CHICAGO | St. Regis Chicago (Vista) | 1,191 FT | 101 FLOORS

[LouisVanDerWright]

They've been pouring the central core in the middle of the West section and then pouring the exposed slanting sheer wall separately after they remove the central forms at the same time as they pour the next set of columns. I think that's what you are seeing there. The core has been poured, the sheer forms and rebar are just being built.

[kolchak]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

They've been pouring the central core in the middle of the West section and then pouring the exposed slanting sheer wall separately after they remove the central forms at the same time as they pour the next set of columns. I think that's what you are seeing there. The core has been poured, the sheer forms and rebar are just being built.

Got it. Thanks!

[SolarWind]

November 6, 2017

[kolchak]

Amazing shots!

You were out on the bridge? Thanks for all the effort to get these great angles✌

[KWillChicago]

Does Gems have to wait for Vista to finish a certain amount of the west wall before they can start building? I figured they could at least start the crane base.

[The Best Forumer]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Does Gems have to wait for Vista to finish a certain amount of the west wall before they can start building? I figured they could at least start the crane base.

Maybe for safety reasons...

[Bombardier]

^They are still working on financing I heard. No safety issues are preventing construction, good guess though.

[Notyrview]

^^^ whoa this thing is yuge, such a critical mass of density happening in LSE now.

[donnie]

Originally Posted by Notyrview

^^^ whoa this thing is yuge, such a critical mass of density happening in LSE now.

River Canyon will never be the same after Vista and Wolf Point are complete!

Can't wait!

[KWillChicago]

Originally Posted by donnie

River Canyon will never be the same after Vista and Wolf Point are complete!

Can't wait!

Still have to find a way to fill in the space between riverpoint and riverbend, hopefully the reid murdoch highrise goes up and I know I'm going to upset people but I still want them to tear down 55 wacker and build a tall one in it's place. or build on top of it if that is even possible.

[intrepidDesign]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Still have to find a way to fill in the space between riverpoint and riverbend, hopefully the reid murdoch highrise goes up and I know I'm going to upset people but I still want them to tear down 55 wacker and build a tall one in it's place. or build on top of it if that is even possible.

I'm with you on 55WW. Not a popular opinion around here for sure, but IMO the building is downright ugly.

[Steely Dan]

55 w wacker is an exquisite example of brutalism, one of the finest in the city.

our city's magnificent river canyon is very much the richer for having such premiere specimens of so many different architectural movements over the past century plus.

getting rid of it is an awful, awful idea.



if you want to get rid of garbage in the main branch canyon, start with the renaissance hotel before touching anything else.

[Kumdogmillionaire]

I agree the Westin and Renaissance hotels are awful. Getting rid of the only brutalist building on the river would just be stupid. The beautiful thing about the river is the diverse architecture one can see on it

[tjp]

I like 55 Wacker but wish it was twice as tall. It looks....lame at such a prominent location.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by tjp

I like 55 Wacker but wish it was twice as tall..

me too, then it would completely block out the view of the atrocious trainwreck behind it (200 n dearborn) from the river.

[J_M_Tungsten]

^ yeah, 200 N Dearborn is unbelievably bad. I know it was the late 80’s, but what were they thinking??

[MultiModal]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

55 w wacker is an exquisite example of brutalism, one of the finest in the city.

our city's magnificent river canyon is very much the richer for having such premiere specimens of so many different architectural movements over the past century plus.

getting rid of it is an awful, awful idea.



if you want to get rid of garbage in the main branch canyon, start with the renaissance hotel before touching anything else.

I just took a tour of 55 W Wacker, they are going to be renovating the lobby and putting some money into corridors, restrooms, elevator cabs, etc.

In other words, it should be safe from demo at least for the time being.

[left of center]

^ Good to hear. I'm with Steely, the Renaissance Chicago on Wacker and State is a much bigger eyesore. I would be overjoyed if it was to be replaced with a superior development.

The only redevelopment of 55 W Wacker that I would hope for is one where they preserve the exterior, and build up from there. Height is this building's only drawback as far as I am concerned.

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

55 w wacker is an exquisite example of brutalism, one of the finest in the city.

our city's magnificent river canyon is very much the richer for having such premiere specimens of so many different architectural movements over the past century plus.

getting rid of it is an awful, awful idea.



if you want to get rid of garbage in the main branch canyon, start with the renaissance hotel before touching anything else.

My issue with 55 W Wacker is it's too short. Can floors be added to it without compromising structural integrity?

[left of center]

Originally Posted by HomrQT

My issue with 55 W Wacker is it's too short. Can floors be added to it without compromising structural integrity?

My guess would be unlikely, since it was never planned for a future expansion (such as the BCBS building). The foundation and structural support was only engineered for a building of its current size.

Best case would be something like a facadectomy, where the interior and foundation is rebuilt, keeping only the exterior.