Sidley Austin is locking in as the anchor tenant at a major new office tower planned for 725 W. Randolph in Chicago’s West Loop, a headline move that doubles as a vote of confidence in the neighborhood’s office market. The commitment effectively upgrades a long-discussed project from a lifestyle and hotel-residential conversation to a serious big‑office contender. For West Loop workers and brokers, an anchor tenant of this size could jolt leasing momentum for other amenity-heavy buildings in the area.
As reported by Crain’s Chicago Business, Sidley Austin will anchor the Related Midwest development at 725 W. Randolph. The Crain’s report, published Tuesday, does not detail the square footage of the lease or lock in a construction schedule. Even without those numbers, the announcement stands out as one of the clearest recent signs that large tenants are still willing to bet on new downtown office space.
Design and amenities
Per KPF, the tower is designed around indoor‑outdoor workplaces with multiple terraces, loggias and a podium programmed with restaurant space and a sundeck. KPF describes the concept as "a new model for the post pandemic workplace" and highlights private terraces and a sizable public plaza in its renderings. Those flourishes are central to the developer’s pitch for a "lifestyle office" that blurs the line between workday, amenities and street life.
Where the project stands
Related Midwest lists 725 W. Randolph as an in‑development office tower of roughly 925,000 square feet across about 40 floors, with a planned Equinox club and curated restaurant space. The developer bills the site as a gateway to Randolph Row and the edge of Fulton Market and plays up wellness features and outdoor programming. An anchor pledge from a firm the size of Sidley could help unlock more leasing and bring the project’s construction timeline into sharper focus.
Sidley’s place in Chicago
Sidley Austin is a national law firm with deep Chicago roots and a head office presence at One South Dearborn, according to the firm’s website. Taking anchor space in the West Loop would underscore a broader tilt among some large tenants toward newly built, amenity-rich offices outside the traditional Loop core. That preference has shaped how developers present new office projects in the city’s most competitive submarkets.
There is still no firm public schedule for when construction would begin or when Sidley might relocate. The project remains listed as "In Development" on the Related Midwest site, and the initial reporting on the anchor commitment came via Crain’s Chicago Business. The ultimate timetable for groundbreaking and interior buildout will hinge on lease details and permitting. Additional city filings or tenant announcements in the months ahead should clarify both the schedule and the scope of Sidley’s long-term West Loop bet.
