Overview
- The Shops at North Bridge, which announced the plan Thursday, will begin interior renovations in August 2026 and expects the new exterior glass façade with a backlit LED archway to be finished in 2027.
- Project designers and contractors named in the announcement include ParkFowler Plus, Preston Design as owner’s representative, Bulley & Andrews as general contractor, Centennial as manager, and CBRE as leasing lead.
- Plans call for a large-format, backlit LED archway on the Michigan Avenue entrance, an upgraded Grand Avenue/Rush Street entry with a second digital display, and an interior conversion of the central atrium into a hospitality-driven gathering space with a suspended sculpture and a bar concept.
- Mall operators say stores will remain open through phased construction and that the merchandising strategy will target experiential retailers, flagship concepts, emerging brands, and entertainment-driven uses to boost dwell time.
- The investment follows prior ownership stress reported in 2024 and is framed as a repositioning effort by Pacific Life and managers to restore the mall’s role on the Magnificent Mile and support broader downtown retail recovery.