Largest apartment buildings in Chicago range from single soaring towers to multi-building complexes that share one recognizable property name, and together many house hundreds or even thousands of residents.
Here are 10 of the largest apartment buildings in Chicago, including both single towers and multi-building residential developments, presented alphabetically rather than ranked by size.
Key Facts About the Largest Apartment Buildings in Chicago
- The largest apartment buildings in Chicago on this list hold between 735 and 2,346 apartments each — roughly 12,400 apartments in total. Three of the ten counts are approximate in the underlying sources, so treat the total as an estimate.
- Six of the ten hold more than 1,000 apartments. Four hold between 700 and 999.
- Eight neighborhoods are represented: two properties each in the South Loop and Bronzeville, and one each in the Fulton River District, Streeterville, Old Town, River North, the West Loop and near O’Hare.
- The list mixes single towers with multi-building developments that share one property name. Condominium buildings, scattered-site portfolios, senior housing and developments outside the City of Chicago are excluded.
- This is not a ranking. The buildings are listed alphabetically, and no property can pay for inclusion or position.
- Floors, unit counts, year built and amenities for buildings across the city are in the building directory, with citywide figures on the Chicago apartment building data page. No rent prices or availability are published.
1000M
1000 South Michigan Avenue · South Loop · 738 apartments
1000M is a 73-story apartment building overlooking Grant Park from Chicago’s Historic Michigan Boulevard District. Completed in 2024, the tower was designed by internationally recognized architect Helmut Jahn.
Its 738 apartments range from studios to four-bedroom penthouses. More than 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space includes resident lounges, fitness and wellness areas, outdoor terraces and a rooftop observation deck.
The South Loop location places residents across from Grant Park and near the Museum Campus, Lake Michigan, Columbia College Chicago and downtown employment.
Alta at K Station
555 West Kinzie Street · Fulton River District · 848 apartments
Alta at K Station is a two-tower apartment development containing 848 residences. The east tower rises 41 stories and contains 428 apartments, while the 37-story west tower contains 420.
Completed in 2010, Alta helped establish the area between River North and the West Loop as a major residential district. Its location provides convenient access to Fulton Market, the Chicago River, downtown and the CTA’s Green and Pink lines.
Available layouts include studios and one, two, and three bedroom apartments.
Visit the Alta at K Station website
Lake Meadows
Bronzeville · 1,869 apartments
Lake Meadows is a nine-building residential development spread across approximately 70 acres in Bronzeville. It contains four high-rise buildings and five mid-rise buildings surrounded by lawns, mature trees and open space.
The development was constructed during the 1950s and remains one of the largest apartment properties in Chicago. Available layouts include studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Unlike newer vertical developments around downtown, Lake Meadows achieves its size through multiple residential buildings arranged across an expansive campus.
Visit the Lake Meadows website
McClurg Court
333 East Ontario Street · Streeterville · Approximately 1,061 apartments
McClurg Court is a large high-rise apartment development in Streeterville containing approximately 1,061 residences.
Constructed during the early 1970s, the property occupies a central location between North Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier. Residents are close to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and the shopping and dining along the Magnificent Mile.
The development offers numerous apartment configurations and a substantial collection of indoor and outdoor amenities.
Visit the McClurg Court website
NEMA Chicago
1210 South Indiana Avenue · South Loop · 800 apartments
NEMA Chicago is a 76-story apartment building overlooking Grant Park. Completed in 2019, the tower contains 800 rental residences and is one of the tallest residential buildings in Chicago.
Apartments range from studios to larger three-bedroom residences. The building also contains an extensive collection of fitness, wellness, entertainment and social spaces.
Its location provides views across Grant Park, Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, with convenient access to the Museum Campus and lakefront.
Visit the NEMA Chicago website
Old Town Park
1140 North Wells Street · Old Town · Approximately 1,289 apartments
Old Town Park is a large residential development constructed on the former Atrium Village site in Old Town. Its apartments are distributed across three principal phases of development.
The property combines contemporary high-rise apartment buildings with extensive outdoor areas, pools, fitness facilities and resident entertainment spaces. Available layouts range from studios and convertibles to larger multi-bedroom apartments and townhome-style residences.
Old Town Park sits near the intersection of Old Town, River North and the Gold Coast, with Wells Street restaurants and entertainment immediately outside the development.
Visit the Old Town Park website
One Chicago
14 West Superior Street · River North · 735 rental apartments
One Chicago is a prominent mixed-use development containing 735 rental apartments and 77 condominium residences. The development includes multiple residential offerings across two towers and a restored loft building.
Completed in 2021, One Chicago rises near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and State Street. Its location is convenient to River North, the Gold Coast, North Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Avenue CTA station.
The rental collection includes studios, convertibles and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Prairie Shores
2937 South Martin Luther King Drive · Bronzeville · 1,675 apartments
Prairie Shores consists of five high-rise apartment buildings situated on approximately 20 acres near Chicago’s South Side lakefront.
The buildings offer studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The property has undergone a multiphase renovation involving updated interiors, corridors, building systems and shared amenities.
Residents have access to generous open space, lakefront recreation and public transportation connecting Bronzeville with downtown Chicago.
Visit the Prairie Shores website
Presidential Towers
555 West Madison Street · West Loop · 2,346 apartments
Presidential Towers contains 2,346 apartments across four 49-story buildings occupying two city blocks in the West Loop.
Completed during the 1980s, the development offers studio, convertible, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The property also contains resident amenities, parking and street-level businesses.
Its location provides convenient access to Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, the Kennedy Expressway, the Loop and the restaurants and businesses of Fulton Market.
Visit the Presidential Towers website
The Pavilion
5441 North East River Road · O’Hare · More than 1,100 apartments
The Pavilion is an expansive apartment development located near O’Hare International Airport on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
The property contains more than 1,100 apartments, with layouts ranging from studios to larger multi-bedroom residences. Its scale and extensive grounds distinguish it from the high-rise apartment buildings concentrated around downtown and the lakefront.
The Pavilion’s location provides access to O’Hare, Cumberland Avenue, the Kennedy Expressway and nearby forest preserves.
What Makes These the Largest Apartment Buildings in Chicago?
Most Chicago apartment buildings are considerably smaller than the properties featured here. The city’s housing stock includes two- and three-flats, courtyard buildings, mid-rise elevator buildings and high-rise towers.
A Chicago apartment building containing 300 or 400 residences would normally be considered substantial. Properties with more than 700 apartments are exceptional, while those exceeding 1,000 residences are among the largest apartment developments in the city.
How These Largest Apartment Buildings in Chicago Were Selected
This list of the largest apartment buildings in Chicago includes both individual apartment towers and larger developments composed of multiple buildings. Each property operates under one recognizable name and represents a significant part of Chicago’s rental housing inventory.
The buildings are presented alphabetically. This is not intended to be a definitive ranking of every apartment property in Chicago.
Condominium buildings, scattered-site portfolios, senior housing and developments outside the City of Chicago are not included.
Together, these largest apartment buildings in Chicago show just how large residential development in the city can get, from lakefront towers to sprawling multi-building campuses.
About This List of the Largest Apartment Buildings in Chicago
Apartment counts were assembled from publicly available property, developer, architect and real estate industry sources. Building ownership, branding and unit counts can change over time.
Across all 290 buildings in this directory, the median building has 230 units and 19 floors. Totals for each neighborhood are in Chicago Apartment Buildings by the Numbers: October 2026.
Information was reviewed in August 2026 and this list of the largest apartment buildings in Chicago was last checked in September 2026. Contact Chicago Apartment Buildings to suggest a correction or recommend another large Chicago apartment building for consideration.
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