CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 161

Chicago Shawn · #**3201** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 8:07 PM**

^There ya go, now that is a plan. There is no reason for demolition of those specific buildings on Pearson Street when the rest of the block is also owned by Loyola. The shit ugly surface lot, Sally's Beauty Supply and the vacant storefronts on State Street would provide more than enough room for a very sizeable tower. An added bonus is that a tower farther north would cover up the blank western wall of the '60's residential tower at Wabash and Chestnut. Plus, moving the tower north and preserving the Pearson Street stock would protect the last remaining south views of the residential tower and perhaps earn thier local support for a taller building.

Street parking on State Street could be replaced by a wider sidewalk and landscaped parkway to create a more cohesive feeling between the Loyola buildings.

I really do have a fondness for that corner building. It looks more like something you would find in New York, rather than the Near North Side which is losing its older stock block by block.

Just some thoughts...

Nowhereman1280 · #**3202** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 8:34 PM**

Guys, good ideas all around. The question is, how do we get these ideas to the city government and local community? I will try and get more specific plans from the school and perhaps suggest some of your ideas. There are some buildings that could be completely destroyed between the Speyer and corner. There is one pretty decrepit, non-descript, older building and a rancid 50's or 60's rehab of an older building, neither of which I like...

Both of those could go and be replaced by a quadrangle or something, providing a Pearson street access to a building built on the other side of the block. This would be important considering that Loyola would definately not be too fond of making students walk all the way around the block to get to their dorms at night. The less patrolling Campus Safety has to do, the better in their minds. Plus, if Pearson is closed off, then it will form a larger "green campus" in a kind of "T" shape.

I know the school would not allow separating the entrances of the new building from those of 25 and 26 (Baumhart) E. Pearson... So maintaining Pearson access would be extremely important.

I'm going to throw together some Google Maps images demonstrating some of my ideas...

Chicago Shawn · #**3203** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 8:44 PM**

Here is a photo looking east from State on a super bright day in January:

Chicago Shawn · #**3204** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

I know the school would not allow separating the entrances of the new building from those of 25 and 26 (Baumhart) E. Pearson... So maintaining Pearson access would be extremely important.

I'm going to throw together some Google Maps images demonstrating some of my ideas...

I see, so it would be the architectural equivelent of a "reach around". The tower on State, student entrance on Pearson. State Street could then be lined with just retail shops, allowing for some additional income as well as street activity.

Nowhereman1280 · #**3205** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 9:25 PM**

Here, Like this:

So in this first one, it shows the current layout of the block. The dark Red boxes represent current Loyola buildings in Classroom or residence use. The yellow boxes represent the corner building on the left and the Speyer house on the right. The Green ones are rather non-descript and decrepit buildings that I believe could be demolished with little loss and possibly turned into plaza/quadrangle. The blue ones are buildings that could also be demolished to make room for the new building.

Now here you see the dark green representing Pearson street turned into a
pedestrian walkway. The Yellow still reprenents saved buildings. The corner building would be renovated with retail on the bottom and private apartments or condos on top.

The Dark red outline is Baumhart residence hall, currently in existence. The bright red would be the outline of the new building. The colored lines within the bright red represent uses of the ground floor of the building.

The area left of the blue line would be all retail.

The purple box would be student services and an entrance to student residences. This box could possibly be expanded into the area with the red X. That X represents the area I think could either be a Quadrangle or just a lowrise segment of the new building where the Pearson entrance would be. Either way the Student entrance would open to Pearson or the quadrangle on Pearson.

Now here is a part of the plan that is just a vision on my part:
The area north and east of the bright green would represent an entrance for private condos that could be built on top of the floors the school can use. Lets say the school building floor use would go something like this:

1: entrances and retail

2-5: possible parking podium

6-15: Classrooms

15-20: Student services

21-45: Student Housing

45-60 mabye up to 70: Private Condominiums

That way we could get a possible supertall out of this!
Also, I would prefer that they put the Parking below streetlevel, which could be a possiblity here because the city could use the leverage of letting Loyola do what they want with Pearson in exchange for cooperation with this tower.

I dunno, that is just a suggestion. Putting Condos on top would sure help differ the costs of this building for the school. Especially if then put an entrance for them on Chestnut. I just threw this idea together in about 5 minutes, so its far from perfect... Maybe someone with architectural skills could make it more feasable/perfect.

I hope the area with the red X made sense, it could go either way, lowrise entrance to maintain the streetwall, or quadrangle to provide additional green space.

Also, that Black box has to be maintained because it is a Garage and utility entrance to the back of the Baumhart residence hall right there.

honte · #**3206** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 10:03 PM**

^ I dig it. It makes perfect sense, really.

I wouldn't push them to put parking below grade... too expensive and pie-in-the-sky, IMO. You don't want to turn them off by confusing the issue.

From Shawn's photo, it's clear that the corner building is a keeper (needs a cornice), and really, I'd say keep the "decrepit" greystone and rehab it too. It appears that all it needs is a rebuilt cornice and restored metal cladding on the bay to become a nice building again. Then, you would have the other 25' lot to make a gorgeous, glassy, skylit atrium entrance into the new residence hall. This would preserve the historic street fabric as best possible, and really could be the most dramatic architecturally. I think it would be quite interesting to have a "negative space rowhouse" there that serves as the entrance and juxtaposes old and new without denying the importance of the old city fabric.

neverdone · #**3207** Posted **Sep 16, 2007, 11:14 PM**

I am not sure if it has been mentioned or if it is of much interest, but MCL will no longer be adding a two story addition on top of River East Plaza/ North Pier. Instead they will only be converting only existing space to condos. I thought the addition seemed like it could be quite nice, a rarity for MCL. Maybe I can dig up a picture somewhere....

spyguy · #**3208** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 12:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by neverdone

I am not sure if it has been mentioned or if it is of much interest, but MCL will no longer be adding a two story addition on top of River East Plaza/ North Pier. Instead they will only be converting only existing space to condos. I thought the addition seemed like it could be quite nice, a rarity for MCL. Maybe I can dig up a picture somewhere....

If true that's excellent news IMO. This addition would have really ruined the building.

Dr. Taco · #**3209** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 12:40 AM**

Nowhereman1280, you've got some pretty good ideas, and wouldn't that be cool to go to a school with the tallest university building in the world? I believe all you'd need is (as of right now) about 800 feet.... so why not just go super while you're at it, right

I just don't know about closing Pearson, though... sometimes I feel its hard enough getting from one place to another in that area, and taking out a street sure wouldn't help. Although, I admit I haven't seen the street during a busy from-class time, and I imagine it might be something like rush/state on a friday night. maybe. if it was awesome

SolarWind · #**3210** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 1:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstush04

Solarwind, your pics are always appreciated, and this time is no different. great pics. I especially like your pic of the Tides, since I don't really like the building, but the picture gives me doubts

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryc

I have taken the same picture, same day, same view, I get a good picture of a building, he gets a Photograph ... I don't think it is the camera.

Thanks, guys. A good camera and a clear day certainly helped. Some of the latest photos I've posted were shot with the RAW image format and might have a slightly different look. I'm still experimenting.

SolarWind · #**3211** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 1:23 AM**

Here's another picture from last Tuesday. Trump and 353 N Clark are visible on opposite sides with a nice view in between. The building I work in is getting the facade cleaned (more than just window washing) so that's why there is a wire in the photo.

Dr. Taco · #**3212** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 1:46 AM**

^ rr donnelly? I like your building, and I don't care what anyone else thinks. so there.

and I feel like you can also see the spire site in that pic, albeit with a little bit of imagination

spyguy · #**3213** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 2:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstush04

There was a rendering of Beitler's proposed building at Hollywood and LSD in thursday's Suntimes, but it was just a photo with a caption, so there was no internet article associated with it. Therefore, I couldn't find a jpeg or anything. But, if someone is better able to search for it, at least you know where to start now....

The picture is hazy in my mind right now, but I think I remember it looking kind of Trumpesque. all glass facade. curving around a sharp corner. spire at top. but I'd better stop describing

I believe the caption mentioned it was designed by P/H.

Alliance · #**3214** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 3:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

I believe the caption mentioned it was designed by P/H.

Oh my god....CUT IT OFF.

This ain't a damned transmission tower.

spyguy · #**3215** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 3:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliance

Oh my god....CUT IT OFF.

This ain't a damned transmission tower.

Meh. I think a spire could work here - the building is just a little north of the Edgewater Beach Apartments, which has a large flagpole on top.

Nowhereman1280 · #**3216** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 3:26 AM**

^ I think it does work on this design because this design actually has some symmetry to it. Also, this building seems to resemble the smokestacks on turn of the century steamships and those often had antennae or other pointy objects attached to them...

Dan in Chicago · #**3217** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 3:50 AM**

1280, Shawn, and honte - you guys are pros at urban planning. I agree totally, and forgive me for going a bit off-topic but here are 2 small thoughts:

1. The new building, whether or not the corner building is demolished, should widen the sidewalk on State Street where possible. It drives me nuts how hard it is to walk up State north of the river.

2. This is probably unrealizable for some reason, but why not put parking below Pearson? It would also allow underground connections between buildings.

honte · #**3218** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 4:13 AM**

^ Thanks, Dan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliance

Oh my god....CUT IT OFF.

This ain't a damned transmission tower.

No, it's a giant cell phone.

Honestly, I don't mind the flourish, and I think the design would be a bit flatter without. I'm a lot more concerned with the monster, totally boxy parking podium, which appears to have engulfed the poor little tower. How will that look from Lincoln Park?

The render is sketchy - am I misreading it somehow? Where is the church - is it supposed to be that thing with the 4:12 roof? Why are there rows of Moscow public housing buildings in the Lake?

Spyguy, thanks for the render.

Nowhereman1280 · #**3219** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 4:29 AM**

^^^ Honte, I think its looking to the South West and that the angled roof building to the north of it is supposed to be part of the church or something...

Also, Good ideas Dan, I will certainly let you guys know if there is anything I need or you can do to help with this in the future!

spyguy · #**3220** Posted **Sep 17, 2007, 4:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ Honte, I think its looking to the South West and that the angled roof building to the north of it is supposed to be part of the church or something...

Yup...