CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction

[Buckman821]

I doubt it is the site to the south of Aqua - I can't imagine how that would result in a tower with a road running underneath it. I think it is most likely the old "Arquitechtonica" site - although I think that may have been partially built upon.

I think it will be close to the river - with premium views. Crain's ran a story today about the lack of downtown condo supply. It's high time for a sizable new condo tower downtown.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Buckman821

I doubt it is the site to the south of Aqua - I can't imagine how that would result in a tower with a road running underneath it. I think it is most likely the old "Arquitechtonica" site - although I think that may have been partially built upon.

I think it will be close to the river - with premium views. Crain's ran a story today about the lack of downtown condo supply. It's high time for a sizable new condo tower downtown.

It's not to the south of Aqua, that will be another significant tower. The Gang tower will be along Wacker Drive.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Buckman821

I doubt it is the site to the south of Aqua - I can't imagine how that would result in a tower with a road running underneath it. I think it is most likely the old "Arquitechtonica" site - although I think that may have been partially built upon.

I think it will be close to the river - with premium views. Crain's ran a story today about the lack of downtown condo supply. It's high time for a sizable new condo tower downtown.

Yes, it is the old site of 375 East Wacker. Magellan gave away a piece of that site to GEMS, but 75% of it is still waiting for development. The latest LSE site plan actually shows two development sites there... Maybe the Gang tower will be split into two (or three) communities with separate cores and entrances.

With trapezoidal windows, I wonder if it will come out looking something like Solstice on the Park.

[BraveNewWorld]

@BVictor1, any knowledge on the other "significant" tower next to Aqua ?
_

Speaking of the Jeanne Gang tower, here are a few ideas(past proposals) I imagined it being :

[munchymunch]

So all of those spots along wacker are for the 3 towers next to each other, all designed by Gang.

Damn BNW that would be crazy thats something that looks like it's straight from Dubai. I also think Victor is only refering to the zoning in place for the site to the south of Aqua.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

... open the floodgates for an entire new bunch: Huron Consulting, CNA, UBS, Chase, United Airlines.

The difference being that most of those were tastefully done. Many are mere logos, or are otherwise tastefully sized and placed. The "TRUMP" sign will be more like an oversized "Hi! My Name Is" decal slapped onto someone's belly button.


================


I think we originally started using "Aqua II" to refer to the lot next to BCBS. Can we decide whether ongoing usage here of "Aqua II" will be references to the BCBS-adjoining site or to the Field Blvd site. At least until a tentative project name or address is announced.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Jeanne Gang's U of C dorms are just screaming out for trapezoidal windows, but it looks like she just used some clever trim work with the corten to create the illusion of irregular, non-square, openings:


U of C's website

I hope this design is foreshadowing the masterpiece I expect out of her at LSE. I could see similar ideas and forms being used to create "three buildings that weave in and out". Then again, I've never seen two Jeanne Gang designs that use the same idea twice. That's the funny thing about her work, it all looks very different, yet you can always tell it is a Gang. She's not like other popular architects today like Gehry where every building is just another take on the same crumpled up aluminum foil theme or Ceasar Pelli where every building is another take on the same tapering silver glass supertall theme.

[pilsenarch]

the last time I saw Jeanne's design, it is actually one tower with three structural forms... the middle one stops 10-15 stories above the axis of LSD...

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

the middle one stops 10-15 stories above the axis of LSD...

i'm struggling to understand what you're trying to say. LSD is at ground level, so are you saying that the middle form is only 10-15 stories tall?

[pilsenarch]

no, I meant the "axis" of LSD... the bottom of it stops 10-15 stories above upper Wacker so it aligns with LSD...

driving north on LSD you will see the opening aligned with the drive in the middle of 3 attached vertical forms ending in varying heights at the top of the tower with the middle one stopping short at the base and being supported by the two tubes on either side...

I can't believe Loewenberg would ever build the thing I saw... it was begging to be value-engineered, and even worst, Jeanne's justification for the unusual forms (google 'frustum') of the three tubes (besides it 'looked cool') was wanting from a programmatic or environmental perspective... so I'll be surprised if and when it is finally revealed that the 'interlocking' forms remain, but I would also be surprised if the three bundled tube concept isn't since it is a concept that predates her design work...

[sentinel]

delete.

[BraveNewWorld]

Originally Posted by munchymunch

So all of those spots along wacker are for the 3 towers next to each other, all designed by Gang.

Damn BNW that would be crazy thats something that looks like it's straight from Dubai. I also think Victor is only refering to the zoning in place for the site to the south of Aqua.

I was more just mentioning past proposals with the three interlocking bundle idea, I don't think it will be like the bottom design.

But it begs the question, what will this look like ?

3 towers weaving in and out of each other that sounds like something more Dubai like.

I can't imagine this description without a building that would be pretty far outside Chicago's norm.

[pilsenarch]

well, it's hard to describe, but it is actually pretty straight forward... it is simply 3 tubes, vertical and more or less straight... the only think in question is whether the three tubes have undulating facades... they don't really 'weave'

[Skyguy_7]

^But you can confirm what you saw has a gap in the middle? Somewhat akin to this-

[george]

5-23

200 North Michigan Ave

[wierdaaron]

^A few people in neighboring buildings must be enjoying brand new and extremely temporary views.

[aaax]

They're getting the fence ready to demo for 707 N. Wells. The guy said they'll probably start the demolition on Monday.



707

[harryc]

Originally Posted by george

5-23

200 North Michigan Ave

Great color

[pilsenarch]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

^But you can confirm what you saw has a gap in the middle? Somewhat akin to this-

It is similar to the Arquitectonica proposal, but the 'hole' is at the bottom...

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

I can't believe Loewenberg would ever build the thing I saw... it was begging to be value-engineered, and even worst, Jeanne's justification for the unusual forms (google 'frustum') of the three tubes (besides it 'looked cool') was wanting from a programmatic or environmental perspective... so I'll be surprised if and when it is finally revealed that the 'interlocking' forms remain, but I would also be surprised if the three bundled tube concept isn't since it is a concept that predates her design work...

Something like this maybe, from Gang's lieber meister Rem Koolhaas?

http://www.oma.eu/projects/2011/global-financial-centre-on-the-bund/