Take a virtual reality tour of The Wing, a women’s social club coming to Chicago

SHARE Take a virtual reality tour of The Wing, a women’s social club coming to Chicago
c5_final2_1_e1548094327717.jpg

The Wing plans to open its first Chicago location in March. | CallisonRTKL Architects P.C.

The Wing, a “women-focused” social club known for cameos by A-listers like Hillary Clinton and Jennifer Lopez, released renderings Tuesday for its upcoming Fulton Market District location.

The club chose to set up shop in Chicago’s West Loop based on feedback from prospective members, and an eye on a space that could be transformed into the Wing’s signature aesthetic: airy spaces, mid-century modern furniture in pastel hues and rainbow-ordered libraries.

“Our development and new space teams always look for spaces that will really allow us to spread our wings in terms of design and architecture, and really allow us to do what we want,” said Zara Rahim, senior director of strategic communications at The Wing.

The 9,000-square-foot space will feature a main co-working room, a beauty room, a lactation room, a quiet room and a cafe stocked with food and drinks from local women-owned or co-owned businesses.

The Wing first made headlines in Chicago when Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent a letter to founders Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan asking them to open a location in the Windy City. At the time, a Chicago location was already being scouted, but Gelman told the Sun-Times the letter made plans “much more gung-ho.”

Like locations in New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., Chicago members can expect to pay $185 per month for one location, or $250 per month for access to all Wing locations.

The Wing also plans to offer 2-year scholarships to women who are “under-represented industries in membership.”

Though The Wing was not ready to announce a guest list for the Chicago club, other locations have hosted Jennifer Lawrence, Cynthia Nixon, Venus Williams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Busy Phillips, Padma Lakshmi and Chicago’s Valerie Jarrett, who also contributed to The Wing’s Series C funding round in December 2018.

“Programming is a key part of what The Wing has to offer,” said Rahim. “I remember in one week alone in December we had Tina Fey, Jennifer Lopez and Maya Rudolph in a space. In 2019, we’re really excited to bring that programming to Chicago.”

The Wing expects to open its Chicago space in March.

The Latest
The plans, according to the team, will include additional green and open space with access to the lakefront and the Museum Campus, which Bears President Kevin Warren called “the most attractive footprint in the world.”
Robert Crimo III’s phone, tablet and internet privileges were revoked in December by a Lake County judge.
The team has shifted its focus from the property it owns in Arlington Heights to Burnham Park
The Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village became a viral phenomenon in January. Officials say the concrete slab was preserved and its destination is being decided.
Williams’ has extraordinary skills. But it’s Poles’ job to know what it is that makes Caleb Williams’ tick. Does he have the “it” factor that makes everyone around him better and tilts the field in his favor in crunch time? There’s no doubt Poles sees something special in Williams.