[Nowhereman1280]

http://www.sunny16.org/images/mandarin_3.jpg

From BrandonSi on Skyscrapercity.

^^^ If you look in the bottom of the hole it appears as if they have already uncovered similar looking pipe that is currently buried there. Also, notice there are some smaller pipes in front of the big ones.


Question: When are they claiming that they are going to get started on this one again?

[chicubs111]

This week they were claiming to start construction...I heard from multiple people saying this...so it might be directly related to mandarin but something is getting prepared maybe for the real construction.

[Mojava]

from what i understand they are doing some type of utility relocation. this needs to be done prior to foundations.

[ATLksuGUY]

At least they are finally doing something. I want to see this built

[pherek]

Two pics from 3/20/07 from the complimentary viewpoint of Lukecuj's pic:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7325/img1965sf2.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8958/img1966jt2.jpg

[BVictor1]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/305612,CST-FIN-roeder21.article

Mandarin Hotel project nears financing target

March 21, 2007
BY DAVID ROEDER Sun-Times Columnist


The proposed 74-story Mandarin Oriental hotel and condo tower is one of the glitziest deals on the development agenda for downtown. It was announced in grand style a year ago, but since then has barely given evidence of being alive. Chris Kenny, chief financial officer of Palladian Development, investors in the Mandarin project, insists that real progress is coming. A quiet groundbreaking occurred March 13 at the location, the northwest corner of Lake and Stetson, and developers are close to their target of sales contracts on 50 percent of their units, Kenny said.
That's the standard threshold needed for financing. Kenny said small-scale financing is in place to fund early excavating and utility relocation on the vacant lot.

The project is a blend of 252 hotel rooms managed by the posh Mandarin Oriental brand, 159 homes that range from standard-issue condos to stunning penthouses, plus 103 ultra-luxurious condos whose owners are entitled to hotel services, such as twice-daily maid service. The regular condos start in the $600,000s, but those with hotel services have been priced at $1 million to $3.5 million.

The other Mandarin hotel rooms start at about $600,000.

Hotels condos have been a hard sell in Chicago. Palladian principal Gerard Kenny, Chris' father, said sales haven't been easy "but we think the market's there. Really, it's about the brand."

Gerard Kenny, part of the Kenny Construction family, said the construction delay has given Mandarin and his architects, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, time to improve the design. Costs have risen but aren't unmanageable, he said.

"I'm having a lot of fun. I'm used to projects where I have to stick with somebody else's drawings. Now, I get to change the drawings myself," he said.

Controversy over two of his partners in the deal, Frank Leo and Patrick Danan, have not affected the project, he said. The Illinois Gaming Board forced Gerard Kenny to sell his stake in a Downstate casino after naming Leo and Danan as associates of an alleged mob figure in New Jersey. Kenny called that characterization false and unfair.

[honte]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/305612,CST-FIN-roeder21.article

The project is a blend of 252 hotel rooms managed by the posh Mandarin Oriental brand, 159 homes that range from standard-issue condos to stunning penthouses, plus 103 ultra-luxurious condos whose owners are entitled to hotel services, such as twice-daily maid service. The regular condos start in the $600,000s, but those with hotel services have been priced at $1 million to $3.5 million.

The other Mandarin hotel rooms start at about $600,000.


Man, this guy is on my nerves! Did he excerpt this directly from the marketing brochure? "Stunning penthouses"? How, per se, could he know that?

After all of his CS-bashing, maybe I'm hypersensitive, but it's still obnoxious reporting.

Anyway, it's good to hear this might be moving along.

[jrickw]

Roeder says 74 stories. It would have been nice if he had cleared that up in his chat with the developer!

[SamInTheLoop]

Man, this guy is on my nerves! Did he excerpt this directly from the marketing brochure? "Stunning penthouses"? How, per se, could he know that?

After all of his CS-bashing, maybe I'm hypersensitive, but it's still obnoxious reporting.

Anyway, it's good to hear this might be moving along.


Coming from someone who thought his skepticism on cs was justified, I had a similar reaction to this article - he went very soft on Palladian. I can see these guys running into a similar situation as Teng now finds itself in. Lenders are right now in a flight to 'quality'. Part of that 'quality' are developers that are very experienced in the types of projects they are now trying to land a loan for (obviously Teng and Palladian don't meet that standard).........I wouldn't necessarily bet against MO tower happening, but it might not have better than 50/50 chances...

[TowerGuy37]

DId any one happen to notice the FULL PAGE, beautiful colorful new add for the Mandarin Oriental Tower in Sundays Tribune Real Estate section. NOtice in the add it never mentions the floor count anywhere. However in the rendering it appears as if 2 Prudential is dwarfed by the project. Interesting. I assume this leaves the developer the option to either go up or down depending on sales. The tower still appears to look the same. classy add!!

[Mojava]

minor thing, but can some change the name of this thread to the real name of the building...Mandarin Oriental Tower Chicago...thx

[Steely Dan]

minor thing, but can some change the name of this thread to the real name of the building...Mandarin Oriental Tower Chicago...thx

that name is too long and won't fit in the title. we'll have to live with just "mandarin oriental".

[phillyskyline]

This thing is a beauty, can't wait to see it rise!

[honte]

DId any one happen to notice the FULL PAGE, beautiful colorful new add for the Mandarin Oriental Tower in Sundays Tribune Real Estate section. NOtice in the add it never mentions the floor count anywhere. However in the rendering it appears as if 2 Prudential is dwarfed by the project. Interesting. I assume this leaves the developer the option to either go up or down depending on sales. The tower still appears to look the same. classy add!!

If this is something we haven't seen before, would there be any chance that a very generous forumer could scan it? I guess the size might make things a bit difficult.

[Via Chicago]

Roeder says 74 stories. It would have been nice if he had cleared that up in his chat with the developer!

their website says 74 stories as well
http://www.mandarinorientaltower.com/index.html

[SamInTheLoop]

If this is something we haven't seen before, would there be any chance that a very generous forumer could scan it? I guess the size might make things a bit difficult.

The rendering itself wasn't new - same old one, just a new ad...

[chicubs111]

I think this will squash any doubts about this building going up...a big chunk of units purchased in 1 day...lol..

Exclusive Resorts Acquires 16 Residences at the Manadarin Oriental in Chicago
March 28, 2007 05:30 PM •
Destination club Exclusive Resorts recently acquire 16 two-bedroom, city residences at the new Mandarin Oriental in Chicago. This is in addition to their six residences under construction at Chicago's Trump International Tower.

Exclusive Resorts has been on the lookout for a quality development in the Windy City since many of its members travel to Chicago for work or play. Groundbreaking will begin next month on the glass, 74-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Residences. Completion will be in late 2009.

The sixteen Exclusive Resorts residences at the Mandarin Oriental, Chicago are all corner two-bedroom units, with tremendous lake, city, river, and park views on floors 44 through 47. The residences are expected to be the largest and most luxurious of Exclusive Resorts' metropolitan portfolio.

Members will be able to take advantage of everything the world-renowned Mandarin Hotel - on floors 10 to 25 - has to offer, including 24-hour room service and access to its the 30,000 square-foot Mandarin Spa. The Mandarin Tower is adjacent to Millennium Park, a 25-acre cultural retreat featuring a Frank Gehry-designed outdoor concert venue, and only a short walk from the famed Magnificent Mile.

http://www.heliumreport.com/destination-clubs/exclusive-resorts-acquires-16-residences-at-the-manadarin-oriental-in-chicago-000792.php

[honte]

^ Thanks. Alas, my doubts run a bit deeper than that, but any good news is welcome and encouraging.

[trvlr70]

^^^
Wow! That is quite encouraging.

[aaron38]

Okay, I just sat bolt upright on reading Chicubs' post. That is exactly the news I have been waiting to see.
The only difference between the 60 story proposal and the 74 story proposal are the 100 residences on floors 41 to 54. That's what they've been deciding whether or not to include.

So if 16 of those residences were just purchased on floors 44-47, then the 74 story version must have the green light. And therefore, though I don't want to jump to conclusions, the height should be back to the mid 900ft range.

[Chitown]

*does happy dance*

C'mon, build!

[honte]

Okay, I just sat bolt upright on reading Chicubs' post. That is exactly the news I have been waiting to see.
The only difference between the 60 story proposal and the 74 story proposal are the 100 residences on floors 41 to 54. That's what they've been deciding whether or not to include.

So if 16 of those residences were just purchased on floors 44-47, then the 74 story version must have the green light. And therefore, though I don't want to jump to conclusions, the height should be back to the mid 900ft range.

Ok, now I get it. :tup:

[Alliance]

Okay, I just sat bolt upright on reading Chicubs' post. That is exactly the news I have been waiting to see.
The only difference between the 60 story proposal and the 74 story proposal are the 100 residences on floors 41 to 54. That's what they've been deciding whether or not to include.

So if 16 of those residences were just purchased on floors 44-47, then the 74 story version must have the green light. And therefore, though I don't want to jump to conclusions, the height should be back to the mid 900ft range.

I think thats a jump...but I definitely feel slightly more comfortable about a 900 ftr.

[headcase]

Side note, I was bored and looked up Exclusive Resorts (http://www.exclusiveresorts.com/#Membership_Plans) The membership starts $225,000, plus 12,900 a year!

I guess that is why it is Exclusive?

[SamInTheLoop]

Okay, I just sat bolt upright on reading Chicubs' post. That is exactly the news I have been waiting to see.
The only difference between the 60 story proposal and the 74 story proposal are the 100 residences on floors 41 to 54. That's what they've been deciding whether or not to include.

So if 16 of those residences were just purchased on floors 44-47, then the 74 story version must have the green light. And therefore, though I don't want to jump to conclusions, the height should be back to the mid 900ft range.


Yes - it's fantastic news indeed. Perhaps this will be the kick-start that The Residences need to officially make it into the tower!! However, now I have a new question - the article above states the hotel itself is floors 10-25. If The Residences are 41-54 and the Tower condos 55-74, then what the heck is on 26-40?? Am I missing something??

[aaron38]

Yes - it's fantastic news indeed. Perhaps this will be the kick-start that The Residences need to officially make it into the tower!! However, now I have a new question - the article above states the hotel itself is floors 10-25. If The Residences are 41-54 and the Tower condos 55-74, then what the heck is on 26-40?? Am I missing something??

Acording to the Mandarin Oriental website, floors 28-40 are the 250 hotel condominiums. I don't know what's on 26-27, maybe mechanicals?

[bnk]

Cool link

http://www.exclusiveresorts.com/#Chicago_IL


Click on Chicago.

See the slide show.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

You gotta figure that if Exclusive Resorts bought 16 residences at MO in addition to 6 at TT, there is a pretty good chance that they'll buy at least a few at the Chicago Spire...

[Mojava]

I believe all of Exclusive Resorts destinations are part of a hotel, resort, or spa. They are all about providing the best service to their millionaire clients. No hotel at the spire so I doubt ER would buy there.

[BorisMolotov]

I don't know what's on 26-27, maybe mechanicals?

Yea, that or hotel amenities-type things.

[SamInTheLoop]

Acording to the Mandarin Oriental website, floors 28-40 are the 250 hotel condominiums. I don't know what's on 26-27, maybe mechanicals?


We've been focusing on The Residences portion (41-54) as the difference between a 60-story and a 74-story building (as the difference in floors (14) matches perfectly). I still think there's a good chance that is it. But what if the matching number is just a coincidence? The reason I bring this up is that we still need to account for what takes up the lower 27! floors...surely parking, lobby levels, mechanical levels, amenity levels, etc, but 27 floors still feels like a lot for these uses.... Is it possible the difference between 60 and 74 stories is at the bottom of the building??

[SamInTheLoop]

You gotta figure that if Exclusive Resorts bought 16 residences at MO in addition to 6 at TT, there is a pretty good chance that they'll buy at least a few at the Chicago Spire...

I don't know for certain, but it's possible they only buy in buildings with hotels??

[aaron38]

Sam,
What I'm basing it on is that from the articles that have been posted here, I saw the proposal for the 60 story version listed as:
Mandarin Hotel, 250 hotel condos, 150 std condos.

Then I saw the 74 story version listed as:
Mandarin Hotel, 250 hotel condos, 100 residences, 150 std condos.

But you're right, there is sparse info on the hotel/spa portion. The only thing I've been able to find is a note that the fitness center is on the 18th floor.
If they're adding/subtracting floors between 1-27, they haven't made it public.

[SlatsGrobnik]

deleted

[pherek]

Anybody know what these big steel cylinders are for?

Viewed from the south
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4761/chicagopicsapril5200700sv6.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2589/chicagopicsapril5200700ph9.jpg

[SolarWind]

April 5, 2007

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7958/dsc0138copyra9.jpg

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/5895/dsc0134copyte0.jpg

[Jaroslaw]

Looks like water pipes. And in Pherek's first pic you've got what looks like a sewer/water access main.

[museumparktom]

They look like 36'' Sewer pipes. My conference room is looking down on the site.

[texcolo]

Anybody know what these big steel cylinders are for?

Viewed from the south
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4761/chicagopicsapril5200700sv6.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2589/chicagopicsapril5200700ph9.jpg

They appear to be prefabricated manholes.

Um... I thought you meant the big concrete cylinder.... nevermind.

[X-fib]

OK, color me confused. I recently read somewhere on this forum (not on this thread) that MO was along Columbus kitty corner from Aqua. I assume this was somebody's bad because isn't it a block or two to the west, and north of AON? Did I not also read that there is another major building yet to announced that would be on the west side of Columbus? Thanks, I live 250 miles away or I'd just run over and look myself.;)

[honte]

^ Almost.

MO is one block west of Columbus and north of AON, just behind the Two Prudential Plaza building.

There IS another major building going to be announced (rumor has it, larger than either MO or Aqua), but this one will front on Wacker Drive just east of the Swissotel.

[X-fib]

^ Thanks Honte, that clears things up.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

^ Almost.

MO is one block west of Columbus and north of AON, just behind the Two Prudential Plaza building.

There IS another major building going to be announced (rumor has it, larger than either MO or Aqua), but this one will front on Wacker Drive just east of the Swissotel.

Are you referring to the Arquitectonica proposal, or is this a different building?

[honte]

^ No, you're right, that's the one. I'd have called it the Arquitectonica tower, but I can't ever spell that damn name correctly.

It's the only one I know of so far. The sites closer to LSD and south of Aqua seem to be happening later on, but the trend in LSE seems to heading be bigger and better! :tup:

[Marvel 33]

Here is the information we got from the developer with the floor count and height of the building. They also sent us a rendering...below is the link.

http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html (http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html)


Mandarin Oriental takes Chicago by storm

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
By Kelly Matlock

Chicago, IL, US (NCS) - Chicago will soon say hello to the Midwest’s first Mandarin Oriental residential property, which is breaking ground within the next few weeks at North Stetson Avenue just north of Millennium Park in the city’s new Eastside zone in the loop with expected delivery in 2009.

Gerard M. Kenny, president, COO and partner of Palladian Development, LLC, the tower’s developer, said he had this kind of lavish, innovative tower in mind when he first established Palladian; Kenny’s past local credits with self-founded Kenny Construction Company include the El’s Green and Blue lines, the city’s Tunnel and Reservoir project, Midway Airport redevelopment and the rehabilitation of Soldier Field.

“Let's face it,” Kenny said. “I'm a Chicago guy, and Chicago is the City of Architecture. My partners and I share an emotional commitment, as well as an economic interest, in building the kind of grand and gracious condominium hotel this town deserves. We created Palladian for the sole purpose of building an architectural icon worthy of its location next to Millennium Park.”

An iconic building next to the park is exactly what the 74-story, 930-foot Mandarin Oriental Tower will be, offering up a 250-room Mandarin Oriental hotel with hotel guestrooms ranging from 552 to 3,600 square feet and priced from $570,000 to $7 million USD. Buyers have the option of having Mandarin Oriental rent their unit when not in use. Additionally, 250 residential condos will offer one to four bedrooms, one to four baths, from 770 to 13,000 square feet and priced from $550,000 to $21 million USD. 150 of these, called Tower Condominiums, are intended for those seeking traditional condo ownership with access to specific hotel amenities. The remaining 100 condos, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, are best for permanent hotel guests who seek complete residential floor plans with access to full Mandarin Oriental services and amenities.

The tower will offer residents and guests dining and entertainment options including the signature Mandarin Oriental restaurant as well as a slated five-star restaurant that will offer one of the finest culinary experiences in Chicago. The building’s SkyLobby will be home to a MObar Lounge along with a tea room that will serve dim sum and a selection of the finest teas from around the world, as well as Mandarin Oriental’s award-winning Cake Shop. Additional amenities include a 24-hour concierge, valet service and IT concierge, as well as The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Chicago, featuring 14 treatment rooms, experience showers, ice caves, vitality pools, amethyst steam rooms and saunas. Adjacent to the Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center will offer training equipment, fitness classes, a yoga and Pilates studio, swimming pool, grotto and hot tub.

Housed within a contemporary glass shell, the building was designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz principal Martin Wolf, known for his appreciation and respect for the old design methodology of hand drawing. Despite the advent of computer technology, Wolf still prefers to draw many of his designs by hand, enabling him to produce a sequence of drawings which he can compare and contrast in order to arrive at a satisfying design. Wolf is known for his recent work on projects such as the 61-story 340 on the Park condo tower, expected to become Chicago’s first green residential high-rise, and the brand new River North campus for the Erikson Institute, which broke ground in January.

Wolf’s design of the Mandarin Oriental, which according to SCB, “combines Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage with a strong sense of place and presence,” was inspired by the vitality of the hotel activities at its base and the desire to invigorate the street and surroundings. The exterior consists of transparent and semi-transparent glass panels that change color at night and offer views of the ever-changing lifecycle of activity and lighting within the building. The sleek glass form is split into two volumes, with one volume articulated as a thin shard of glass facing the lake, and another volume facing west and deferring to the taller element as it peels back in a graceful arc to reveal a luminous lantern.

With interior design by Washington, D.C.-based Avery Brooks & Associates, the Mandarin tower is changing the hotel trends. According to Todd Avery-Lenahan, the firm’s president, “Guest rooms are not in the paradigm of the typical hotel room. Their overall floor plan, configuration and the way they are fitted out is more aligned to a finely planned urban environment.” Lenahan explains that the integration of high technology for business travelers, distinctively custom features for all guest rooms, multi-use expectation for both travelers and residents, and a setting that will act as “the new social stage for Chicago’s social events,” culminates in one revolutionary and innovative hotel design.

The Mandarin Oriental brand, with its trademark 11-bladed gold fan logo, received top honors in North America among luxury hotel chains in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2005 Business Travel Awards and was named the World’s Leading Luxury Spa Operator by the Robb Report in 2006. With 9,500 rooms in 20 countries now operating or under development, Mandarin Oriental has 15 hotels in Asia, 12 in the Americas and seven in Europe and North Africa. M.O. hotels will be going up in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and Hainan Island, China in 2007; Barcelona and Boston in 2008; Dallas, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech, Turks, Calcos and Grand Cayman in 2009; and Guangzhou, Taipei and Paris in 2010.

The first hotel of the Group, “The Mandarin” opened in Hong Kong in September, 1963, and the group began its expansion in Asia in 1974 as the “Mandarin International Hotels Limited,” and acquired a 49% interest in “The Oriental” Hotel in Bangkok, also a legendary property. The Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park in London is known for its amazing restaurant foliage, which is regarded as one of the best in London and is often frequented by celebrities including Madonna.

To find out more information about the Mandarin Oriental Tower, Chicago, visit the sales center at 160 N. Stetson, call 312-540-1515 or visit www.mandarintowerchicago.com (http://www.mandarintowerchicago.com).

[Steely Dan]

sounds good mario, we'll go with the new numbers (until they undoubtedly change again ;) )

[gttx]

Wow, what a beautiful tower.

The Atlantans here are all hoping their's is as nice as that one....though at 700' it will be significantly shorter.

[aaron38]

“Let's face it,” Kenny said. “I'm a Chicago guy, and Chicago is the City of Architecture. My partners and I share an emotional commitment, as well as an economic interest, in building the kind of grand and gracious condominium hotel this town deserves. We created Palladian for the sole purpose of building an architectural icon worthy of its location next to Millennium Park.”

Well lets hope he doesn't skimp on the glass then. Get whoever Parkview is using.
And it's nice to see this "officially" back over 900 ft. Cross your fingers...

[trvlr70]

Great news about the height.

Does anyone have any renderings of this building as it relates to neighboring towers? The renders, understandably, don't emphasize the close proximity to 2Pru of Aon, for example.

[Chitown]

Oh man, it's great to see that article. First, because I wasn't 100% that this 'site work' actually was site work; it's good to see that this is in fact going forward. Second, it's fantastic news to hear that this thing is supposed to break 900'. Bad. Ass.

[Chitown]

Great news about the height.

Does anyone have any renderings of this building as it relates to neighboring towers? The renders, understandably, don't emphasize the close proximity to 2Pru of Aon, for example.
Follow the link before the article; 2pru is right there.

[trvlr70]

Follow the link before the article; 2pru is right there.

I don't trust that rendering. I'd like to see another from a different perspective.

[BVictor1]

Here is the information we got from the developer with the floor count and height of the building. They also sent us a rendering...below is the link.

http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html (http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html)


Mandarin Oriental takes Chicago by storm

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
By Kelly Matlock

Chicago, IL, US (NCS) - Chicago will soon say hello to the Midwest’s first Mandarin Oriental residential property, which is breaking ground within the next few weeks at North Stetson Avenue just north of Millennium Park in the city’s new Eastside zone in the loop with expected delivery in 2009.

Gerard M. Kenny, president, COO and partner of Palladian Development, LLC, the tower’s developer, said he had this kind of lavish, innovative tower in mind when he first established Palladian; Kenny’s past local credits with self-founded Kenny Construction Company include the El’s Green and Blue lines, the city’s Tunnel and Reservoir project, Midway Airport redevelopment and the rehabilitation of Soldier Field.

“Let's face it,” Kenny said. “I'm a Chicago guy, and Chicago is the City of Architecture. My partners and I share an emotional commitment, as well as an economic interest, in building the kind of grand and gracious condominium hotel this town deserves. We created Palladian for the sole purpose of building an architectural icon worthy of its location next to Millennium Park.”

An iconic building next to the park is exactly what the 74-story, 930-foot Mandarin Oriental Tower will be, offering up a 250-room Mandarin Oriental hotel with hotel guestrooms ranging from 552 to 3,600 square feet and priced from $570,000 to $7 million USD. Buyers have the option of having Mandarin Oriental rent their unit when not in use. Additionally, 250 residential condos will offer one to four bedrooms, one to four baths, from 770 to 13,000 square feet and priced from $550,000 to $21 million USD. 150 of these, called Tower Condominiums, are intended for those seeking traditional condo ownership with access to specific hotel amenities. The remaining 100 condos, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, are best for permanent hotel guests who seek complete residential floor plans with access to full Mandarin Oriental services and amenities.

The tower will offer residents and guests dining and entertainment options including the signature Mandarin Oriental restaurant as well as a slated five-star restaurant that will offer one of the finest culinary experiences in Chicago. The building’s SkyLobby will be home to a MObar Lounge along with a tea room that will serve dim sum and a selection of the finest teas from around the world, as well as Mandarin Oriental’s award-winning Cake Shop. Additional amenities include a 24-hour concierge, valet service and IT concierge, as well as The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Chicago, featuring 14 treatment rooms, experience showers, ice caves, vitality pools, amethyst steam rooms and saunas. Adjacent to the Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center will offer training equipment, fitness classes, a yoga and Pilates studio, swimming pool, grotto and hot tub.

Housed within a contemporary glass shell, the building was designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz principal Martin Wolf, known for his appreciation and respect for the old design methodology of hand drawing. Despite the advent of computer technology, Wolf still prefers to draw many of his designs by hand, enabling him to produce a sequence of drawings which he can compare and contrast in order to arrive at a satisfying design. Wolf is known for his recent work on projects such as the 61-story 340 on the Park condo tower, expected to become Chicago’s first green residential high-rise, and the brand new River North campus for the Erikson Institute, which broke ground in January.

Wolf’s design of the Mandarin Oriental, which according to SCB, “combines Mandarin Oriental’s Asian heritage with a strong sense of place and presence,” was inspired by the vitality of the hotel activities at its base and the desire to invigorate the street and surroundings. The exterior consists of transparent and semi-transparent glass panels that change color at night and offer views of the ever-changing lifecycle of activity and lighting within the building. The sleek glass form is split into two volumes, with one volume articulated as a thin shard of glass facing the lake, and another volume facing west and deferring to the taller element as it peels back in a graceful arc to reveal a luminous lantern.

With interior design by Washington, D.C.-based Avery Brooks & Associates, the Mandarin tower is changing the hotel trends. According to Todd Avery-Lenahan, the firm’s president, “Guest rooms are not in the paradigm of the typical hotel room. Their overall floor plan, configuration and the way they are fitted out is more aligned to a finely planned urban environment.” Lenahan explains that the integration of high technology for business travelers, distinctively custom features for all guest rooms, multi-use expectation for both travelers and residents, and a setting that will act as “the new social stage for Chicago’s social events,” culminates in one revolutionary and innovative hotel design.

The Mandarin Oriental brand, with its trademark 11-bladed gold fan logo, received top honors in North America among luxury hotel chains in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2005 Business Travel Awards and was named the World’s Leading Luxury Spa Operator by the Robb Report in 2006. With 9,500 rooms in 20 countries now operating or under development, Mandarin Oriental has 15 hotels in Asia, 12 in the Americas and seven in Europe and North Africa. M.O. hotels will be going up in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and Hainan Island, China in 2007; Barcelona and Boston in 2008; Dallas, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech, Turks, Calcos and Grand Cayman in 2009; and Guangzhou, Taipei and Paris in 2010.

The first hotel of the Group, “The Mandarin” opened in Hong Kong in September, 1963, and the group began its expansion in Asia in 1974 as the “Mandarin International Hotels Limited,” and acquired a 49% interest in “The Oriental” Hotel in Bangkok, also a legendary property. The Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park in London is known for its amazing restaurant foliage, which is regarded as one of the best in London and is often frequented by celebrities including Madonna.

To find out more information about the Mandarin Oriental Tower, Chicago, visit the sales center at 160 N. Stetson, call 312-540-1515 or visit www.mandarintowerchicago.com (http://www.mandarintowerchicago.com).

Mario, was that height taken from CCD or the main entrance? That's the question

[kalmia]

Wow, what a beautiful tower.

The Atlantans here are all hoping their's is as nice as that one....though at 700' it will be significantly shorter.

significantly shorter? maybe.

[Marvel 33]

Mario, was that height taken from CCD or the main entrance? That's the question

930' total with 845' above plaza level (Stetson Avenue). The building will actually have 61 floors but some of the floors are pretty high (floor to ceiling) so potentially the building could have 74 with the existing height and that's why they're marketing it with 74 instead of 61. So I'm assuming that the only thing that could change in the near future is the floor count but according to the architects the height will remain the same.

So Steely, I'm not sure which height you want to use but those are the numbers we have from the architect. I just talked to them a few minutes ago and the numbers were confirmed.

[Steely Dan]

^ thanks for following that up. 845' and 61 floors will be the official numbers on this one, until something else changes. they can market the tower in any fashion they so choose, but if it only has 61 actual floors, then it will be listed as having 61 floors.

i'm curious how they came up with a difference of 85' between the two height figures. i realize that upper stetson is quite a fair bit off the ground, but it's certainly not 85'! something doesn't add up.

[aaron38]

Is 2Pru's roof height of 915ft also taken from Stetson Ave?
If so, then Mandarin will only come up to about the midpoint of the sloped roof, not above the peak as we were expecting.

[Marvel 33]

^^ The only thing I can think of is that some of the floors could be underground. We asked for a copy of the actual floor plans...if we get it, I'll post it here so we can see what's going on.

[Alliance]

Nice to see the height back up. :cool:...and that this is actual site prep.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Just a few months ago, most people were doubting if this development would even get built....this is all great news!

[PansitPinoy]

Yay! Awesome news!

[Rocket1]

Here is the information we got from the developer with the floor count and height of the building. They also sent us a rendering...below is the link.

http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html (http://www.newcityskyline.com/MandarinOrientalChicago.html)


Mandarin Oriental takes Chicago by storm

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
By Kelly Matlock

Chicago, IL, US (NCS) - Chicago will soon say hello to the Midwest’s first Mandarin Oriental residential property, which is breaking ground within the next few weeks at North Stetson Avenue just north of Millennium Park in the city’s new Eastside zone in the loop with expected delivery in 2009....

An iconic building next to the park is exactly what the 74-story, 930-foot Mandarin Oriental Tower will be, offering up a 250-room Mandarin Oriental hotel with hotel guestrooms ranging from 552 to 3,600 square feet and priced from $570,000 to $7 million USD. Buyers have the option of having Mandarin Oriental rent their unit when not in use. Additionally, 250 residential condos will offer one to four bedrooms, one to four baths, from 770 to 13,000 square feet and priced from $550,000 to $21 million USD. 150 of these, called Tower Condominiums, are intended for those seeking traditional condo ownership with access to specific hotel amenities. The remaining 100 condos, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, are best for permanent hotel guests who seek complete residential floor plans with access to full Mandarin Oriental services and amenities.


$21 million???

Am I right in thinking this'd be a record price for a Chicago condo?

(at least until the Spire is built)

[SlatsGrobnik]

$21 million???

Am I right in thinking this'd be a record price for a Chicago condo?

(at least until the Spire is built)


$21,000,000?!? Sheesh. . .Nice fixer upper for the young couple, huh?

[Alliance]

:haha: Hope that includes the furniture.

Can you furnish a 21000K condo wiht IKEA?

[headcase]

$21 million???

Am I right in thinking this'd be a record price for a Chicago condo?

(at least until the Spire is built)

No, Trump's top floor condo was listed at 26Million....

SSDD

[SlatsGrobnik]

duplicate

[SlatsGrobnik]

No, Trump's top floor condo was listed at 26Million....

SSDD


Yeah, but it has an in-unit washer and dryer.

Sorry, Steely. We now resume the actual topic already in progress.

[Tom In Chicago]

I'm really starting to wonder why the CBTUH or EDC nit-pick these numbers to death. . . why don't we just count the buildings from above-grade and be done with it. . . I quite certain there are people in those groups that are more concerned with the process rather than the end result. . .

[Alliance]

As I've said before, if were counting spires, why the heck aren't we counting above grade floors?

[chicubs111]

INSIDE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Purchase of 16 condos gives big lift to Mandarin project

Published April 25, 2007


The $450 million Mandarin Oriental Tower hotel and condominium project overlooking the Chicago River is getting a boost.

Denver-based Exclusive Resorts LLC has agreed to spend about $35 million to buy 16 condominium units that come with complete hotel services.

Exclusive Resort members get treated to the finest accommodations. But not on the cheap.

They pay a one-time deposit of $225,000 to $425,000, plus annual dues of $12,000 to $30,000. For those fees they get to spend 15 to 45 days a year at one of the company's many luxury retreats, said Chief Executive Donn Davis.

Davis, who has also agreed to buy six units across the river in Trump Tower for the company, said that his members have chosen Chicago as one of the top five places they would like to visit.

"Chicago has the easiest, best shopping in the world, a vibrant night life, and in the summer, there's no better spot," he said. "It has the beach, Millennium Park and Wrigley Field."

The Exclusive Resort deal pushes total sales for the Mandarin project, expected to be completed by 2009, to more than half of its units. Since last summer, it has sold 52 of the 103 condominiums with hotel services, priced from $850,000 to $5 million. It has also sold 80 of the 159 regular condominiums, priced from $550,000 to $18 million, said Chris Kenny, chief financial officer of the project's developer, Chicago-based Palladian Development LLC.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704240722apr25,0,3273072.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed

[nomarandlee]

:previous: Great news, thats a major push.

[the urban politician]

The Exclusive Resort deal pushes total sales for the Mandarin project, expected to be completed by 2009, to more than half of its units. Since last summer, it has sold 52 of the 103 condominiums with hotel services, priced from $850,000 to $5 million. It has also sold 80 of the 159 regular condominiums, priced from $550,000 to $18 million, said Chris Kenny, chief financial officer of the project's developer, Chicago-based Palladian Development LLC.

^ This is the part that caught my eye..

[VivaLFuego]

^ This is the part that caught my eye..

Right, so they're right about at the magic 50% sold level...

[Chitown]

Nice. Can't wait for construction to start. This is going to be an interesting part of town to watch!

[Kngkyle]

Looks like this one is almost a for sure go now. :tup:

[jrickw]

INSIDE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Purchase of 16 condos gives big lift to Mandarin project

Published April 25, 2007


The $450 million Mandarin Oriental Tower hotel and condominium project overlooking the Chicago River is getting a boost.

Denver-based Exclusive Resorts LLC has agreed to spend about $35 million to buy 16 condominium units that come with complete hotel services.

Exclusive Resort members get treated to the finest accommodations. But not on the cheap.

They pay a one-time deposit of $225,000 to $425,000, plus annual dues of $12,000 to $30,000. For those fees they get to spend 15 to 45 days a year at one of the company's many luxury retreats, said Chief Executive Donn Davis.

Davis, who has also agreed to buy six units across the river in Trump Tower for the company, said that his members have chosen Chicago as one of the top five places they would like to visit.

"Chicago has the easiest, best shopping in the world, a vibrant night life, and in the summer, there's no better spot," he said. "It has the beach, Millennium Park and Wrigley Field."

The Exclusive Resort deal pushes total sales for the Mandarin project, expected to be completed by 2009, to more than half of its units. Since last summer, it has sold 52 of the 103 condominiums with hotel services, priced from $850,000 to $5 million. It has also sold 80 of the 159 regular condominiums, priced from $550,000 to $18 million, said Chris Kenny, chief financial officer of the project's developer, Chicago-based Palladian Development LLC.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704240722apr25,0,3273072.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed

This is old news. It was published on this forum a month ago (see post 931): http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2727341&postcount=931

[Mojava]

the exclusive resorts news is a couple weeks old but those sales numbers are new. I'm amazed that they sold half of these residences and they're not even marketing them. Their website still says coming soon.

[Marcu]

How did Mandarin get the inside track on all these Exclusive Resorts purchases? Maybe hiring that ny company to market the units wasn't such a bad idea.

[the urban politician]

This is old news. It was published on this forum a month ago (see post 931): http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2727341&postcount=931

^ No it's not. None of use knew (for sure, at least) how many units had actually sold in this sucker. Now we do.

[honte]

^ That is, if we believe their figures... Call me a downer, but I refuse to get excited about this "shrinking tower" until we hear about a loan closing.

[SamInTheLoop]

What about the hotel-condo units though? I too am very surpised they've sold so many of The Residences before officially beginning marketing....almost doesn't sound right. Has anyone heard what percent of the actual hotel units they've sold? I'll say it again, if the developers were smart they would do the difficult work it takes to make the hotel just a hotel (ala Aqua) and not try to sell the units individually...........at any rate, I am much more optimistic about this project's chances than I was just a month or two ago...

[Rocket1]

What about the hotel-condo units though? I too am very surpised they've sold so many of The Residences before officially beginning marketing....almost doesn't sound right.

I wonder if some of those were discount sales sold to insiders associated with the project.

If so, I hope the developer doesn't pull a Trump on the purchasers.

[jjk1103]

...you can believe that Exclusive Resorts got a huge discount off the "advertised price". This project has needed some good publicity for quite a while.

[Mojava]

^ 16 units at $35 million is about $2.2 million per unit. Doesnt seem like they got a huge discount. If they did, I wonder how expensive these units are.

[firstcranialnerve]

As I've said before, if were counting spires, why the heck aren't we counting above grade floors?

Here here! I totally agree with this idea. When I walk along the riverfront, I get an idea of how truly large the buildings are and I think that just because the road is elevated shouldn't mean you can't count floors at lower roads.

This point should have been argued a long time ago. We don't get the recognition for the incredible city we have here. I've never seen anything like Wacker drive and the underground.

[jjk1103]

..........the $2.2MM price is just for the newspapers.........they didn't pay anywhere near that amount.

[jjk1103]

...I keep seeing full page ads for Mandarin in numerous magazines as well as in the Sunday Trib.........somebody is spending serious ad money on this one.....if they don't build it, there is a lot of money that will be down the drain...... which is a good sign.

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

^I think it will get built, but mass marketing is surely not a sign of the well being of a devolopment for spending a few mil on marketing is pennies when the overall devolopment will end up costing hundreds of millions to construct.

[BVictor1]

^I think it will get built, but mass marketing is surely not a sign of the well being of a devolopment for spending a few mil on marketing is pennies when the overall devolopment will end up costing hundreds of millions to construct.

Well, if there isn't mass marketing, how will people know about the product? If you don't get your name out there, no one will know you exist.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I came across some other random message board a few days ago that said that MO will start construction no later than May 15....

[jjk1103]

.....there had better be some major activity at the site right about now !

[Kngkyle]

Any updates? It has been quite awhile.

[ih8spires]

I clicked on the Atlanta Mandarin Oriental thinking it was the Chicago Mandarin Oriental and just about had a heart attack when I saw 700 ft and 54 floors. I thought they lowered it again.

[denizen467]

^ And thank god that wasn't Chicago's. That is one hideous pile of glass and steel.

I think I saw somewhere that MO was going to put its North American hq in Atlanta. Go figure.

[museumparktom]

Any updates? It has been quite awhile.

Nothing new
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2824.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2826.jpg

[MrLakepoint]

MuseumParkTom.....you get great birds eye views...thanks for the great pictures....

[mountsac]

i checked out their website, and it says that the condos are priced from 650,000 to 21 million dollars. but i checked the floor plan, and the biggest penthouse is 3898 square feet. doesn't that make the 21 million unit have a rediculously high average cost per square feet?

i'm a little confused...

[SportsWorld]

Nothing new
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2824.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2826.jpg
i feel stupid, what's the address of this site?

[VivaLFuego]

i feel stupid, what's the address of this site?

Good question.....at one point there was a big to-do because they wanted to claim a Michigan Avenue address on account of Pedway access or something weird like that.

Logically, this thing is probably 200 N. Stetson, though it could also have it's address on Lake st.

[budman]

Good question.....at one point there was a big to-do because they wanted to claim a Michigan Avenue address on account of Pedway access or something weird like that.

Logically, this thing is probably 200 N. Stetson, though it could also have it's address on Lake st.
I think it is 203 (or 200--something) N. Michigan I think the site is part of the original Illinois Center where they all had Michigan Ave. addresses. Stupid, yes. I went by the site this weekend, and it hasnt changed from the pictures above. So much for a 5/15 start date.