Cat Cave — SEEK Design + Architecture

Cat Cave
Creative Office

Location: Fulton Market, Chicago, Illinois
Year: 2024
Size: 9,860 sq ft
Status: Concept
Category: Office, Storage
Services: Architecture, Interiors

Cat Cave tells the story of transformation, where an empty warehouse in Chicago’s West Loop is reimagined as a vibrant space that weaves together work, collaboration, and recreation. Designed for a family with diverse passions—an investment business, a charitable organization driving collective action, and a love for motorcycle racing—the project embraces the challenge of uniting these distinct functions under one roof.

The architectural concept leverages a sustainable strategy, using the existing structure as a shell within which spaces are dynamically arranged. The tall, open volume of the building inspired the creation of a multilevel platform, a central feature that serves to both separate and unite the functions. The platform creates moments of overlap between the open spaces on the first floor and the private offices on the mezzanine, while maintaining visibility of the motorcycle storage and display area. These connections unite the vocational and recreational pursuits in a way that feels natural and intentional.