The space celebrates innovative appliances and culinary excellence in its newest design-forward setting at the Midwestern landmark building.
By NKBA Staff
What happens when precision technology and culinary sophistication intersect with elevated architecture and design? A world-class showroom in the heart of one of the nation’s premier design destinations.
In November, SKS, the luxury home appliance brand in the LG Electronics portfolio, opened its newest flagship in THE MART, the landmark 3.7 million-square-foot commercial design building in Chicago.
The launch event was hosted by SKS and LG, which highlighted how the one-of-a-kind design center reflects the company’s longstanding commitment to technological innovation and exceptional design. It also underscored SKS’s continued investment in supporting customers and clients in the luxury appliance sector, a strategic focus for the brand in North America.
SKS Vice President Randy Warner said, “THE MART is an icon of Chicago architecture, a fitting venue for our first SKS showroom accessible to the public. Our new Experience & Design Center in this re-energized design mecca offers consumers a unique opportunity to interact hands-on with luxury appliances, accelerating the momentum for the SKS brand in America’s heartland. We’ve created an incredible space that showcases our commitment to precision, ingenuity, and passion for today’s forward-thinking Technicurean™ home chefs — exemplified by groundbreaking features like our built-in sous vide and advanced induction cooking. It also brings together icons of design, like Piero Lissoni, and visionaries of the culinary world with an immersive experience. This showroom is truly the new home for the Technicurean™ spirit in the heart of this legendary city.”
At nearly 9,000 square feet, SKS’ Experience & Design Center redefines how home chefs, designers, and culinary creatives experience the Technicurean™ lifestyle, which embraces a passion for both innovative, precision appliances and an elevated culinary experience. Designed by internationally renowned architect and Interior Design Hall of Fame Inductee Piero Lissoni, the showroom is a sophisticated gallery where world-class design and groundbreaking culinary technology share the spotlight.
Lissoni designed the showroom with respect for THE MART’s iconic industrial heritage and created a sophisticated, gallery-like environment that serves as a neutral backdrop, allowing the craftsmanship and design of the technology-forward SKS appliances to shine.
“I imagined it as a stage where the scenery periodically shifts and the products can change roles,” Lissoni explained. “The beauty of this project lies in the fact that SKS products take center stage, and every space is a story that can be illuminated. We show the role that each product plays within its own setting while telling the story of the extremely sophisticated, wide-ranging, and distinct collection of an international brand leader.”
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a custom,10-foot-tall chandelier of fluted glass rods hanging above a sculptural basalt stone table, creating a juxtaposition of refined and raw materials. The space includes five theatrical kitchen vignettes by Italian manufacturer Arclinea, featuring 20-foot-long islands and more than 50 SKS appliances, including pro-ranges with the industry’s first built-in sous vide, advanced induction cooktops, and innovative refrigeration and wine storage solutions. Select vignettes feature custom sliding door systems by Lualdi, including a 12-foot-tall glass partition with a Mondrian-inspired pattern.
A cinematic, multisensory dining environment is anchored by a 20-foot table and immersive “LG MAGNIT” direct-view LED displays, which create video walls that bring SKS’ “True to Food™” philosophy to life through light, sound, and visuals.
The space also includes an integrated bar, living room, and laundry suite, highlighting the full range of LG and SKS design-forward solutions.
The grand opening brought together Chicago’s top design and culinary leaders, including Chef Grant Achatz, the driving force behind Chicago’s Michelin-starred restaurant Alinea, where he has redefined modern cooking through a combination of science, precision, and multisensory artistry. Achatz praised the space for celebrating the confluence of design, innovation, and community. During a live cooking demonstration, Chef Achatz brought the showroom’s vision to life, illustrating how SKS appliances enable top-tier culinary innovation at home. The Alinea team also provided a special tasting for the attendees, highlighting the artistry behind his cooking.
“Innovation in the culinary world isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the entire experience — the design, the atmosphere, the community,” said Achatz. “It’s exciting to see a space like this open in Chicago that so beautifully celebrates that intersection.
THE MART location is the third SKS Experience & Design Center in the U.S. Its first center in Napa Valley, CA, opened in January 2019, and its Skyline Showroom in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, made its debut in May 2023. Learn more here.
