CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[10023]

Vista and NEMA (ie, huge projects) aside, the West Loop seems to be the only place getting interesting architecture these days. That’s not to say it’s all great, but the rest of the Loop or River North or South Loop projects I’ve seen in this thread are totally unimaginative.

That site screams out for a cladding material other than blue glass. Especially with that ugly SCB tower that already went up behind the CCC on the other side of Randolph.

[harryc]

May 10





May 13

[Bombardier]

Originally Posted by intrepidDesign

I'm surprised the kinetic wall is taking so long. On a windy day, or even when a train goes by, the effect of the wall is mesmerizing and I'd be 100% happy seeing more of this covering grotesque parking podia. It's a good solution until we collectively decide to drive less. That being said, one thing I did notice was where the floor plates of the garage are, the little panels barely move. It makes sense, less air flow to move them because there's a "wall" behind them. So it does dampen the effect of an entire wall undulating, and I wonder if some of the delay in putting these panels up is figuring out how to make the effect a global one, maybe offsetting the panels somewhat?

No, the kenetic wall is being done by the same contractor doing the glass and the glass is much more critical from a timing perspective as it allows the interior buildout to progress. You can expect to see the kenetic wall move forward once the glass is complete.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by marothisu

The ground level is OK - the rest of it is not good but personally it's not "awful" to me. Just nothing of note and something nobody will ever pay attention to. We should have better architecture than this but it's completely infill. From the renderings to me at least the ground level doesn't completely suck..?

I'd like it to be twice as tall and half as ugly but yea the street level improvement is real. I'm always up for a good curb cut closure.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by BonoboZill4

It's not a stunner, but I don't see what's so awful about it... It's about what I expected for that lot's site, and definitely a MAJOR upgrade over the grey brick parking garage that has tortured us for years

Agree, I think it’s totally fine

[Mr Downtown]

Are you guys sitting down? Even I think 50 E. Randolph should be 10 stories taller. Especially with that indentation 3/5ths of the way up, it cries out for a higher second campaign. It's got the location, the Millennium Park adjacency—I wonder what's the limiting factor for this site or this developer?

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Are you guys sitting down? Even I think 50 E. Randolph should be 10 stories taller. Especially with that indentation 3/5ths of the way up, it cries out for a higher second campaign. It's got the location, the Millennium Park adjacency—I wonder what's the limiting factor for this site or this developer?

Perhaps it’s as of right and they don’t want to trigger the Reilly chest thumping abuse machine, or perhaps Affordable unit set aside triggers?

Just a guess, of course

[Hourstrooper]

I actually kind of like it, though looks like it belongs in La, ill take it.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Perhaps it’s as of right and they don’t want to trigger the Reilly chest thumping abuse machine, or perhaps Affordable unit set aside triggers?

Just a guess, of course

That’s my guess as well - that what is proposed would not trigger a PD.
Completely agree with Mr D though - this is a good 10+ stories too short and I would add 100+ units too few.

This is a location in which the existing infrastructure easily supports something considerably more dense....that needs to be capitalized on. Missed opportunity.

Also, is the design by Roszack here? If so, quite disappointing. Following the similar misfire at 145 S Wells, what’s going on with that shop? They!re better than this.

Speaking of Roszack, Still bummed about their Printer’s Row project not materializing:

http://www.roszak.com/#/printers-row-1/

[BonoboZill4]

^ Agree on all elements of your comment Sam

[AlpacaObsessor]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Perhaps it’s as of right and they don’t want to trigger the Reilly chest thumping abuse machine, or perhaps Affordable unit set aside triggers?

Just a guess, of course

The Curbed article back in December mentions it's an as of right project. Adding to that I know it was certainly a limiting factor with their LINEA development as well. They just seem like a firm that's not interested in bothering with the costs and uncertainties that come with asking for a variance.

[jc5680]

Union West is shaping up quite nicely - the glass looks excellent and the widows set back from the brick give the whole thing good high contrast texture. There is subtle offset in the brick depth on the columns I quite enjoy too

[SamInTheLoop]

Sign posted on-site for application for PD (oddly mentions applied - past tense - on May 20 - I saw today May 18). Details sound identical to the info we’ve all seen recently - 47 stories, 280 hotel rooms, 290 residential units, 26 parking spaces.

I dig this project. Glad to see it finally formally moving into entitlement process.

[SamInTheLoop]

Curious if anyone has been by this site recently at Wabash and Cermak and has noticed whether this project has actually started construction? Announcement of construction loan and groundbreaking a few months back.

[harryc]

May 10





May 14

[KWillChicago]

Anyone know if 352 N. Union tower is still in the works? That would give that booming area an even bigger splash.

[harryc]

May 10









May 15

[BonoboZill4]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Curious if anyone has been by this site recently at Wabash and Cermak and has noticed whether this project has actually started construction? Announcement of construction loan and groundbreaking a few months back.

Yes, just drove by today. Crane is up

[BonoboZill4]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Anyone know if 352 N. Union tower is still in the works? That would give that booming area an even bigger splash.

Very alive, I still am expecting this to start in 2019

[harryc]

May 15