CHICAGO | Legacy at Millennium Park | 819 FT / 250 M | 73 FLOORS | 2010

[The Pimp]

In Chicago, we like to first treat our glass to a nice meal, before spending countless passionate hours making love in candlelight rooms sprinkled with jasmine and champagne.

Laughing my ass off!!!

[Alliance]

^ Even if you can't stand MidContinental Plaza, you have to admit that it adds some variety in the skyline in terms of color and texture.

Yeah, I just wish it was bout 3-4 blocks West. At its currently location its just obtrusive. Its why I wish they would have just knocked off 15 stories instead of the conversion.

Seeing the hints of Legacy's glass, I am a touch fearful of too much blue everywhere. Someone should bust out the Sofitel glass-surface scheme for a tall Loop tower. Like Xerox but glossier and more prominent...

Well, black and brown brown hve dominated the skyline. Hopefully there are enough shades of blue and different textures to get some difference. What Chicago needs are more clear glass towers...everywhere. Frankly, as a whole, we've been lucky with the diversity of glass goin gup, but I do agree that 1SD, Legacy, and that other one (always forget its name) may look a bit similiar in teh cladding department.

[wrab]

Tuesday pano 7/29. BTW, scaffolding is almost all off of Ward & the renovation looks sharp:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/0f8e73cc.jpg

[intrepidDesign]

Yeah, I just wish it was bout 3-4 blocks West. At its currently location its just obtrusive. Its why I wish they would have just knocked off 15 stories instead of the conversion.

That whole area could use more height in general. Eventually I'm betting other buildings will go up around the Legacy, more conversions maybe, that might not be 73 floors but will compliment and be complimented by the Legacy's 819 ft presence.

[hawkeye view]

A shot from my perspective last weekend.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3176/img1629ui3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Lecom]

In Chicago, we like to first treat our glass to a nice meal, before spending countless passionate hours making love in candlelight rooms sprinkled with jasmine and champagne.

In Soviet Russia, glass rapes YOU!

[Lecom]

^ The columns are so bizarre.

Not to take away from the positive vibe for this building - definitely I agree with the building excitement. But I have to mention that I wish they would have exploited that amazing structural cantilever - now concealed - instead of giving us false columns.

This is done to fool potential terrorists who'd be thinking that they are rigging load-bearing columns with explosives ;)

[tintinex]

Photo taken 07/30/08 with my camera phone

http://lh5.ggpht.com/migueltorres77/SJHKvFof_HI/AAAAAAAAO_Y/U6QwY2unASc/s800/IMG_0311.jpg

[VivaLFuego]

I still can't get over how awful Mid-Continental Plaza will look.

[jjk1103]

I still can't get over how awful Mid-Continental Plaza will look.

....true......I didn't think it was possible to make it look any worse.....

[intrepidDesign]

oh... it can get worse

From Emporis : The upper 15 stories are being converted to condominiums in a development named The Park Monroe. This section will be reclad, and balconies will be added. Who in their right mind would live in this slab.

[Alliance]

I still can't get over how awful Mid-Continental Plaza will look.

I doubt anyone here ever will.

[aspiringArchitect]

Oh. Is that what that building is called? GOD! That has got to be the ugliest building in the entire city!

It needs to be torn down, or atleast make the facade look decent.

I'm with you VivaLFuego, I just can't get over how freakin UGLY that thing is!:yuck:

[Chitown]

oh... it can get worse

From Emporis : The upper 15 stories are being converted to condominiums in a development named The Park Monroe. This section will be reclad, and balconies will be added. Who in their right mind would live in this slab.
Well, it has a nice location. Presumably, the fact that it's an awful chimera would make rents/leases (is that condos, or apartments?) cheaper.

[jcchii]

at least this is going to distract us with some height so we don't have to look at park monroe

[NYC2ATX]

I still can't get over how awful Mid-Continental Plaza will look.

At the moment, I'm not writing it off so soon. I'll remain blissfully curious about "Park Monroe" until we see more of it finished. :rolleyes:

[andydie]

Hello Friends and Skyscraperfans,

after the Elysian it was time for an update for the Legacy today. Enjoy seeing this new atractive building rise and the first glass being installed:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=IrEoapPhfxg

Music: The Drill - The Drill (Original Mix)

[munda]

yes that building is ugly and the worst part about it is its HUGE!!!!
i was downtown yesterday at millennium park and i look over to see the beast and i saw a couple reclad windows... it MIGHT look nice from the top but still ugly from the bottom...
http://www.parkmonroe.com

[honte]

Can we be done talking about MidContinental Plaza / Park Monroe in here please?

There are people out there who like it, but they are being polite and not saying anything to avoid taking this thread further off-topic.

[andydie]

Can we be done talking about MidContinental Plaza / Park Monroe in here please?

There are people out there who like it, but they are being polite and not saying anything to avoid taking this thread further off-topic.

maybe somebody should make a new page on here for it as its pretty big and a mayor overhaul:shrug:

[Alliance]

Well, it has a nice location. Presumably, the fact that it's an awful chimera would make rents/leases (is that condos, or apartments?) cheaper.

Which is needed because no one wants to live in a tunnel with one window at the end.

[SolarWind]

August 1, 2008

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/2639/dsc0127ia4.jpg

[Dr. Taco]

08/01/08

I wasn't about to ask this guy to move, haha:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/jstush04/CopyofP7310117.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/jstush04/CopyofP7310119.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 1, 2008

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6886/dsc0140nn3.jpg

[the urban politician]

Great shot as usual SolarWind.

I know this is off topic, and if somebody wants to reply to this elsewhere that's totally cool. But I've gotta know:

Are there any long term plans to remove the black scaffolding from the Lurie Gardens in Millennium Park, or is that permanent?

[WonderlandPark]

Nice shots. Finally this tower is getting the attention, it was always going to be more prominent than any other non-supertall tower in Chicago, but it took forever for regular posts to happen. Finally, I am glad I am seeing regular photos on the tower.

[honte]

^ TUP, it's a part of the design. The "shoulder hedge" (that's what I remember them calling it) is supposed to fill in the steel framework.

[the urban politician]

^ Thanks. But will the steel network eventually be removed once the vegetation grows through?

Regarding Legacy, don't have a huge problem with facadectomies as long is they're the exception rather than the rule with preservation. But my only problem with this case is that some of the floors of the historic buildings will be used for the parking garage. It's only going to be the top 2 levels, though, if I'm correct; much better than the case with the Ritz Carlton residences

[Nowhereman1280]

^ Thanks. But will the steel network eventually be removed once the vegetation grows through?

No, because if they remove that electric fence then all of the velociraptors will escape...

[ardecila]

^ Thanks. But will the steel network eventually be removed once the vegetation grows through?

No... why would they do that? The steel holds up the vegetation because it can't naturally support itself in that shape. The steel is basically just a rust-belt Modernist version of a pergola.

I personally like the steel as it is - if you see it in person, you can tell that it has a high-quality finish, and it's meant to be exposed to the elements for years.

[BVictor1]

^ Thanks. But will the steel network eventually be removed once the vegetation grows through?

Regarding Legacy, don't have a huge problem with facadectomies as long is they're the exception rather than the rule with preservation. But my only problem with this case is that some of the floors of the historic buildings will be used for the parking garage. It's only going to be the top 2 levels, though, if I'm correct; much better than the case with the Ritz Carlton residences

No.

The steel will be left in place because it will also be used as a guide for when the "Shoulder Hedges" are trimed. It's almost like a vegetation sculpture.

[gct13]

gct13 - 7/25/2008

http://gct13.com/i/200807-chicago/legacy-at-millennium-park-chicago-4450-b.jpg

[jjk1103]

No.

The steel will be left in place because it will also be used as a guide for when the "Shoulder Hedges" are trimed. It's almost like a vegetation sculpture.

.....well, hopefully this will be the last "shoulder hedge" post.....but if you look closely, certain of the evergreens are still way below the top of the steel frame....they will have to pull those evergreens (they planted the wrong species) and replace them with new plantings.....and wait an additional 4-5 years for them to grow to their proper height.....oh well ...... ok, back to Legacy !! :D

[aaron38]

I'll post the pictures later, but from the Shedd-Adler lakefront stretch, Legacy is almost as high in the skyline as Leo Burnett. It's got a lot of presence now.
I wish I had still been there as that storm started to come up.

[brian_b]

No, because if they remove that electric fence then all of the velociraptors will escape...

haha, I've always thought it looked very Jurassic Park too.

I wish they would install the glass faster on Legacy. It looks good so far, but I want to see more!

[SolarWind]

August 1, 2008

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8785/dsc0134ba9.jpg

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/7232/dsc0144am0.jpg

[aaron38]

08-04-08 From the planetarium
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r86/aaron38/Skyline%20Photos/IMG_1676.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 8, 2008

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6238/dsc0167gi6.jpg

[aaron38]

It doesn't look slender from that angle at all, a much different look than from the east.

[cactus22minus1]

Sunday August 10, 2008

http://i36.tinypic.com/2chxg4.jpg
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get any closer than this. :shrug:

.

[harryc]

From the N bank of the river
http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SKGLYyHkcZI/AAAAAAAAutg/GuDQaBjHWUw/P1000369.JPG?imgmax=720

[photoLith]

Taken today in this wonderful city

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2759240748_ee27500e39_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2758401579_a49a013f26_o.jpg

[honte]

The tower is now clearly visible from the Dan Ryan as you make the approach into the city...

[andydie]

Taken today in this wonderful city

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2759240748_ee27500e39_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2758401579_a49a013f26_o.jpg

great shots:tup:

[Dequal]

The cladding looks nice :)

[10101000]

Very elegant building, I like it.

[Lecom]

Taken today in this wonderful city

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2759240748_ee27500e39_o.jpg


It already looks really tall, can't wait to see how it would look when it reaches its full height. Great photos by the way.

[jjk1103]

.....when will the 3-4 small (facades) buildings on Wabash be re-habbed ?

[wrab]

.....when will the 3-4 small (facades) buildings on Wabash be re-habbed ?

The one on the far left is Sullivan's Jewelers' Building and is not part of the Legacy project, though I certainly hope that it gets some love, and soon. There is a fantastic little tobacco shop on the fourth or fifth floor that is worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing.

[The Pimp]

.....when will the 3-4 small (facades) buildings on Wabash be re-habbed ?

They're not being rehabbed. This is the outer skin of the Legacy.

[museumparktom]

Another example of Chicago style facadomy. Keeping the face of the historic Wabash Street buildings and gutting the rest.

[Alliance]

While of course noting that the guts were NOT historic.

[photoLith]

Taken yesterday

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/2766930446_525fb32711_o.jpg


This really doesnt have anything to do with the tower but i thought it was freakin hilarious, someone had written this on a poster at the l station there on Jewelers Row.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2766087761_fd35924d7e_o.jpg

I have changed my mind also about 33 west monroe or whatever its called next door, that big ugly building. It may be ugly in pictures but from street level its not that bad, I actually kinda liked it.

[Alliance]

^^ 55. Most people I know who don't like the building (including me) don't question its modernist roots or street level appeal, just the buildings wholistic prescence in the skyline.

[Surrealplaces]

Nice looking tower!

[honte]

While of course noting that the guts were NOT historic.

No.

What you mean to say is that the guts were "deemed to be not of historic value."

[wrab]

No.

What you mean to say is that the guts were "deemed to be not of historic value."

Deemed to be not of historic value sufficient to trigger protected landmark status ;)

[wrab]

Sunday, 17 August:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/1a8dbb64.jpg

[photoLith]

One more photo from Thursday showing the old facades. I am so glad they preserved them. I hope that becomes more of a trend. What is going to become of those old buildings? Will there be shopping on the ground floors?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2772543810_93b3f0ee68_o.jpg

[SevenSevenThree]

photolitherland, thanks for the great photos and unique vantage points. Much appreciated. You should make the trip to Chicago more often. :)

This tower is turning out beautiful. Curtain wall appears to be of impressive quality.

[Via Chicago]

One more photo from Thursday showing the old facades. I am so glad they preserved them. I hope that becomes more of a trend.


I hope you're joking. These facade-ectomies are a very disturbing trend, IMO. I guess its a discussion for another time so as to not get too far off topic, but I am not a supporter of this type of development at all and I think it sets a really dangerous precedent.

[wrab]

Sunday, 8/17 from Lurie Garden - miscellaneous projects: Legacy, Trump, BCBS, Aqua etc; identically-dressed triplets also ;)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/45d003b8.jpg

[WonderlandPark]

^^ So I see they are cloning the good citizens of Chicago these days.

[Dr. Taco]

They reached some odd setback that has been slowing down the pace a bit. It's between 27 and 28 floors above the original building's roof-height

[mkdr2]

The building changes its floor plan on 42.

[Chicago Shawn]

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2008/08/641176.jpg

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2008/08/641177.jpg

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2008/08/641178.jpg

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2008/08/641179.jpg

[Alliance]

Sweeet. Love the full panel fold out windows.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Me too, it should definately make for some interesting texture on those nice fall and spring days we get where AC and Heat are both completely unnecessary...

[Busy Bee]

These windows will just look that much better once the milky dust is cleaned off the insides.

[Dr. Taco]

from thursday

crooked
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2798329133_f9cc5e6dc1_o.jpg

lot of glass
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2798329285_58b0267a09_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2799178770_8e8444cdb4_o.jpg

I'm happy with the quality, especially considering how much sky will be reflected (ps the pic is blurry, but you can still see the wavy and continuation qualities of the glass)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2798329509_f7ae2e1336_o.jpg

[harryc]

From the other side of the river
http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SLPbwyUO6AI/AAAAAAAAwTU/Eizcqs_952Y/P1020578.JPG?imgmax=720

[SolarWind]

August 26, 2008

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5912/dsc0290ya6.jpg

[jjk1103]

....does anyone know how tall is the grey building next door ? ....Legacy should really tower over it ?!

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ I'm sure Emporis knows...

[shaberko]

583 feet

....does anyone know how tall is the grey building next door ? ....Legacy should really tower over it ?!

[SolarWind]

August 27, 2008

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/370/dsc0077vs7.jpg

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9190/dsc0069kf4.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 27, 2008

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/497/dsc0054pf6.jpg

[Complex01]

Wow that is an awesome shot. It looks awesome. Very nice, thanxs for posting...

:tup:

[Alliance]

Despite Legacy's similarity in color to Citadel and 1SD, it really does have a different texture which definately contributes to the skyline. Progess looks good. It'll be interesting to see how they clad those balconies.

[trvlr70]

August 27, 2008

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/497/dsc0054pf6.jpg

Awesome pic SolarWind....despite the pimpmobile in the foreground.

I love the contrast of the vintage buildings set against a background of modern, glassy ones. The variety of styles is very cool looking.

[Alliance]

We can only wait for the future...to see many hundreds of years of buildings intermingled.

[Chitown]

Awesome pic SolarWind....despite the pimpmobile in the foreground.
Despite?! That pimp-ride ties the whole shot together! ;) :haha:

[emathias]

^^ So I see they are cloning the good citizens of Chicago these days.

We are many. We are one. We cannot be stopped.

[wrab]

From Labor Day weekend.

Alley shots:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/L1110042.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/L1110060.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/L1110044.jpg

---

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/L1110099.jpg

[photoLith]

updates anyone?

[Nowhereman1280]

Re: wrabbits pics

Wow, that's an interesting cantaliver over the alley they have going on there. Also, that glass is so perfectly reflective, its insane. Its just like a giant mirror.

[wrab]

9/7

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/Untitled_HDR2s.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/20080907_0079.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/2008-09-07pm15b-3.jpg

[jcchii]

nice effect in that shot

[andydie]

:previous: indeed great stuff wrabbit:tup: can´t wait to see it in person in a few weeks

[honte]

Does anyone know who the curtainwall mfr is on this project? I'm very impressed with the operable units.

(Very nice pics, Wrabbit. I wish my real life looked as nice. ;))

[wrab]

^ Thanks guy. Honte, I agree that the operable windows are slick.

[trvlr70]

The dark blue facade next to the vintage stone buildings reminds me of the John Hancock Tower in Boston.

I love the contrasting styles in close proximity.

Also, the reflective quality of the glass is really going to brighten up dark Wabash.

[chicubs111]

^ I was just going to say that...looks uncanny like the John hancock tower in boston....only ours is going to be taller!! :yes:

[Mojava]

Does anyone know who the curtainwall mfr is on this project? I'm very impressed with the operable units.

(Very nice pics, Wrabbit. I wish my real life looked as nice. ;))

The curtain manufacturer is Yuanda out of China. They are also doing Waterview and signed on for Mandarin Oriental.

[wrab]

^ Thanks for that info. Here is their website: http://www.yuanda.com.cn/yuanda/index.asp

[andydie]

Hiya friends and skyscraperfans,

today i present you my latest update for the growing and shiny Legacy:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=P2uP7Ftg3vM

Music: Andy Jay Powell - Yesterday becomes Tomorrow

Enjoy:)

[wrab]

9/10

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/Untitled_Panorama1-4.jpg

[SolarWind]

September 15, 2008
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3549/dsc0198gy2.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7867/dsc0186md8.jpg

September 18, 2008
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1262/dsc0086ki4.jpg

[cityofblindinglights]

I cannot get enough of this beautiful glass. I was down at Iwan Ries this afternoon, and it was really looking nice.

[Tom In Chicago]

Yeah. . . this building is hard not to look at. . . the glass is really sleek. . .