CHICAGO | 400 N Lake Shore Drive | 851 FT & 765 FT | 73 & ? FLOORS

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

does anyone think that the condo/apartment market will get better and related will make this tower taller for more units?

Nope!

[sentinel]

Please stay on topic, political doom-erism belong in other threads, not specific construction ones like this.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

does anyone think that the condo/apartment market will get better and related will make this tower taller for more units?

For a highrise like this to add additional floors, especially while it is already under construction, would require extensive time and money for re-engineering the structural, architectural, MEP/FP systems, and potentially delay the project for a longer time than dictated by the construction lender.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

does anyone think that the condo/apartment market will get better and related will make this tower taller for more units?

It is possible given the low vacancy rate in Chicago of 5.6% versus some other cities (Houston 10.9%, Jacksonville 9.4%, Nashville 9.3%, Austin 9.0%, San Antonio 8.8%, Dallas 8.4%, Orlando 7.0%), but still seems very unlikely.

[Zapatan]

^ It's more likely that if things pick up the other tower will be made taller, not saying it will happen but probably more in the developer's best interest than raising the height of this one.

Originally Posted by sentinel

For a highrise like this to add additional floors, especially while it is already under construction, would require extensive time and money for re-engineering the structural, architectural, MEP/FP systems, and potentially delay the project for a longer time than dictated by the construction lender.

I assume so too but it does happen surprisingly often.

[tusken raider]

if so how much taller do you think they might make it (i kinda want them to make it the original 1100ft version)

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

if so how much taller do you think they might make it (i kinda want them to make it the original 1100ft version)

It's all speculation at this point. No one knows.

Taller builders are more expensive to build and more rentable living space gets taken up by elevators shafts. So any increase would need to pencil-out economically.

The developer would also need to go back to the city to amend their PD, which (re)opens a potential can of worms -- dealing with the Alderman, community groups, zoning lawyers, etc.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Taller builders are more expensive to build and more rentable living space gets taken up by elevators shafts. So any increase would need to pencil-out economically.

A sky lobby solves the elevator problem, residential buildings have them too sometimes.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

^ It's more likely that if things pick up the other tower will be made taller, not saying it will happen but probably more in the developer's best interest than raising the height of this one.



I assume so too but it does happen surprisingly often.

Examples??

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Examples??

In Chicago alone IIRC (I could be wrong) didn't Vista Tower, NEMA, Salesforce and 110 N Wacker have some last minute (minor) adjustments during construction?

It's happened other places, I'll dig up some examples.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

In Chicago alone IIRC (I could be wrong) didn't Vista Tower, NEMA, Salesforce and 110 N Wacker have some last minute (minor) adjustments during construction?

It's happened other places, I'll dig up some examples.

I don't think so.

- Vista Tower's changes were related to expanding the mechanical floor height and adding louvers to the exterior facade. Happened during construction which caused a delay, but the structural load for the mechanical equipment was already factored into the design. It was just the louvers that were expanded/made taller. Engineering one floor to make it taller is not the same as adding additional floors during construction. NOT impossible, but very costly and time-consuming.

- NEMA had height changes, but that was implemented before construction began.

- Salesforce and 110 N. Wacker had height changes, but those were design modifications, again, well before construction began.

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

if so how much taller do you think they might make it (i kinda want them to make it the original 1100ft version)

You post this same thing like every other day. They aren't making this one taller bro. A real tower in the ground is worth more than the imaginary 1100ft one in your dreams.

Frankly, in this financial climate, I'll be pleasantly surprised if they finish this one without anybody turning off the money faucet.

[cloudbod]

It's also important to note just how different the under-construction building is than the original 1100ft version. No hotel, no podium, metal paneling instead of terra cotta (probably a good move tbh), flush spandrels instead of extruded rounded panels, no bay windows on the east and west sides, a completely different overall shape with different setback layouts, etc etc.

The original version was never going to be built as-is. It was a conceptual design to generate interest and kick off the review process.

EDIT: I realize it sounds like I'm being negative-- but honestly I'm in love with the current design. I think it'll be an incredibly pretty building.

[tusken raider]

yeah man I'm just underwhelmed by the size of the new version of this project an I wanna see if anyone else thinks this building will be taller that's it (its funny thought that you noticed that I put that a lot)

[BrickellBased]

Originally Posted by sentinel

I don't think so.

- Salesforce and 110 N. Wacker had height changes, but those were design modifications, again, well before construction began.

Salesforce had a small height increase mid construction (like 20-30 floors in) when Kirkland Ellis wanted some special extra height showcase floor. I think it added around 18ft or so to the final design.

That said I believe there is virtually 0% chance this building gets any substantial height increase mid construction. Only some superficial 10-20 foot changes possible IMO.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by tusken raider

yeah man I'm just underwhelmed by the size of the new version of this project an I wanna see if anyone else thinks this building will be taller that's it (its funny thought that you noticed that I put that a lot)

As many people stated, there is a 99.9% chance of the current UC tower not having any sort of height change. We should all be stoked that its currently going up, and cross our fingers that it is able to be completed as planned.

As for the second tower, there definitely is a non zero chance that it could go taller. Again, as other posters have mentioned, that's not necessarily likely due to a lot of negative external variables. That said, the most likely immediate outcome for tower 2 is that is does not get off the ground for several years, and maybe is even sold off to another developer or redesigned completely. The current economic climate, with all the instability from the Trump administration as well as the burdensome interest rate environment makes investing into real estate somewhat risky, despite the strong demand and housing shortage the nation faces. Its hard to see into the future during normal times, and certainly damn near impossible nowadays.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

A sky lobby solves the elevator problem, residential buildings have them too sometimes.

I can't think of any examples in Chicago. Plus, a skylobby takes up space, so again you are sacrificing unit space to build one.

Originally Posted by sentinel

I don't think so.

- Vista Tower's changes were related to expanding the mechanical floor height and adding louvers to the exterior facade. Happened during construction which caused a delay, but the structural load for the mechanical equipment was already factored into the design. It was just the louvers that were expanded/made taller. Engineering one floor to make it taller is not the same as adding additional floors during construction. NOT impossible, but very costly and time-consuming.

You're mostly right about this, but I believe it was the last-minute addition of the blow-through floor that led to the modest bump at Vista/St. Regis (to maintain the same number of full-floor condos. I would gladly accept that tower being slightly shorter and have no blow-through... or fugly black louvres for that matter.

Originally Posted by tusken raider

yeah man I'm just underwhelmed by the size of the new version of this project an I wanna see if anyone else thinks this building will be taller that's it (its funny thought that you noticed that I put that a lot)

We get it. Please stop posting the same comment. It brings nothing to the discussion.

[tusken raider]

sorry guys I,ll stop putting that comment now that I know your opinions on this buildings height

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by Garynewman

Yup. I don't see us getting another 800+ footer for awhile so lets savor this one...

Still surprised out of all the stalled projects this was the one that came into fruition. Would think Parcel O or one of the big West Loop projects would have begun first

I hope that's not true, 800 feet ain't that much in Chicago.

We are lucky to have gotten one of the taller potential projects U/C though. Sometimes the small dog doesn't pull through and the big one does despite everything you hear.

[cloudbod]

Tbh I imagine the headlines generated by "they're finally filling the spire hole" really helped move this one along, compared to other projects. It's a plot of land with brand name recognition lol