Set in Chicago’s Fulton Market — the birthplace of the American steak — Swift & Sons draws upon a rich Chicago history for a modern dining experience that’s distinctly rooted in place. The restaurant is named after Gustavus Franklin Swift, a pioneer of the meat-packing industry, and the building itself was once a cold storage facility. AvroKO took on this historic infrastructure by launching the Swift company into an imagined, futuristic headquarters. Merging historic details like mushroom capitals and concrete pillars along with Swift & Son’s mission to bring about the modern steakhouse, Swift & Son’s is a delightful retrofit serving up old-school Chicago with a twist. Morlights came on the project for our fourth collaboration with Boka Restaurant Group and our second with AvroKO, providing a lighting design that complemented the restaurant’s unique aesthetic.
Our lighting design focused on highlighting the unique decor to emphasize Swift & Son’s retro-futuristic experience. From cove lighting in the ceilings showing the exposed details, to integrated lighting within the various architectural masterpieces throughout, our design was implemented with digitally controlled LED lighting that also ensures a cohesive experience for guests and employees. This unique project called for an ever-changing balance between past and future — Morlights was delighted to take on the challenge alongside our brilliant partners.
