

The building’s doorperson-and-security operation is also distinctive. Staff members work in teams of two or three, depending on the time of day. A security guard is always on duty, along with a “runner” who assists residents with miscellaneous tasks.

Richard points to DoorDash deliveries as one example of the building’s approach to service. 

“It’s our policy that only a member of our team is allowed to deliver DoorDash items to residents,” he says. 

Away from Lake Point Tower, Richard is a proud father of two college-aged sons. 

“One is done with a biomedical engineering internship, and the other is working toward a Ph.D. fellowship,” he says with a proud smile. 

In his spare time, Richard describes himself as both a “pitmaster and a poet.” He owns four grills and considers ribs his specialty. He also has published a coffee-table poetry book, “The Emotional Realist.” 

For someone who spends his days welcoming residents and helping make their lives a little easier, Richard says the relationship goes both ways. 

“We’re human bartenders—we hear it all,” he said. “Yet that feeling is mutual because the residents are here for us in any number of ways.” Richard makes Lake Point Tower residents feel at home; it’s a home he will never leave. 

To nominate your favorite doorperson, email i[email protected] with their name and why they should be Doorperson of the Month. Winners receive a $25 Mariano’s gift card.