[TowerGuy37]

yeah not sure i get the whole white window frame thing either..kinda cheapens the whole look!

The same thing happened at 840 LSD also, those windows just ruined the overall aesthetic of the building!

[the urban politician]

Hey as long as we're griping, anyone else bummed about the very low unit density?

^ Considering what it replaced? Not at all.

Still plenty of units, plenty of well-paid individuals who will support local businesses and pay taxes.

[VivaLFuego]

^ Considering what it replaced? Not at all.

Still plenty of units, plenty of well-paid individuals who will support local businesses and pay taxes.

To clarify, there are 52 residential units.

Having another hotel is nice, I guess. OK, it is a step up from the 7-11 with surface parking that existed where the car court is; granted, too, the underground parking is very welcome as far as the streetscape is concerned, though I could deal without the curb cuts that have been carved into State Street (I think there are cuts to access both Elysian and 10ED, but I'd have to walk by again to check for sure).

[BVictor1]

Yeah, its a definite NoNo that the window frames on the tower don't match those on the base or the balconies...

It is odd that the windows on the base are black and the ones in the tower are white. Notice also how the frames for 10 E. Delaware are also white.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Ok, so you are saying that 10 E. is going to have Ass ugly windows as well? Haha, white frames look pathetic against tan walls...

[BVictor1]

^^^ Ok, so you are saying that 10 E. is going to have Ass ugly windows as well? Haha, white frames look pathetic against tan walls...

I'm just saying that 10 E. Delaware has white frames also, at least according to the photo on the previous page. That's all...

[headcase]

It is odd that the windows on the base are black and the ones in the tower are white. Notice also how the frames for 10 E. Delaware are also white.

I'm actually OK with the white tower window frames, to my eye they do a couple of things:

1) They distinguish between the low rise and tower portions. The low rise is more to the scale that this style would have been originally be designed for, and the black help anchors it to the ground, making it look heavier.

2) While I really don't like this building, it does have some vertical thrust to it, and that would have been ruined by placing, what amounts to, black crosses all over the facade.

I have alot of problems with this building, but the color differences between the windows mullions isn't one of them.

SSDD

PS -- Excuse the possibly poor English, I'm working on three hours sleep and the coffee isn't doing anything for me.

[a chicago bearcat]

I'm actually OK with the white tower window frames, to my eye they do a couple of things:

1) They distinguish between the low rise and tower portions. The low rise is more to the scale that this style would have been originally be designed for, and the black help anchors it to the ground, making it look heavier.

2) While I really don't like this building, it does have some vertical thrust to it, and that would have been ruined by placing, what amounts to, black crosses all over the facade.

I have alot of problems with this building, but the color differences between the windows mullions isn't one of them.

SSDD

PS -- Excuse the possibly poor English, I'm working on three hours sleep and the coffee isn't doing anything for me.

black crosses would not exist, windows are voids in the materiality of a structure, to place something bright like white frames actually clutters the composition more, by bisecting the many windows with white crosses.

white window frames are a creation of post war america, this is a throwback to prewar america. The white windows don't belong.

[headcase]

black crosses would not exist, windows are voids in the materiality of a structure, to place something bright like white frames actually clutters the composition more, by bisecting the many windows with white crosses.

white window frames are a creation of post war america, this is a throwback to prewar america. The white windows don't belong.

Valid points .... especially about the voids ... like I said sleepy.

With that being said, I still don't mind the white ... maybe it is a trick to my eye and it doesn't make the voids as apparent? Whatever, no need to rationalize, it is still one of the few things I don't hate about the building.

And a "Throwback to prewar america"? really? I've never gotten that from this building, I always assumed Paris ... in either case, the 600+ feet of the tower doesn't belong either!

SSDD

[george]

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6356/ely1r.jpg

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ As you can see in this photo and I just noticed today, the Yellow crane on this guy is coming down...

[Dr. Taco]

the roof is partially covered

[Pandemonious]

^Yeah, it is really visible coming in on the Kennedy.

[george]

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6448/ely2.jpg

[SolarWind]

March 25, 2009

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2861/dsc0310.jpg

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6843/dsc0287.jpg

[spyguy]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6843/dsc0287.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7703/16324368.jpg

Not quite the same...

[Dr. Taco]

^ I feel like that is just the first layer of the roof...

[trvlr70]

Where are the flying buttresses?

[chicubs111]

jesus people...let the freakin tower finish before we start makin these comments

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ I dunno, if you look at it the top has clearly been signifigantly Value Engineered down to a much simpler shape and design. For example look at the movement of the top row of oval windows off of the peak and into the shaft...

[honte]

The mansard / mechanical disguise looks taller than the render. I suppose it would be nice if there were a few extra feet up there to kick this thing back over the 700' line, whatever that's worth.

The changes that spyguy notes are disturbing. It looks highly unlikely that the roofline and precast will integrate, which will give the roof an even more "plopped on" appearance. Add in all the other elements that are clearly not going to be built as shown, and it's a fittingly miserable ending to a perfectly miserable performance. Two thumbs down.

[photoLith]

I think this tower looks amazing imo

[Tom Servo]

...whatever that's worth.


absolutely nothing.

...or wait, bragging rights? because the tallness of skyscrapers is the measure of a city's coolness. huh.

anyway, i found myself in adidas a few days ago. i was absolutely stunned by the impact of this, the other one, and the walton one on the feel of that little area. as i make no effort to visit those parts of our city... ever... this was the first time i'd been over there since the beginning of it all. and boy howdy, the amount of enclosure that filling all those holes with big giant buildings has is wonderful. all that coziness just makes that golden coastal part feel so much more european(?) :shrug: meh, i really hate to describe it that way. how about new york city-y? now, if only those big giant buildings were exponentially less awful, the delight would further increase. because after all, isn't the extent of the stun a representative measure of architectural value; the bigger the eye bulge, the better the building? or is it the bigger the building, too, the better the building? i forget... how architectural value is measured. someone call tigerman.
speaking of tallitude: i wish i had a massive knife that could cut this building in half or more. i can see the top from so many parts and the city, and what's worse, my house. it's an awful aspect of living in chicago. (900 n michigan and park tower too) is that just me?

[wrab]

^ Adrian, your obsession with the appearance, shape and visual appeal of this building is a neurosis. ;)

Not that I'm disagreeing.

[honte]

absolutely nothing.


No, I disagree. The tallness of a city like Chicago has definite functional implications. But this is not the place for that discussion. Height brackets are totally arbitrary, but at a certain point, so is anything.

[a chicago bearcat]

And a "Throwback to prewar america"? really? I've never gotten that from this building, I always assumed Paris ... in either case, the 600+ feet of the tower doesn't belong either!

SSDD

Not to obsess over details, but mansard roofs on buildings taller than the typical parisian 6 story is an american creation, one that was signature of prewar america, and the postmodernism that has idealized that era of skyscraper design.

Modernism especially the international style was a creation of the post war boom, post modernism was a rejection of many modernist aesthetic typologies. So, the building is trying to evoke paris, but through a design language that is in fact more akin to 1920's America.

but I'm starting to not get to perturbed with the white windows, I'm just puzzled by the conscious decision to not use them on the lower floors.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Add in all the other elements that are clearly not going to be built as shown, and it's a fittingly miserable ending to a perfectly miserable performance.

I'm laughing through the tears! :tup:

[VivaLFuego]

it's an awful aspect of living in chicago. (900 n michigan ...) is that just me?

Just you.

[Tom Servo]

haha... i gotta stop posting at 4am.:(

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Naw your early morning posts are wonderful!

[Duffstuff129]

Hey chose the worst possible stone for this building. It looks like it's made of solid concrete.

It's like Brutalism and Renaissance had a disgusting, ugly, mentally handicapped baby.

And the windows don't work for the building either...

[chex]

haha... i gotta stop posting at 4am.:(

i thought it was only me, the one with that habit... :koko:

[wrab]

Hey chose the worst possible stone for this building. It looks like it's made of solid concrete.

It's like Brutalism and Renaissance had a disgusting, ugly, mentally handicapped baby.

And the windows don't work for the building either...

Because it isn't stone - Lagrange used precast.

[jc5680]

3.29
http://www.j-carlson.com/ancilary/elysian329.jpg

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ I like it from that angle... because you can barely see it! :cool:

[Tom Servo]

i'd live here for free. elysian is an anagram for herbie hancock.

[the urban politician]

^ Stop hating on tall stuff, dude. Chicago just ain't right for you. Get your kicks in some European city

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ huh? I don't even understand what Adrian just said, but I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with height. Elysian is not an anagram for Herbie Hancock...

[Tom Servo]

^^^ huh? I don't even understand what Adrian just said, but I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with height. Elysian is not an anagram for Herbie Hancock...

i actually have no idea what i was thinking when i wrote that. sorry y'all.


Stop hating on tall stuff

i don't hate tall stuff. i hate needlessly tall stuff. this isn't china. every building doesn't need to be massive. (this isn't just an opinion i have about this, but that entire near north skyscraper forest too.) tall buildings, in a medium sized city such as chicago have their place. and that is not in abundance. but is specific instances. jhc made sense when it was surround by an area of small and medium scale density. i mean, does it really make sense to wish for a city full of wall to wall tall towers? again, this isn't china, we just don't have that kind of need.

[wrab]

i'd live here for free. elysian is an anagram for herbie hancock.

^^^ huh? I don't even understand what Adrian just said, but I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with height. Elysian is not an anagram for Herbie Hancock...

LOL Maybe it's one of the clues from last Sunday's London Times cryptic crossword?

[denizen467]

Elysian is not an anagram for Herbie Hancock...

No, but it is for ...

say "lien"!
ayes? nil!
a nil, yes!
a sin, ye L!
ye sin, la!
slain ye!
ye snail!
a silen' "Y!!??!"
lies, nay!

and also for ...

lye is an ...
ein slay
yin sale
say "nile"
any iles
lay sine
in a sly E
ale=sin? Y!
I lay E & N-S
An "L"? Yes, I ...

and also for ...

[denizen467]

^(sorry, i was waiting for an email, and got bored, and...)

[Jaroslaw]

That's going to be a nice double-height living room there... not too many of those in condo buildings!

[tj2112]

the fence/gate entry is different from the render. no room for grill works.

[ChiPsy]

the fence/gate entry is different from the render. no room for grill works.

Yes, to steal from denizen's list, it seems like their guiding principle when they drew up the renders was "any lies will do."

:(

[Crazy Ivan]

i don't hate tall stuff. i hate needlessly tall stuff. this isn't china. every building doesn't need to be massive. (this isn't just an opinion i have about this, but that entire near north skyscraper forest too.) tall buildings, in a medium sized city such as chicago have their place. and that is not in abundance. but is specific instances. jhc made sense when it was surround by an area of small and medium scale density. i mean, does it really make sense to wish for a city full of wall to wall tall towers? again, this isn't china, we just don't have that kind of need.

"Needlessly tall"? Dude, they're not building these buildings to appease you. Heights are driven by consumer demand and economics. Revenue for commercial and residential increases with height because there's greater demand, because people like the spectacular views from tall buildings, especially in Chicago. Sorry if you don't. Move to Lincoln Nebraska if it bothers you.

[george]

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/829/ely1.jpg

[Hoodrat]

Oh fer gawd sakes...it ain't that bad. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it could be sooooo much worse.

[the urban politician]

Oh fer gawd sakes...it ain't that bad. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it could be sooooo much worse.

^ Yup, for example at least it won't have one of these:

http://www.anthemion.com/chicago/fordhampodium.jpg

[jet cm]

^ Yup, for example at least it won't have one of these:

http://www.anthemion.com/chicago/fordhampodium.jpg

You probably know but others might not, that was SCB. Pinnacle was LLA though.

[Tom In Chicago]

^Fordham?

[mountsac]

i am in love with this building! does anyone know who will be replacing the charlie trotter's restaurant that was supposed to go in there?

[jet cm]

^Fordham?

Yes, that picture is the townhouse steel erection on top of Fordham's garage.

[UrbanSchmurban]

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8732.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8735.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8743.jpghttp://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8747.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8748.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8752.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8754.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8759.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8764.jpg

[george]

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6082/ely2x.jpg

[jcchii]

I'd love to get a look at the roof construction from the skydeck at JHC one of these days

[denizen467]

^ Salute to the IOC with the multiple colors on the balconies? ( :rolleyes: )

[honte]

does anyone know who will be replacing the charlie trotter's restaurant that was supposed to go in there?

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i200/phedipides/IMG_8740.jpg
(photo by UrbanSchmurban)

I don't know... a classy place like Frenchy's and the Elysian seems like a match made in heaven to me.

[Mojava]

The German lender Hypo was just recently nationalized. I wonder if this will effect the completion of the Elysian. They are the construction lender for the project.

http://www.globest.com/news/1386_1386/europe/177978-1.html

[avngingandbright]

As a New Yorker, I must say that this building far exceeds anything of similar height built in the last 8-10 years in New York. You're lucky enough to get a tower this tall! Zoning here wouldn't have it. And though its craftsmanship may be in question, it is certainly more aesthetically pleasing than most of the monstrosities built in our city, like all the work of developed Sam Chang, to name a few... hundred.

[Rilestone75]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered previously (sorry for my laziness), but what are the two structures just south east of this building? I see their concrete and crains from the brown line train.

thanks.

[Jibba]

^Ten East Delaware and Walton on the Park.

[honte]

As a New Yorker, I must say that this building far exceeds anything of similar height built in the last 8-10 years in New York. You're lucky enough to get a tower this tall! Zoning here wouldn't have it. And though its craftsmanship may be in question, it is certainly more aesthetically pleasing than most of the monstrosities built in our city, like all the work of developed Sam Chang, to name a few... hundred.

Yeah, that's kind of the problem with these LaGrange towers: they're not bad enough to be entirely repulsive.

(Most of the time, that is - there are some exceptions, like The Pinnacle, that even make fans of PoMo cringe).

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Its funny, the Pinnacle is actually way down on my list of the worst skyscrapers in the city. I would put just about everything else in River North except that black and tan one from the 80's and the white one below it. It looks beautiful in comparison with such classic turds as The Bernardian and Grand Plaza. I think Grand Plaza is probably the worst of the pomo structures though nothing beats that ugly thing in LSE that terminates the north section of LSD in Grant Park. You know, the one with all of the fake stone texture carved in concrete on top?

[wrab]

Yeah, that's kind of the problem with these LaGrange towers: they're not bad enough to be entirely repulsive.

(Most of the time, that is - there are some exceptions, like The Pinnacle, that even make fans of PoMo cringe).

Yes, there are many levels of hell. And isn't Elysium one of the nicer parts of the underworld, where the fallen of the battlefield lay? But a part of the underworld nonetheless.

The monicker "Elysian", with its associations of war & death, may well be an auspicious portend to the demise of grade-school architectural historicism in Chicago. Or perhaps it is just a clueless, sloppy choice of a name, like the careless historicism on the exterior?

BTW, "Elysian" is an adjective - the tower should properly be called The Elysium. But I quibble.....

[Jibba]

^I'm going with clueless and sloppy. It's too bad they totally fudged the details of all the auxiliary bits (railings, window frames, etc.)--nice detailing on these parts could have redeemed this one quite a bit in my book, especially considering that the overall proportions are pretty decent. Instead, we get ham-fisted and oppressive black slabs for balcony railings and white window frames...the hell?

[EarlyBuyer]

Elysian names chefs for hotel’s eateries

"...After parting ways with Charlie Trotter, the soon-to-be-opened Elysian Hotel & Private Residences has picked two chefs to run its restaurants, including the owner of HotChocolate restaurant and dessert bar in Bucktown.

Mindy Segal, who founded HotChocolate in 2005, was named managing pastry chef at the Gold Coast luxury hotel, while Jason McLeod, the top chef at the Grand Del Mar resort outside San Diego, will be the Elysian’s executive chef. The duo will oversee two restaurants, room service and catering for the hotel at 11 E. Walton St., which is scheduled to open in July.

The news comes about two months after Charlie Trotter dropped plans to open a restaurant in the hotel in what the two sides described as a mutual and amicable parting..."


http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33698

[george]

April 28,2009

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/829/ely1.jpg

[photoLith]

Beautiful building. I love it! Thanks for the update.

[shaberko]

From a distance it looks good.

[andydie]

Hello friends and Skyscraperfans,

after 2 months here comes my latest update video for the more and more complete Elysian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCr3lqK6Gj0

Music: Armin van Buuren feat. Cathy Burton - Rain

Enjoy and Happy MayDay :)

[george]

^Andy, Great update, it's always fun to see your vids. The music really pumps!^

[andydie]

^Andy, Great update, it's always fun to see your vids. The music really pumps!^

thanx george, love your picture updates too. The music I choose should keep ya watching and not make you fall asleep, lol.

[george]

5-4-09

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6448/ely2.jpg

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/829/ely1.jpg

[BVictor1]

The east tower crane is now being dismanteled.

05/05/09
https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2009/05/701436.jpg

https://community.emporis.com/images/6/2009/05/701438.jpg

[spyguy]

http://www.elysianhotels.com
Opening July 2009 - the earliest day I could place a reservation was July 15
The lowest rate I could find - $395 per night
The highest rate - $7000 per night

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7608/elysianlobbylg.jpg

[the urban politician]

^ $7000 per night? Hot damn!

[Busy Bee]

For 7 grand a night i want the entire building made out of limestone, including the tub, the tv and my pillow.

[Dr. Taco]

it's not too late for them to paint the window frames black. it would turn this building from "meh!" to "pretty nice"

[Hayward]

For 7 grand a night i want the entire building made out of limestone, including the tub, the tv and my pillow.

I spit up my beverage laughing when I read this.

[spyguy]

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3680/p1000942t.jpg

[Nowhereman1280]

Its a shame they are not leaving the top silver, I think it would have gone well with the white window frames, black railings, and beige precast...

[the urban politician]

Has anyone recently caught a snapshot of the base/motor court, etc? Just curious, since that aspect of the building will probably have more of an effect on the streetscape than the tower itself

[SolarWind]

May 12, 2009

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1673/dsc0167z.jpg
With Walton on the Park, Ten East Delaware, & Staybridge Suites in the foreground

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4355/dsc0256k.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7988/dsc0250udp.jpg

[truedaniel]

^^ Gorgious black 5-series in that middle pic, just like mine!!! Yeah! lol, sorry.

Cheers everyone. Go Hawks. Oh ya, building looks ok, nothing to even bother visiting this summer with all the greats going up in the city!!!

[george]

5-14-09

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1614/ely3.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6448/ely2.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/829/ely1.jpg

[the urban politician]

^ Great pics, George. In the last pic, is that a little fountain I see being assembled?

[george]

^ Great pics, George. In the last pic, is that a little fountain I see being assembled?

Yes it is, you are correct.

[trvlr70]

I noticed that the window framing on the first two floors is black and looks great. But above the framing is white. Will they be painted? [hope so]

[trvlr70]

I know everybody hates the precast, but given a few years of pollution and harsh weather, a nice patina will develop. I'm probably in the minority, but I love the courtyard with the fountain, cobbles, and lighting.

[Busy Bee]

Yeah and the windows that look like Plexiglass add that certain something. Also does anyone else think the lights look too, i don't know, light?

[avngingandbright]

Okay, say what you want about the precast, kistchy nature of the stonework, but that's gorgeous. Really superb. This isn't quite post-modern; I think this could even be called Revivalist. As a New Yorker that sees crappy, highly visible, prefab work go up every day, I am very swayed. I'd live there!

[Jibba]

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8881/elysianted.jpghttp://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2963/dsc09785.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3203/dsc09787.jpghttp://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3662/dsc09788.jpg
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9394/dsc09798.jpghttp://img34.imageshack.us/img34/710/dsc09816.jpg
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9033/dsc09823.jpghttp://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8011/dsc09819.jpg

[avngingandbright]

The slightly-less-affluent man's 15 Central Park West.

[trvlr70]

The slightly-less-affluent man's 15 Central Park West.

That's a HUGE compliment to the Elysian. [Personally, I couldn't go that far] CPW is one of the best, new buildings in NYC....I'm a huge fan.

[Chitown]

I know everybody hates the precast, but given a few years of pollution and harsh weather, a nice patina will develop. I'm probably in the minority, but I love the courtyard with the fountain, cobbles, and lighting.
I think it looks nice as well, though I'm only going by the pictures.

[Matthew]

I love this building too!

[colemonkee]

Jibba, those last two shots are superb. Especially that last one. It has a tone and mood that could fit easily into a noir film. Well done, sir!

[sentinel]

The slightly-less-affluent man's 15 Central Park West.

Hey, be our guest, you guys in NYC can have it :D Most of us here don't want it..

[lawfin]

The lower...ie first 2...look like they could be on Rodeo drive....chintzy if you ask me