New York City — Architect-of-record Lawrence Group, along with design partner Jetsen of Singapore, recently designed Leica Camera’s new flagship store and gallery in Chicago.
Leica Camera AG is an international premium manufacturer of cameras, lenses and sports optics products with over 150 years of company history. As part of its growth strategy, the company has expanded its business to include mobile imaging (smartphones) and the manufacture of high-quality eyeglass lenses, watches and home cinema projectors. Headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, with a second production site in Portugal, Leica Camera AG has a global network of sales companies and over 120 stores worldwide.
Opened on April 30, 2026, Leica Store & Gallery Chicago is in a landmarked Arts & Crafts style building at 800 N. Michigan Ave. on the Magnificent Mile, a prestigious shopping and cultural area. The two-story, historic building is surrounded by the Museum of Contemporary Art, theaters and galleries.
Lawrence Group’s New York office designed the store’s ground floor to showcase Leica’s complete line of cameras and watches, with a home cinema and area for pre-owned product sales. The upper floor, with its high ceilings, became the ideal setting for exhibiting international photographic art in the light-filled Leica Gallery.
A VIP room and bar on the second floor invites customers to relax and socialize while taking in the gallery’s changing exhibitions and curated events showcasing the work of renowned photographers. Communal creative spaces provide a welcoming setting for collaboration, conversation and coffee.
“The goal of the project was to create a light-filled, immersive environment that fosters connection among photographers through a shared passion for the craft,” says Rob Gatzke, managing principal of Lawrence Group’s New York office.
The opening of Leica Camera’s Chicago store coincided with a pair of significant Leica milestones: the 20th anniversary of Leica retail, which opened its first store in Tokyo, and the 50th anniversary of Leica Galleries, which showcase the work of renowned photographers, as well as newcomer talent.
SOURCE: Lawrence Group