CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[pip]

The 400 block of Melrose in Lakeview has a partial start for a building that has been idle for ages. Tonite after an absense of walking down that street for a couple of months I noticed they have resumed work. To me it seems like a highrise but I couldn't find it on the first page of this thread. Just wondering what it is.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by wrabbit

^ The SCB is intriguing. No parking component?

Yeah I just noticed that. It says it's a hotel/condo, so either it's pure fantasy or they're springing for underground parking. I suppose it's too much to hope for that there simply wouldn't be parking.
It's a cool design though, with the open base.

The new 535 (533) St. Clair is better. The tower looks much wider, so the podium isn't as overbearing.

[Dr. Taco]

the SCB design is absolutely stunning. It would be in my top 5 favorite buildings in chicago if it was constructed as the rendering shows

[honte]

^ It looks a lot like a vacuum cleaner gobbling up trees, no?

I'm trying to figure out if this was a real site ... if there might be enough clues in the surrounding buildings. At first I thought it was the Millennium Park Plaza site, but I think it's a touch too big for that site.

Originally Posted by pip

The 400 block of Melrose in Lakeview has a partial start for a building that has been idle for ages. Tonite after an absense of walking down that street for a couple of months I noticed they have resumed work. To me it seems like a highrise but I couldn't find it on the first page of this thread. Just wondering what it is.

It's just a boring PoMo midrise - or, at least, before the developer couldn't get its act together that's what it was. Who knows how it will come back to life.

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by Chi_Coruscant

I like that concept. Is that the rumored supertall mentioned last year?

No.

Originally Posted by honte

I'm trying to figure out if this was a real site ... if there might be enough clues in the surrounding buildings. At first I thought it was the Millennium Park Plaza site, but I think it's a touch too big for that site.

Maybe its just me, but its CLEARLY the lot just South of 77 W Wacker/RR Donnelly. The pointed roofs on the massing iin the back of the render makes that apparent. The lot only supports a small structure, could easily support an office building of thise size, and also note the elevated pedway across Clark to that blue and white stipey building (the one behind/South of Waterview) (that has somethign to do with the CTA?)

Can anyone get more information on this site? (N. CLark and W Lake) Whats there now? And it looks like that pedway might already be in existance.

[honte]

^ Alliance, I think you're right. The little crappy pediment things on that PoMo apartment building are there too.

Funny they left the L out. How weird it would be to see the tree convervatory vacuum machine from the elevated? Would those trees even get any light in that location?

The building there now is this strange little retail concourse that serves no real purpose other than to generate revenue until they can build something legit. I don't know who owns it: Either the present owners of the RR Donnely (UAL) building (PGRT?) or American Invsco, owner of the junky apartment's leftovers post condo conversion, I suppose.

The conservatory then would appear to cantilever somewhat over Garvey court as you head down to Lower Wacker. Super urban and pretty fresh.

[denizen467]

Wow on the design.

If it weren't for the apparent streets represented in the rendering, I would almost guess it's on the south, not north, side of Lake Street - the defunct 181 N. Clark site, which now has a new Walgreens and the 'govt self-park'. That would make a lot more sense, since no views would be blocked. On the north side of Lake Street you're hemmed in by ~25 stories of Transportation Center immediately to the west, ~45 stories of junky condos immediately to the east, and ~50 stories of UAL immediately to the north.

But assuming it's on the north side of Lake, at least we get rid of the crappy podium on that corner.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by Alliance

Can anyone get more information on this site? (N. CLark and W Lake) Whats there now? And it looks like that pedway might already be in existance.

Originally Posted by honte

Funny they left the L out. How weird it would be to see the tree convervatory vacuum machine from the elevated? Would those trees even get any light in that location?

So the proposal would replace this on the NE corner? At least on this day, there was light streaming into the site. I think it would get decent sun in summer. There are locust trees on lake now that seem to do okay.

[Chicago Shawn]

Folks, the Conservatory Tower is an Active Proposal. I had to keep quiet about it, but now it appears the cat is out of the bag. And yes it would replace the nasty food court at 201 N. Clark (behind 200 N. Dearborn).

[wrab]

^ Wow - Yay.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by Chi_Coruscant

I like that concept. Is that the rumored supertall mentioned last year?

Nope, that is still somewhere else. This one won't crack 1000, but it does get close.

[VivaLFuego]

Ah, so American Invsco just made another bunch of mortal enemies by selling the 200N Dearborn units as condos.

This is a neat proposal, and I see approval sailing through; this is within the implied boundaries of what Reilly considers to be downtown and therefore worthy of density. I'd heard murmurs about the development potential of this site, but definitely wasn't expecting 80 stories. That's a pretty major hotel/condo development, so I'd guess we're looking at the next real estate cycle for construction on this one. Good job, Alliance, on placing this one geographically.

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by spyguy

Anyone know if it's real or just conceptual?

Conservatory Tower
Chicago, Illinois

Conservatory Tower aspires to set a precedent for environmentally sensitive tall buildings in Chicago’s urban context. The 1.1 million sf project is composed of two distinct yet complementary components, a conservatory or enclosed winter garden, and an 80 story hotel and condo tower rising above.

The 28,000 sf winter garden is enclosed by a high efficiency glazing system, protecting a lush landscape and occupants from inclement weather, noise and air pollution, while optimizing natural air ventilation. The tower’s thin profile makes full use of natural light, while minimizing heat gain during summer months and shadow effect on neighboring spaces. Natural light can reach the interior spaces, reducing energy consumption year round. Topping the tower is a Sky Garden containing a number of condominium amenities and an enclosed garden.

SPYGUY continues to earn his moniker!!!

[Dr. Taco]

it just reminds me of a glassy modern citigroup center, and i already love that building. I think I'm gonna die if this one is built as is. as long as it has a more blue version of 300 lasalle's glass as it appears to have in the renders. this is so great. i love love love

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Yeah I just noticed that. It says it's a hotel/condo, so either it's pure fantasy or they're springing for underground parking. I suppose it's too much to hope for that there simply wouldn't be parking.
It's a cool design though, with the open base.

The proposal includes a replacement pedestrian bridge over Clark Street with a wicked glass tube that you see in the first rendering. My guess is some parking would be then coordinated with the garage in the Loop Transportation. I can't remember if there is in fact an underground garage on site.

[Chicagoguy]

I love the 2 gardens in this building! One on the base and one on the rooftop. This would be great if built and would be somewhere between 900 and 1000 it seems. Does anyone know the possible height of this one?

And the other supertall? Is that one possibly proposed for either the Wolf Pointe site...or the site at Wacker and LSD?

[honte]

Fabulous, guys. These are the moments when this forum comes together and erases my sometime regret for - uh - wasting so much time on here.

From the marketing photo aaron posted, it certainly seems that Invsco is in control of that parcel. I don't know if this is good or bad - they have been under fire for the foreclosures etc lately.

The conservatory is a fantastic idea - great way to sell people on this site, which otherwise might be dismissed as dark and gloomy. The truss structure seems to relate back to the elevated, although I question the strength of that cantilever under so much weight.

PS Anyone else see Deutsche Post in this proposal? Especially the base?

[aaron38]

So a kick ass ~900ft tower with no protruding balconies and no parking podium, next to an L stop, and it's real. What's not to love?
It'll be interesting to see if this has actual developer muscle behind it.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by spyguy

Anyone know if it's real or just conceptual?

Conservatory Tower
Chicago, Illinois

Conservatory Tower aspires to set a precedent for environmentally sensitive tall buildings in Chicago’s urban context. The 1.1 million sf project is composed of two distinct yet complementary components, a conservatory or enclosed winter garden, and an 80 story hotel and condo tower rising above.

The 28,000 sf winter garden is enclosed by a high efficiency glazing system, protecting a lush landscape and occupants from inclement weather, noise and air pollution, while optimizing natural air ventilation. The tower’s thin profile makes full use of natural light, while minimizing heat gain during summer months and shadow effect on neighboring spaces. Natural light can reach the interior spaces, reducing energy consumption year round. Topping the tower is a Sky Garden containing a number of condominium amenities and an enclosed garden.

I'd heard 'rumors' about this.

[Alliance]

It looks about 850' to HOF and 950' to the "roof."

Honestly, I must say perhaps the coolest part of this building is the quadruple cores that are exposed both above the podium and above the HOF. If these are nice concrete or clad in some slick stone, that would be pretty sick.

Three cheers for this being an active proposal...may the condo gods protect it.