The Olympia
Olympia Centre puts you just east of Michigan Avenue, with the Water Tower, Museum of Contemporary Art and lakefront close by. At 161 E. Chicago Avenue, the building offers an established downtown address with homes positioned in the upper portion of a substantial mixed use tower.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, its granite exterior is a familiar part of the Streeterville skyline. For buyers considering Olympia Centre condos for sale, the location and outlook are good reasons to explore what is inside.
Part of the appeal here is seeing the city from within it. Depending on the home’s exposure, the view can include Lake Michigan, surrounding towers and the architecture along Michigan Avenue.
There is something enjoyable about a downtown view that changes throughout the day. Morning light on the water and the buildings lighting up in the evening offer different reasons to spend time by the windows.
I would consider the outlook from the rooms you will use most. A living room facing the lake and one looking across the city can offer very different experiences, even within the same building.
At Olympia Centre, the interiors reflect years of individual ownership. Some homes retain a more traditional arrangement, while others have been substantially redesigned.
That variety makes it worth looking beyond the decorating. A home with dated finishes may have a layout that works particularly well for you. A renovated condo deserves an equally careful look at the quality of the work and whether the changes improve everyday living.
I would start with the things that are difficult to change: exposure, window placement and the underlying proportions. From there, it becomes easier to judge what an interior offers and what you might want to do with it.
The Chicago Avenue address works well for someone who wants to spend time enjoying the city on foot. You can walk to the Museum of Contemporary Art, head toward the lake or meet someone for dinner near Michigan Avenue without making an evening of getting there.
Northwestern’s medical campus is also nearby. For owners who divide their time between Chicago and another home, that concentration of shops, restaurants and services can make the address particularly practical.
I think a second home should be easy to use whenever you arrive. Location is a large part of that decision.
Olympia Centre offers door and concierge services, fitness facilities, an indoor pool and a whirlpool. These are useful features for someone who wants a regular exercise routine within the building, especially through the winter.
During a showing, I would make time to see the common spaces and understand the service arrangements. The condo itself is one part of ownership; the experience of moving through and using the building is another.
Renovation quality and exposure deserve particular attention when comparing homes here. A recent sale is most useful when you understand how its layout, condition and outlook relate to the property you are considering.
If you are thinking about buying or selling at 161 E. Chicago Avenue, I’d be happy to review the relevant sales and discuss the options. It is an address where a careful look at the individual home can reveal much more than the listing photographs.
