An architectural tour of Chicago, with a knowledgable guide is a great way to spend a couple days. The buildings we often walk past are some of the most interesting. Amazingly innovative for their day. Many moons ago, FlaSoxxJim mentioned the Chicago style, it is sad in a way we've moved away from that and some of the new towers would fit in almost anywhere. But that is also Chicago style. The willingness to to take risks.

 

/homesick

This city needed to start adding some new architecture to the skyline,I thought it was starting to fall behind the rest of the field.The Spire is going to be awesome and may become just as recognizable as the Sears Tower to tourists.

An architectural tour of Chicago, with a knowledgable guide is a great way to spend a couple days. The buildings we often walk past are some of the most interesting. Amazingly innovative for their day. Many moons ago, FlaSoxxJim mentioned the Chicago style, it is sad in a way we've moved away from that and some of the new towers would fit in almost anywhere. But that is also Chicago style. The willingness to to take risks.

 

/homesick

 

The really interesting thing is that without the great Chicago fire, the skyline and city design would look completely different. That event gave Chicago the chance to start over.

The really interesting thing is that without the great Chicago fire, the skyline and city design would look completely different. That event gave Chicago the chance to start over.

 

So true. Taking a tragedy and turning into a positive is one thing that Chicagoans do so well. Just witness the Cubs lasting over 100 years.

This is just getting under way. 155 N Wacker. It's pretty cool walking past it every day and seeing the progress. From the demo to the finished product. I saw the UBS tower from demo to finish too....pretty cool stuff.

 

 

This is just getting under way. 155 N Wacker. It's pretty cool walking past it every day and seeing the progress. From the demo to the finished product. I saw the UBS tower from demo to finish too....pretty cool stuff.

I got to watch UBS, as well as 11 S. Wacker and 101 S. Wacker (or whatever the addresses are of the NE and SE corners of Wacker and Monroe), both go up (I was working in 1 S. Wacker for years, until recently). I love the flowing lobby design they used at both Monroe/Wacker buildings.

 

So, we got letters in my neighborhood last year, saying that the Alderman had approved this huge 90 unit condo building in the area. The building was going to be just south of Fullerton and just west of Damen, where some old industrial buildings had been, next to the Metra tracks. At first we were all a little leery, wondering how tall it would be, and if it would be Section 8 housing, etc. Then we found out what it is...

 

Chicago's first bottom-up "green" condo building. Wind power, green roof, newest energy systems, star-rated appliances, all that jazz. Interesting.

 

Image...

 

 

So, we got letters in my neighborhood last year, saying that the Alderman had approved this huge 90 unit condo building in the area. The building was going to be just south of Fullerton and just west of Damen, where some old industrial buildings had been, next to the Metra tracks. At first we were all a little leery, wondering how tall it would be, and if it would be Section 8 housing, etc. Then we found out what it is...

 

Chicago's first bottom-up "green" condo building. Wind power, green roof, newest energy systems, star-rated appliances, all that jazz. Interesting.

 

Image...

 

Pretty cool.

as of Jan. 12 so there's obviously been progress since but:

 

as of Jan. 12 so there's obviously been progress since but:

 

Maybe the spire actually goes into the ground, instead of up from it. Like a stalactite.

 

Another interesting project to watch is Blue Cross/Blue Shield getting 30ish more floors on top of its exsisting structure. Because of its locations right on the northern end of Millenium Park it is an easy one to watch the progress of.

I didn't know they were adding so many on to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. As of now, they have the framing for about 6 or 7 floors up.

 

Here's the rendering of the final product (taller than 340 on the Park):

I didn't know they were adding so many on to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. As of now, they have the framing for about 6 or 7 floors up.

 

Here's the rendering of the final product (taller than 340 on the Park):

 

They have been framing a floor to two each week since the winter broke.

 

I didn't know they were adding so many on to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. As of now, they have the framing for about 6 or 7 floors up.

 

Here's the rendering of the final product (taller than 340 on the Park):

Which building is it in the picture?

Which building is it in the picture?

The one to the right of Aon Center (the tallest, white one).

 

This is just getting under way. 155 N Wacker. It's pretty cool walking past it every day and seeing the progress. From the demo to the finished product. I saw the UBS tower from demo to finish too....pretty cool stuff.

 

Right across the street from me basically. Im in 123 N wacker.

 

 

And to couple on to Steve's comment about taking a tour. I think the guided tours are kinda lame, but ive had the pleasure of taking a boat cruise around with engineers from a chicago developer and some of the facts of the city are awesome. Like there is a cow path through a building in the loop, how about how Boeing's building is cantilevered over the river and train tracks. BEST. CITY. EVER

Pics of the Chicago skyline make me homesick. I would trade the entire state of Maryland, and maybe even DC and northern VA too for Chicago.

 

The first time I went to Baltimore I was walking around downtown with my then-girlfriend (now wife) and I asked her "so when are we getting to the part with the tall buildings?" She kind of stared at me like "uhh this is it, look around." the building look so much taller from far away. Compared to Chicago, where you can't even see the buildings behind each other when you're on State or Michigan.

as of Jan. 12 so there's obviously been progress since but:

 

Man... THAT place is such a hole in the ground.

The goal for completion is 2010, correct? I can't wait. The best skyline in the world gets that much better. Aren't there other building in the process of construction right now? And what's up with the Trump Tower? Has that been completed?

Edited May 13, 200817 yr by Jordan4life

The goal for completion is 2010, correct? I can't wait. The best skyline in the world gets that much better. Aren't there other building in the process of construction right now? And what's up with the Trump Tower? Has that been completed?

 

I kinda like the Shanghai skyline more, but to each their own

You're right. Theirs is better. I should've said Chicago has the best skyline in the United States.

Edited May 13, 200817 yr by Jordan4life

I personally dislike Shangai's skyline. Looks too futuristic. And the Christmas ornament looking things are fugly.

I personally dislike Shangai's skyline. Looks too futuristic. And the Christmas ornament looking things are fugly.

 

Have you actually been there or just going off pictures? Because I took a boat ride viewing the entire skyline and thought it was beautiful

Have you actually been there or just going off pictures? Because I took a boat ride viewing the entire skyline and thought it was beautiful

No, I haven't been there. Going off pictures I've seen. I like Hong Kong's skyline much, much more.

The goal for completion is 2010, correct? I can't wait. The best skyline in the world gets that much better. Aren't there other building in the process of construction right now? And what's up with the Trump Tower? Has that been completed?

 

Trump Tower is not completed, though the hotel has been opened at the lower floors.

Right across the street from me basically. Im in 123 N wacker.

 

 

And to couple on to Steve's comment about taking a tour. I think the guided tours are kinda lame, but ive had the pleasure of taking a boat cruise around with engineers from a chicago developer and some of the facts of the city are awesome. Like there is a cow path through a building in the loop, how about how Boeing's building is cantilevered over the river and train tracks. BEST. CITY. EVER

 

My best friend from HS and college is an architect. We didn't take a guided, packaged tour. It was more research and going to look. Spent most of the time walking.