Window Film in the South Loop, Chicago

Heat Control Window Film for South Loop High-Rise Condos

A tower near Roosevelt Road or along Michigan Avenue often has nothing to its east but Grant Park and the lake, and very little to the south. That openness is the selling point, and it also means sun on the glass from sunrise until mid-afternoon. Units with south and east walls of glass can run hot in June even with the air conditioning set low.

Heat control film on the inside of those windows rejects a good share of the solar heat while leaving the view of the park, the museums and the lake readable. Owners who work from home also notice less glare across laptop screens in the morning. The Museum Campus and Soldier Field stay in view, just without the squinting.

Most South Loop associations regulate film, especially anything mirrored, because it changes the tower's appearance. We use low-reflectance films that most boards accept and give you samples and spec sheets to submit with your request. Having those documents ready usually shortens the approval wait. Boards in newer towers often meet monthly, so plan ahead.

Window Film for Printers Row Loft Conversions

Printers Row, along Dearborn south of Congress, is a cluster of old printing and publishing buildings converted to lofts. The windows are large and close together, and units on opposite sides of narrow streets look straight into each other. Privacy is the usual first request. Some of these buildings also face the old Dearborn Station across the street, so foot traffic is constant.

Frosted film on the lower part of bedroom windows, or a light reflective film for living areas that are used mostly by day, takes care of the sightline problem. Many of these lofts also have big west-facing openings, so a film that combines glare control with some privacy is often the best single choice.

UV Film for Homes in the Prairie Avenue District

The Prairie Avenue historic district, near the Glessner House, has restored 19th century mansions and newer townhouses designed to fit the street. Owners of the older houses often have antique furniture and woodwork they want to protect from sun. Newer townhouses on the street have big modern windows that bring in more sun than the older houses do.

Clear UV film on the inside of the glass blocks nearly all ultraviolet light without changing the look of the facade, and it can be removed later. We do not recommend reflective or tinted films on historic houses, and owners of designated buildings should check with landmarks staff if the film would be visible from the street.

• Clear UV film for antiques, rugs and woodwork
• Low-e film for tall historic windows
• Frosted film for street-level townhouse rooms
• Heat control film for east-facing tower units

Commercial Window Film for South Loop Schools, Offices and Retail

Columbia College and Roosevelt University both have buildings in and around the South Loop, along with offices, clinics and ground-floor retail beneath the condo towers. Classrooms and offices with big street windows need glare control for projectors and screens. Clinics and counseling offices need frosted film for privacy. Student housing towers in the area get privacy and glare requests from residents on lower floors.

Retail under the towers along State Street, Wabash and Roosevelt has the usual storefront needs: UV film for displays, security film for lower panes and solar film where afternoon sun falls across the counter. Many of these shops are on the ground floor of condo buildings, so the association may need to sign off.

Low-E Window Film for South Loop Winters

Wind off the lake hits exposed South Loop towers hard in January. Large single-pane windows in older loft buildings feel cold to sit near, and even newer double-pane units lose heat through the glass. A low-e film returns radiant warmth to the living room, so the couch along the glass stops feeling like it sits next to an open freezer.

Low-e film does not fix leaks around the frame. If you feel moving air, the seals or weatherstripping need attention first. On sound windows, film is a way to improve comfort in buildings where the association controls window replacement and new units are years away. We are glad to point out where weatherstripping should come before film.