08/12/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/19D6LVDcGv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
If you grew up driving around the Chicago area, this tall brown building is probably burned into your memory!
Located right along the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and Lake Street in Northlake, Illinois, Concord Place has stood as an unofficial gateway for generations of local drivers.
Long before smartphone apps and turn-by-turn GPS guided us down the highway, families relied on huge visual landmarks to track their trips.
For countless commuters coming home from O’Hare Airport, returning from family road trips, or driving back from the northern suburbs, catching sight of this massive tower meant one simple thing: you were almost home.
Kids in the backseat would spot the large white letters on the side of the building and know that bedtime was finally near!
Did you know the history behind this giant building?
While it is well known today as Concord Place Retirement & Assisted Living Community, the building did not start out that way.
Decades ago, before it was converted into a senior living home, the tower originally operated as a high-end, luxury hotel.
When it was later transformed into senior housing, developers kept the grand hotel features, including a huge 30,000-square-foot main living area, a large dining room, a heated indoor pool, and even a rooftop greenhouse.
Traffic on I-294 may change, but this giant tower remains a comforting constant for Chicago drivers.
