CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[SolarWind]

May 5, 2016

[SolarWind]

May 5, 2016

[SolarWind]

May 5, 2016

[SolarWind]

May 5, 2016

[r18tdi]

^ re: 215 w Lake, why the cut-out notch at the NE corner?

Great photos by the way.

[the urban politician]

Thanks for all the pics!

Why does Fifield insist on building such — all the time? I'm all for leaving developers alone on style, but I do think that once a developer has gotten enough projects under their belt downtown, it's not unreasonable for city officials to sit down with them and say "Hey, lets up our game a bit." This, pretty much all their stuff on Kinzie, and the Sinclair are the exact same tower rehashed in 4-5 different locations.

[Mr Downtown]

"Mies, we've called you and Mr. Weissbourd in today because we've noticed that you keep building basically the same building over and over again, even in Montreal and Toronto. Mayor Daley has asked if you could, as those hippies say on the Laugh-In, 'up your game a bit.' Maybe you could do something with some curves, or some brighter colors, or not have the windows all in a straight line. You know—be creative—kind of invent a new architecture every Monday morning."

[ithakas]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

"Mies, we've called you and Mr. Weissbourd in today because we've noticed that you keep building basically the same building over and over again, even in Montreal and Toronto. Mayor Daley has asked if you could, as those hippies say on the Laugh-In, 'up your game a bit.' Maybe you could do something with some curves, or some brighter colors, or not have the windows all in a straight line. You know—be creative—kind of invent a new architecture every Monday morning."

If Fifield were putting up 860-880 Lake Shore Drives all over the city, I don't think anybody here would be complaining...

[maru2501]

more soil testing right now at Nordstrom expansion surface lot

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

"Mies, we've called you and Mr. Weissbourd in today because we've noticed that you keep building basically the same building over and over again, even in Montreal and Toronto. Mayor Daley has asked if you could, as those hippies say on the Laugh-In, 'up your game a bit.' Maybe you could do something with some curves, or some brighter colors, or not have the windows all in a straight line. You know—be creative—kind of invent a new architecture every Monday morning."

You're comparing Fifield's projects to those of Mies van der Rohe?

[Via Chicago]

i do think its rather amusing though how many people here 10 years ago or so were basically begging for these sorts of designs when we were in the midst of the beige po-mo era. trends are fickle.

(i do think these designs are garbage fwiw)

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

You're comparing Fifield's projects to those of Mies van der Rohe?

But look at the astutely detailed poured in place concrete and the excellent massing relationship between the gargantuan parking podium and the tower. I think Fifield is using the golden ratio to determine that. And one can never deny the soaring verticality of Fifields alternating horizontal bands of painted concrete and whatever glass was on discount in China last year. So fresh, so innovative.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

You're comparing Fifield's projects to those of Mies van der Rohe?

I'm pointing out the absurdity of having bureaucrats make aesthetic judgments.

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by SolarWind

May 5, 2016

Not a big fan of the glass here. The glass is more opaque than the render and mullions are much thicker darker and more obvious.

[maru2501]

um, yeah, good catch. Darker as in black instead of white

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

I'm pointing out the absurdity of having bureaucrats make aesthetic judgments.

It's not an aesthetic judgement, there is such thing as objectively bad design. Having a developer running around cranking out the same — scheme with significant urban planning failures is objectively bad if only for the fact that having variation alone benefits the built environment.

Then again I also think Fifield is tame compared to some of the worst offenders in that category. They have, as many developers do, progressed into slightly less regressive design over time. It's just all so monotonous because they are a successful developer who has built an extraordinary number of buildings in a relatively compact period of time.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

I'm pointing out the absurdity of having bureaucrats make aesthetic judgments.

Bureaucrats can't express an opinion?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Bureaucrats can't express an opinion?

No. Only certified architects and artists can express an opinion. Oh wait, just kidding. Yeah, Mr. Downtown's post has — written all over it. Aesthetics are completely subjective. Anybody and everybody can have an opinion on whether something looks good or bad. There's no right or wrong answer (well, usually....). It's like people trying to tell others who can and can't have an opinion on music. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't speak to someone else.. and I say this as someone who was professionally trained in classical voice and has been playing guitar for nearly 18 years. I can't stand when people try and shut up other peoples' opinions with things like this just because they belong to some group. Elitist — attitude.

[r18tdi]

Tower crane is jumping at HoJo. It looks great up there... [in my subjective aesthetic opinion]

[Randomguy34]

Images from DNAInfo reporter's twitter about the Reid Murdoch Hotel Development:
395 feet, 500 hotel rooms




Sources: David Lee Matthews