CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

Admiral on the Lake

I don't mind the upper reaches of this building, but I really don't like the base. It is dark and oppressive with tiny slots of windows through thick stone. The brick above the stone base is also pretty awfully done. It looks like a suburban development at the pedestrian level.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by ChiPhi

I don't mind the upper reaches of this building, but I really don't like the base. It is dark and oppressive with tiny slots of windows through thick stone. The brick above the stone base is also pretty awfully done. It looks like a suburban development at the pedestrian level.

I think you're misreading the design. The "slots" (which I wouldn't call "tiny") are meant to evoke the mass and sturdiness of masonry construction, especially important for the base which is conventionally perceived to hold up the rest of the building. That it even gives the impression of thick stone means it is a success. (I'm pretty sure that's not actually stone, and, even if it is, it's only facing.) It's not difficult to find historical precedent for this tactic.

I don't see anything "dark" about the base, either, and am not sure what problem you have with the brick.

[Chicagoguy]

I am sure it has been mentioned before, but is there going to be retail along Foster? I think I remember reading something about there being a restaurant or two located inside but I am not sure if those are open to the public or strictly for the residents? Regardless this building is already giving that area a much needed face lift!

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

I think you're misreading the design. The "slots" (which I wouldn't call "tiny") are meant to evoke the mass and sturdiness of masonry construction, especially important for the base which is conventionally perceived to hold up the rest of the building. That it even gives the impression of thick stone means it is a success. (I'm pretty sure that's not actually stone, and, even if it is, it's only facing.) It's not difficult to find historical precedent for this tactic.

I don't see anything "dark" about the base, either, and am not sure what problem you have with the brick.

I do know all about the historical precedent for such a base. You took the Monadnock as well as some others that I do not know. The Monadnock has incredibly thick walls because, at the north end, it was one of the last tall buildings built without a steel frame system. At the south end, it features interesting stone and larger windows (as large as the engineering of the period allowed). Moreover, the simple unadorned (as opposed to art-deco) style fits the thick, masonry walls. The other buildings that you showed (one of which did not even have recessed windows) were also of different styles. I understand what the architect may have been pursuing, but he failed in my opinion (and everyone is entitled to their own). I think that the brick looks anhedonic and machined, the "stone" (or whatever it is) looks like cement bricks and the over all affect looks far more reminiscent of any tract housing "town-center" than a historical re-appropriation of any one historical style. If the stone had been real and the building had warranted such a use, it would have added texture and beauty to the walk-way. Instead, the bottom floors only look like a hackneyed attempt at historicism that is far worse than not only LaGrange, but much of River North. I would even say the Base of AMLI River North is better than this IMO simply because it remains open instead of using low quality, oppressive and uninteresting stone in a misguided attempt to hold the street with substantiality.

[HomrQT]

What is the purpose of the flesh tone paints? Do they reflect sunlight better than other colors used and hide dirt better than white? Is this tone of color chosen because it will still look "newer" with time as opposed to other colors? Is the paint just cheaper? There has to be a reason this color is plaguing our city! I was hoping for a dark gray on this puppy.

[Andrew|W]

Originally Posted by HomrQT

What is the purpose of the flesh tone paints? Do they reflect sunlight better than other colors used and hide dirt better than white? Is this tone of color chosen because it will still look "newer" with time as opposed to other colors? Is the paint just cheaper? There has to be a reason this color is plaguing our city! I was hoping for a dark gray on this puppy.

I think these sorts of colors are just trendy right now. It's the same reason that Walmart has repainted all of their stores from shades of grey to yellowish tans (I don't really find that attractive either).

I'll wait until I see this in person, but from the photo, the biggest problem that I have with this color is that it clashes with the "stone" color chosen for the base.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by ChiPhi

I would even say the Base of AMLI River North is better than this IMO simply because it remains open instead of using low quality, oppressive and uninteresting stone in a misguided attempt to hold the street with substantiality.

That's BS. The bottom of AMLI is the exact opposite of open. It doesn't even have windows until beyond the 5th floor, how does that qualify as "open" in any capacity? I'm not sure if you are talking about the right building... Additonally the base of AMLI is a parking garage, the garage in the building is almost completely hidden behind apartments which is a 1000% better solution.

AMLI and The Admiral are not even in the same league.

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

^agreed. We don't give tan buildings a pass in River North. Why should Uptown be any different?

Because this is the first picture of the paint color that we've had for this building? We were all commenting on the excellent massing and saying "I hope they don't paint this camel — beige" and now we know they are painting it one of the lovely shades of flesh that are so historically accurate. They should be painting this some shade of grey or even white.

No one is giving the color choice a pass. People are merely commenting on the fact that this building is 100X more pleasing to the eye than chodes like AMLI River North which are essentially shapeless blobs painted with the most horrendous shades of beige.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by ardecila

It IS weird how the bands of brick sorta lap onto the pink part at left and then stop halfway along the wall.

that is a horrible detail failure of this design. they even had a perfectly good inside corner where they could have much more naturally stopped the banding, but the designers took it through the corner and then only half-way across the adjoining facade. —?

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

That's BS. The bottom of AMLI is the exact opposite of open. It doesn't even have windows until beyond the 5th floor, how does that qualify as "open" in any capacity? I'm not sure if you are talking about the right building... Additonally the base of AMLI is a parking garage, the garage in the building is almost completely hidden behind apartments which is a 1000% better solution.

AMLI and The Admiral are not even in the same league.

I am not thinking of the wrong building. The first fifteen-twenty or so feet (in height) of AMLI is essentially window walls with small mullions and thinner (than admiral) concrete spacers without the silly recession. Above that for five (or whatever) floors is parking with thick concrete walls. To the pedestrian, especially right next to the building (though even across the street) twenty feet above is really not all that noticeable. This is much more open. Moreover, as AMLI is on such a small lot, a "base" would not have been possible, especially one that is hidden within the building. The parking is above the first few floors so that the sidewalk-fronting portions are still open. Obviously this is not as good as below-ground parking or no parking, but it is better than parking that begins on the first floor. From the AMLI website.

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

No one is giving the color choice a pass. People are merely commenting on the fact that this building is 100X more pleasing to the eye than chodes like AMLI River North which are essentially shapeless blobs painted with the most horrendous shades of beige.

AMLI has not been painted yet (or is it going to have precast panels?), though I prefer the sandstone color of the renderings to the peach of the Admiral- at least there are stones that resemble the color of AMLI.

While I still prefer the massing and upper portions of Admiral to AMLI, I think that the pedestrian experience next to AMLI will be better.

[Kenmore]

I live close to the Admiral and will say that the color doesn't look as pink IRL as it comes across in those photos. It's not optimal but it's not that bad.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by ChiPhi

It looks like a suburban development at the pedestrian level.

I completely disagree with this. Whereas this building is ugly and looks like it cost $100 to build, from an urbanist perspective, it is very successful. I think it works REALLY well with the street. And the variance in shape, size, and scale really bring it down to a pedestrian level and minimize the visual weight of such a big building. Plus the horizontal lines at the base create a cohesion that tracks really well. Too bad the design is otherwise trash... If more building were built like this, we would *here it comes* be better off.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Yeah, this design is extremely successful at breaking up the massing while still holding the lot lines and remaining a cohesive design. The finshes/materials and philopsophy behind it are trash though. It would be much better if they had just left it raw concrete.

[spyguy]

Because senior citizens want raw concrete? Really now.

Terrible angle but you can see the two cranes for the Hyatt expansion:

SDC17290 by Foxy_Art, on Flickr

[Nowhereman1280]

How many starts does that bring the total to this year?

Originally Posted by spyguy

Because senior citizens want raw concrete? Really now.

No, you are right, they want floor to ceiling glass with perforated zinc spandrels. You know, like a highrise version of the Poetry Foundation...

[10023]

Originally Posted by spyguy

Because senior citizens want raw concrete? Really now.

Well, they won't be around for long so does it really matter?

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Yeah, whether they like it or not they are going to be living in raw concrete box six feet underground in a few years anyhow...

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ Yeah, this design is extremely successful at breaking up the massing while still holding the lot lines and remaining a cohesive design. The finshes/materials and philopsophy behind it are trash though. It would be much better if they had just left it raw concrete.

Much as I love the concrete aesthetic. That would look AWFUL. That is, the concrete aesthetic isn't universally applicable.

The only alternative I would propose, an expensive one, would be some sort of brick veneer... idk... something like that. But as I said, this building is fine. It'll very soon fade into the background of everything else.

[i_am_hydrogen]

A few more of Admiral at the Lake

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Lol, love how the base is keeping it contextual with the 4+1...

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

Much as I love the concrete aesthetic. That would look AWFUL. That is, the concrete aesthetic isn't universally applicable.

The only alternative I would propose, an expensive one, would be some sort of brick veneer... idk... something like that. But as I said, this building is fine. It'll very soon fade into the background of everything else.

I disagree, it looks a hell of a lot better grey than it does tan. Concrete is pretty much limestone and raw concrete looks a hell of a lot more like limestone than these strange colors they choose. I don't know if they are trying to make it look like it's made of sandstone or something, but it sure as hell doesn't look like limestone.

[Nowhereman1280]

FYI this was posted in the general development thread by Mikemak27 via Crains:

Mike Latsko to move ahead with 26 Story, 200 Unit, apartment tower at 212 W. Illinois with approval already obtained and financing pending. This is scheduled to start this summer.


Here is the only rendering of the project that I know of:


jdlcorp.com

I think this may be been before the boom so who knows if the design has changed.