Most people saw the food & liquor store at 2857 West Diversey Avenue in Logan Square and saw Chicago's past. Architecture firm Moss Design saw the future. Not just Chicago's but their own. 

So, the firm is acting as architect, contractor, and developer on Logan Certified, a modern mixed-use project that will act as their new home as well as a home for other businesses and residents. Included in the building will be two ground level commercial spaces, one residential unit, and two office suites. There will also be amenity spaces such as a rooftop deck and courtyard. Moss will be taking one of the commercial spaces and opening up the other one to another tenant. 

Moss is putting its appreciation of adaptive reuse to work, maintaining the bones of the original building and salvaging what materials they can, including the original tin ceiling. They also removed undesirable floor area from the first level and used it as the flooring for the second floor apartment. Where the floor once was will now be the courtyard. Solar panels and a passive cooling strategy have also been implemented. 

Check out more plans for the renovation as well as photos of the entire process here.

Sources:

Architect As Developer: Construction Begins At Logan Certified [Moss Design]

Architects redeveloping shuttered Logan Square liquor store into new mixed-user [Curbed Chicago]