CHICAGO | 725 W Randolph | 700 FT | 45 FLOORS

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by UpwithOlives

The design is not unlike KPF's 55 Hudson Yards

That's what I was going to say Great design nonetheless!

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by ardecila

A Chicago building designed by New Yorkers. LOL.

In terms of style, yeah, it's Chicago-- it doesn't really matter who designs it. 270 Park Avenue is a Chicago-style building too, despite being in Manhattan designed by Foster & Partners.

As you know KPF has a bunch of excellent towers here, but I feel like usually they try to stand out rather than fit in. I assume this design is more contextual because of the W Loop zoning materiality requirements.

[Steely Dan]

If this thing ends up around the previously reported 700' mark, it will destroy the "tallest west of the kennedy" title, which I believe is currently a tie between 727 W Madison and The Row, both of which stand 495' tall according to the SSP diagrams.

[BrickellBased]

Wow, I had been hoping that this would take off for a reaaaaaally long time.

It's a fantastic design and will make a huge impact on Fulton Market turning it into a much more serious office market.

At 700' in Fulton this is gonna make you feel like you're in the Loop.

Huge news.

When do they start?!

[Zapatan]

Nice, hope Chicago's next boom is coming. When this city builds it builds.

Dig the logo too.

[iguy]

Originally Posted by woodrow

Yep. the Crain's article mentions that even though the vacancy rate for all downtown office space is at a whopping 23.4%, it drops to 11.4% for class A space, and it's even lower for upper floors of class A.

My (admittedly unrealistic) hope from seeing stats like this is that someone is finally going to try to build higher than Sears.

I obviously don’t think the Chicago market is looking for a huge amount of big new office projects in the short or intermediate future, but given the demand for high floor Class A space, it would seem something that could market itself as *the* trophy tower of a generation could be successful with tenants in the current market.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by iguy

My (admittedly unrealistic) hope from seeing stats like this is that someone is finally going to try to build higher than Sears.

I obviously don’t think the Chicago market is looking for a huge amount of big new office projects in the short or intermediate future, but given the demand for high floor Class A space, it would seem something that could market itself as *the* trophy tower of a generation could be successful with tenants in the current market.

I think Tribune East is one of the better opportunities for mixed use although maybe the site is a bit narrow, wouldn't be that hard to push it higher than Sears roof height tbh given the current design is damn close.

I like measuring by antenna though and a 1,730+ foot tower is a way bigger shot in the dark.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

I think Tribune East is one of the better opportunities for mixed use although maybe the site is a bit narrow, wouldn't be that hard to push it higher than Sears roof height tbh given the current design is damn close.

I like measuring by antenna though and a 1,730+ foot tower is a way bigger shot in the dark.

Problem is - Location, location, location......

This news has just bucked a multi-year drought of no new major office towers. Of course shovels aren't in the ground, and economic conditions, or other things could derail this building getting off the ground still.

Developers know that there is a demand for nice class A space over the in the West Loop because that's one of the hottest spots in the downtown area. I love the area over by the Tribune Tower, but it just doesn't have a draw for any major new office component over there. The West Loop does.

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by twister244

Problem is - Location, location, location......

This news has just bucked a multi-year drought of no new major office towers. Of course shovels aren't in the ground, and economic conditions, or other things could derail this building getting off the ground still.

Developers know that there is a demand for nice class A space over the in the West Loop because that's one of the hottest spots in the downtown area. I love the area over by the Tribune Tower, but it just doesn't have a draw for any major new office component over there. The West Loop does.

Is 3 years a drought when it comes to office tower construction?

[ChiND]

This is going to be a beautiful tower!

[rlw777]

It's like there's an unwritten rule that the great thoroughfares in Chicago need to be anchored by a large black skyscraper.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by BuildThemTaller

Is 3 years a drought when it comes to office tower construction?

Six-year drought when it comes to starting a Class A+ office skyscraper (Salesforce), according to CoStar News.

There have been other Class A office projects since (360 Green and 919 Fulton come to mind), so I guess it depends on your definition of a tower vs. "skyscraper."

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Six-year drought when it comes to starting a Class A+ office skyscraper (Salesforce), according to CoStar News.

There have been other Class A office projects since (360 Green and 919 Fulton come to mind), so I guess it depends on your definition of a tower vs. "skyscraper."

You have to get deep into semantics if you want to make the claim that Chicago has been in a "drought."

The Thompson Center retrofit and other projects you noted have all been underway to build Class A office space. Salesforce Tower, 100 N Wacker, and the BMO Tower finished construction within the past few years. It's not like a decade+ long streak has been going on. That's what I think of when I hear the word "drought."

It shouldn't be surprising that a global pandemic that resulted in massive shifts in how and where people work would result in a change in the commercial development market.

I'm glad that Sidley wants new office space and has helped Related secure financing for this tower. It should be a great new addition to the skyline and help connect the West Loop with the other side of the Kennedy.

[nomarandlee]

Didn't the original proposals talk about being the first example to turn the parking/loading bay frontage into a park/pedestrian space?

My gut tells me that is not in the cards, though I desperately hope it somehow is still part of the plans. So much vast potential and unique space to be used on Randolph to make it into a Chicago La Rambla.

[BrickellBased]

Originally Posted by twister244

Problem is - Location, location, location......

This news has just bucked a multi-year drought of no new major office towers. Of course shovels aren't in the ground, and economic conditions, or other things could derail this building getting off the ground still.

Developers know that there is a demand for nice class A space over the in the West Loop because that's one of the hottest spots in the downtown area. I love the area over by the Tribune Tower, but it just doesn't have a draw for any major new office component over there. The West Loop does.

Not skyscrapers but massive square footage office projects that were recently been completed include

801 S Canal - Canal Station - 538,000 sqft (rennovation/upgrade)

919 W Fulton Market - 409,000 square feet

[UrbanDweller98]

Originally Posted by twister244

Problem is - Location, location, location......

This news has just bucked a multi-year drought of no new major office towers. Of course shovels aren't in the ground, and economic conditions, or other things could derail this building getting off the ground still.

Developers know that there is a demand for nice class A space over the in the West Loop because that's one of the hottest spots in the downtown area. I love the area over by the Tribune Tower, but it just doesn't have a draw for any major new office component over there. The West Loop does.

The obvious choice is 655 West Madison. Hopefully the developer of that parcel sees this and goes back to the drawing board, they once planned for a 971 ft tall tower on that site so it’s not impossible.