The Evolution of Fulton Market: A Hub of Innovation and Growth
Fulton Market, once a district known for meatpacking and food distribution, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades.
Today, it stands as one of Chicago’s most vibrant neighborhoods, blending its industrial roots with modern developments that have made it a prime destination for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.
Summit Design and Build was born in the heart of this booming area, in 2005. Ever since, Summit has played a role in shaping Fulton Market and the broader city of Chicago’s infrastructure.
A Brief history of Fulton Market
Originally established in the 19th century, Fulton Market was the epicenter of Chicago’s meatpacking industry. With its proximity to the Chicago River and rail lines, it was the perfect location for warehouses and distribution centers. For years, the district was a bustling hub of industry, supplying food products to much of the Midwest.
However, by the late 20th century, changes in the food distribution industry and shifts in urban development began to take their toll on the neighborhood. Many warehouses were abandoned, and the area saw a decline in its original purpose.
Fulton Market, once a district known for meatpacking and food distribution, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades.
Today, it stands as one of Chicago’s most vibrant neighborhoods, blending its industrial roots with modern developments that have made it a prime destination for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.
Summit Design and Build was born in the heart of this booming area, in 2005. Ever since, Summit has played a role in shaping Fulton Market and the broader city of Chicago’s infrastructure.
The Boom Begins
The real shift in Fulton Market began in the early 2000s when creative businesses and artists started moving into the area, attracted by the large industrial spaces and proximity to downtown. Around the same time, the city recognized the potential of the neighborhood and invested in infrastructure improvements. With the opening of trendy restaurants and office spaces, the neighborhood’s revival began to accelerate.
Then came the tech and corporate boom. Google’s decision to open a Midwest headquarters in Fulton Market in 2015 was a turning point. The addition of the Morgan CTA “L” stop in Fulton Market was instrumental in making the area a destination as well as an easy to reach neighborhood.
This major move, coupled with popular companies such as McDonald’s relocating their global headquarters to the neighborhood, signaled Fulton Market’s arrival as a premier business hub in Chicago.
Recent zoning changes approved by the Alderman to permit large-scale residential development have significantly enhanced Fulton Market’s growth, livability, and walkability.
“The area offered affordable real estate opportunities that we could renovate while maintaining proximity to downtown Chicago without the Loop’s premium costs. The neighborhood was primed for redevelopment, making it an ideal area for us to grow in…”
– Adam Miller
The Role of Summit Design + Build
As one of the leading general contracting companies in the area, Summit Design and Build has been a part of Fulton Market’s growth from the very beginning.
When speaking with Adam Miller, President of Summit Design and Build he explained they created in Fulton Market back when “…no one really knew what the area was, most of the businesses were meat packers or people in the meat, produce, and broader food industry.”
“The area offered affordable real estate opportunities that we could renovate while maintaining proximity to downtown Chicago without the Loop’s premium costs. The neighborhood was primed for redevelopment, making it an ideal area for us to grow in. We were one of the newer businesses to move into the neighborhood, well ahead of the upcoming boom.”
Summit’s strategic location in the center of Fulton Market provides a unique perspective on its evolution. From transforming historic warehouses into modern office spaces to constructing state-of-the-art residential and commercial buildings, Summit has been instrumental in many high-profile projects.
“We have completed forty-seven focusing on renovating existing heavy timber masonry buildings and converting them into modern offices, retail spaces, restaurants, and residential units – all contributing to the West Loop’s transformation.
Our first major project was 1313 W Randolph, an industrial building renovation completed post-recession that marked one of our first conversions. We went on to convert the City Winery space, transforming an industrial building into a restaurant, event space, and winery. Another notable project on Randolph Street eventually became home to Girl and the Goat restaurant, now a Chicago culinary landmark.
We also converted a six-story food processing building into one of Chicago’s first WeWork locations, and completed 905 W Fulton Market, a substantial addition to an existing building that became the headquarters for Mondelez.”
We’re committed to staying and growing in Fulton Market. We built our new office building with the specific intent to grow and thrive in Chicago. There’s significant development happening in both Fulton Market and Chicago as a whole, and we want to be an integral part of that continued growth.
– Adam Miller on Summit’s future vision
Summit’s work isn’t solely limited to Fulton Market. With projects spanning across Chicago and the country, Summit brings expertise in urban development, adaptive reuse, and innovative design to every build. As the company continues to expand, its roots in Fulton Market remain a key part of who they are—a company dedicated to shaping the future while respecting the history that brought them here.
Adam Miller remarked when asked about the challenges of working in a historic district:
“Working in Fulton Market presents unique challenges, particularly in maintaining and preserving the existing facades of buildings to meet city requirements. We work closely with the Chicago Landmark Commission to ensure our projects both maintain the historic character of the neighborhood while meeting modern needs. This careful balance between old and new is exactly what makes Fulton Market so desirable today – it’s created a perfect blend of historic architecture and contemporary development.”
On Summit’s future vision:
“We’re committed to staying and growing in Fulton Market. We built our new office building with the specific intent to grow and thrive in Chicago. There’s significant development happening in both Fulton Market and Chicago as a whole, and we want to be an integral part of that continued growth.”
On leveraging Chicago success in other markets:
“Being from the Midwest gives us real credibility when we work in other parts of the country. People associate the Midwest with hard work, honesty, and high-quality results – which is accurate. Plus, being based in one of Chicago’s top two or three fastest-growing neighborhoods, where we can walk to incredible dining, fitness, shopping, and business destinations, demonstrates our understanding of what makes urban developments truly successful.”
Looking Ahead
Fulton Market shows no signs of slowing down. With new residential developments, hotels, and a growing number of corporate offices, it’s clear that the area’s growth is far from over. For companies like Summit Design + Build, this means endless opportunities to continue shaping one of Chicago’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
As we look toward the future, Summit remains committed to providing the highest level of quality and service in every project undertaken.
Summit Design and Build is proud to call Fulton Market home. Our team continues to contribute to the area’s incredible transformation and looks forward to building a lasting legacy in this ever-evolving neighborhood.
Author: Sylvia Miller
