CHICAGO | Optima Center Chicago | 442 ft | 42 FLOORS | COM
 

Optima Center Chicago

Location: 200 E. Illinois St. Chicago IL

Type: Residential, Rentals with retail base

Units: 325

Height: N/A

Floors: 42

Start Construction: DeBartolo expects to begin as soon as aprroved.

Completion Date: N/A

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2900/optiresized.jpg

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2...ille-debut.php

I hope soar doesnt force this change of the black base to that which is shown in this newer picture...
http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...go-374x500.jpg


http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...ges/#more-4199

^^^ That looks like an earlier, google-sketchup style, rendering that SOAR somehow got their hands on. Looks like a massing model without textures applied. If it ends up looking like that, then what a piece of shit...

oh dear, i read through that link, and i kid you not, this is a direct quote from it:


and stuff? has the president of SOAR been replaced by a 12 year old?

The first rendering with the black base is sharp. The second rendering with the "stuff" as was mentioned in the article, if that's what the "stuff" is, is horrible.

Hey Dan, if you read the actual letter that was written by Gail Spreen of SOAR then you would see that she didn't write "and stuff."

That 12 year old style of writing you see is an attemp of journalism by the author of that goofy blog. This guy always exaggerate things and usually posts inacurrate information. He characterizes SOAR as an NIMBY group which really baffles me. In his post he also mentioned that Optima center was stalled? Maybe he was refering to the original plans for the site years ago when Centrum owned the site? Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if this new rendering isn't something thrown together in google sketch by the author himself.

I guess this building is okay for a thread even though it doesn't surpass 600'? Cool. Can we get the name of the building right, though?

Anyway, SOAR's exact wording was:
Nothing about changing the black tint of the glass. SOAR wants Hovey to think about how his design will bring light to Lower Illinois and enrich the pedestrian experience down there. Since St. Clair is an active, pedestrian retail street that shouldn't have huge dark zones along it, this makes sense. Maybe they could rebuild the sidewalk on Upper Illinois with vault lights?

http://www.antiquecastironplus.com/i...lt_light_6.jpg

Actually, this is quite an enlightened critique of the building. Every point SOAR raises is totally, completely valid. Hovey can and should switch to a black spandrel glass for the north elevation of the garage levels. (Black anodized aluminum panels would also be sick...)

That's not a direct quote, that's the blog owner's characterization of the actual letter (which doesn't use the word "stuff"). I don't even understand his rant; SOAR is one of the more levelheaded neighborhood groups we have. Their complaints are fairly minor in the grand scheme of things and something the developer should consider, not the typical "it's too tall/dense" nonsense we normally hear. Also, I don't get how or why that guy puts watermarks on everything, including renderings and photos that aren't even his...

Looking W on Illinois



The neigbors to the East - clean well lit loading docks.

Are developers in a race to the bottom? This is horrible.

The group said they would start construction immediately so i think its no longer in a proposed state. It says so right here http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...ges/#more-4199. Also, this building would look better with a black base.

it doesn't matter what anyone "says", construction only begins when construction actually begins. when caisson rigs show up on site and start drilling, this project will be moved to the construction forum, until then it stays as a proposal.

15 months seems like an aggressive schedule. . . if not impossible. . .

http://www.suntimes.com/business/901...old-coast.html
. . .

Well I will say that SOAR pretty much this design if pretty boring.

One reason why they were questioning the black glass was because of it affecting the Ronald McDonald House.

Optima Center breaks ground in Streeterville
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...,2188778.story
Construction is under way on Optima Center Chicago, a 42-story apartment building at the northeast corner of Illinois and St. Clair streets in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood."

It didin't give the date of breaking ground. It pretty much indicated it gonna happens.

Not a very convincing rendering. I could do without the black base, it looks dated.

Optima Cityfront
 

Jersey barriers are blocking off lanes at Illinois & St Clair - and I wouldn't think they are relevant to the Ronald House construction - so we may be getting another U/C pretty soon.

Site prep was well under way by yesterday afternoon. The Stairs from St Clair to upper Illinois blocked off ("for a year or more") and the planters being moved from upper Illinois.

What is David Hovey thinking? This design is boring and completely uninspiring!

11-29

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2155/opti3.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5918/opti1.jpg

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6641/opti2.jpg