Design-driven real estate development firm Optima opened its 198-unit Optima Lakeview project in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood last June. The apartment building offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans with a unit average of 1,053 square feet and was curated to meet the needs of many types of renters, ranging from young professionals to couples, families, empty nesters, and retirees.
When Optima CEO and founder David Hovey Sr. designed the project, he knew he wanted to include an indoor sports court. Instead of placing it in a windowless corner of the building, Hovey sited the sunken sports court along an exterior wall and flanked it with street-level windows, allowing for natural light and views of the bustling neighborhood.
The result is a recreational area that provides an enjoyable atmosphere for participants to perfect their swing via a golf simulator, shoot hoops on the basketball court, or learn one of the nation’s hottest sports, pickleball, which has been so well-received that building residents formed a pickleball league.
An added bonus is that the court is also within sightlines of the building’s main entrance and lobby, so residents can easily watch the fun throughout the day.