CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction - Page 323

the urban politician · #**6441** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 6:47 PM**

^ I'm disappointed. I really thought Hovey was going to try something really eye catching for his first foray into the city. That condo highrise in Skokie really gets one's attention while driving by on I-94.

Also, I'm guessing that the 'black box' is of course a parking podium. Sounds like he just took Jahn's Streeterville tower and changed the colors around a bit...

Buckman821 · #**6442** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 7:20 PM**

Totally agree with TUP on this one. This is not nearly as dynamic as Hovey's project in Skokie or the ones in Phoenix/Scottsdale. Of course its better than AMLI, but I expected more. Frankly I think the Coast is better than this.

Buckman821 · #**6443** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 7:49 PM**

Please excuse the terrible photo quality (old blackberry/plus it started snowing)

Also excuse my terrible construction knowledge. I was walking by this site about ten minutes ago and I observed this large er...metal pole thingy.

Edit: The hotel project on Clark was also humming with activity.

harryc · #**6444** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:08 PM**

Large metal pole on crane - big frigging drill.

Bout 10 min ago ? I was at the Starbucks and watching them relocate the stop light.

untitledreality · #**6445** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

I'm expecting some disappointment with the Optima project

No disappointment here, just a big smile. I agree with Nowhereman, this is a sharp piece of minimalism and Im ecstatic with the reflective + black look.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6446** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:33 PM**

^^^ The more I think about this design the more I like it. There simply isn't anything in the city like it. I'm not sure that there is anything else in the world like it either. It's not revolutionary, but Hovey never is revolutionary. He just does modern design really really well. This is in the same vein as the only other Hovey project in the city: his row homes by IIT.

I hope the glass is completely silver and the base is as black/smoked as you can get.

I think this one is going to turn out better than most of you give it credit for. Hovey is a master of details.

ardecila · #**6447** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Edit: I'd also be very very interested to see what he does with the split level nature of the site. Does he include retail along St. Clair? Does the glass facade continue below Illinois?

I don't know, but I'm curious too. The black portion, plus the 2-3 stories below Upper Illinois, plus any subterranean levels, seems like a huge excess of parking to me.

The "large retail component" also sounds promising. I'd love to see a Uniqlo in this building, and Uniqlo's CEO has specifically stressed expansion into Chicago. There are probably more promising spaces on Michigan, though, and definitely some prominent ones on State. Still, it'd be nice to pull some of the Michigan Avenue vitality over to Cityfront Center. That area is just way too quiet on the upper level, and the Optima podium is the perfect minimalist jewel-box retail space for Uniqlo's brand identity.

The glass reminds me of MiMA in NY:

lawfin · #**6448** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:51 PM**

^^^Can you send me link to that West loop info re the hotel. I think that is being concepted out by a guy a know in Santa Monica....I want to see it it is the same one or not

Nowhereman1280 · #**6449** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawfin

^^^Can you send me link to that West loop info re the hotel. I think that is being concepted out by a guy a know in Santa Monica....I want to see it it is the same one or not

This is the best I've got right now, but I know there was more talk of it in the past.

http://chicagojournal.com/News/11-02...ffice_building

chicubs111 · #**6450** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

Slightly above 40 stories, 325 apartments, fairly large retail component

Even though its simple its still has uniquieness about it..especially in Chicago which seems to greatly lack this type of minimilist architecture that you see alot in Manhatten... we really have few buildings that have that black glass or silver glass look..I hope many more buildings like this in the downtown area!

the urban politician · #**6451** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:12 PM**

Well, I guess God is in the details.

The renderings don't impress me, but perhaps the actual built product (if it ever gets built) would. I'll admit that I am impressed with Hovey's project in Skokie, which looks far better in person than any rendering could depict.

Either way, I really hope that the ENTIRE black box isn't parking. That would be a let down

sentinel · #**6452** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

Slightly above 40 stories, 325 apartments, fairly large retail component

Hmmmmmmmmm.

The simplicity of the facade is really great, but the massing at first glance is not so great - I guess I was I was expecting something a little more dynamic like the Optima Old Orchard, but then again, considering how physically restrictive a downtown lot can be..
I dunno..

untitledreality · #**6453** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I don't know, but I'm curious too. The black portion, plus the 2-3 stories below Upper Illinois, plus any subterranean levels, seems like a huge excess of parking to me.

The "large retail component" also sounds promising.

The height from lower to upper Illinois isn't much at this location, maybe 16-20 feet... and with the prospect of the black box being parking is it possible that the "large retail component" could be positioned at lower Illinois and st. clair? It would have decent visibility from Grand IMO

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

then again, considering how physically restrictive a downtown lot can be...

Not singling you out, but you brought up a Chicago peeve of mine. This city gets inundated with high rises that take up huge parcels of land and are not forced to design creative solutions, instead they just follow the beaten path. Look no further than one block East at the Fairbanks... an enormous lot, a tower that seemingly requires half the amount of land and the result is a oppressive, ten story solid concrete box of parking. Seeing David Hovey work with a parcel of land 1/3rd the size is quite refreshing.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6454** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Well, I guess God is in the details.

The renderings don't impress me, but perhaps the actual built product (if it ever gets built) would. I'll admit that I am impressed with Hovey's project in Skokie, which looks far better in person than any rendering could depict.

Either way, I really hope that the ENTIRE black box isn't parking. That would be a let down

I wouldn't be let down if that is parking if the space along St. Clair includes retail and some sort of integrated replacement for the measly industrial staircase that is there now. Judging by Hovey's other work he could very well be including some kind of terrace like integration between the levels that incorporates the "large retail component" on both levels. Let's remember that St. Clair is actually a pretty lively street in this area. So it would make good sense.

Considering no sub-illinois parking, this would leave the black box as a pretty standard amount of parking for the area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by untitledreality

Not singling you out, but you brought up a Chicago peeve of mine. This city gets inundated with high rises that take up huge parcels of land and are not forced to design creative solutions, instead they just follow the beaten path. Look no further than one block East at the corner of SW corner of Grand and Columbus... an enormous lot, a tower that seemingly requires half the amount of land and the result is a oppressive, ten story solid concrete box of parking. Seeing David Hovey work with a parcel of land 1/3rd the size is quite refreshing.

If you are referring to the Fairbanks you need to give them a break as that was originally planned to be a 700'+ tower like the one next to the theater a block over. It ended up failing when it was only up to where the podium ends now. Then they came along and just built the Fairbanks out of the old structure in much the same way as they are proposing a reuse of Waterview's shell right now. So that podium is excuasable, but many of the others (Grand Plaza

) are not.

untitledreality · #**6455** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

If you are referring to the Fairbanks you need to give them a break as that was originally planned to be a 700'+ tower like the one next to the theater a block over. It ended up failing when it was only up to where the podium ends now. Then they came along and just built the Fairbanks out of the old structure in much the same way as they are proposing a reuse of Waterview's shell right now. So that podium is excuasable, but many of the others (Grand Plaza

) are not.

Sure, but the other two towers of City Front Plaza development shared the same "tower atop a huge blank podium" typology... its enough to get the general point across.

Alliance · #**6456** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicubs111

Even though its simple its still has uniquieness about it..especially in Chicago which seems to greatly lack this type of minimilist architecture that you see alot in Manhatten...

Usually its not minimalist, its cheap. This building instantly reminded me of MiMa which which a saran-wrap POS. However, I bet we'll at least be one step above that because the cladding will be all windows and no spandrel. However, in my opinion its not a great place to be starting from. If the tower is clear glass, or if there are some red accents hiding in the cladding or something we can talk more, but all in all I expected a whole hell of a lot more from Hovey. Definitely a disappointment visually.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6457** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 11:28 PM**

^^^ I don't know why you are so insistent that he do the color thing. This building is complete without colorful accents. The black glass alone is enough of an accent. I for one hope that it doesn't have accents tacked on just for the sake of accents.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6458** Posted: **Nov 10, 2011, 11:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by untitledreality

Sure, but the other two towers of City Front Plaza development shared the same "tower atop a huge blank podium" typology... its enough to get the general point across.

Well once one tower has it, you may as well continue the theme and minimalize the absurdity of the original podium...

Alliance · #**6459** Posted: **Nov 11, 2011, 1:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ I don't know why you are so insistent that he do the color thing. This building is complete without colorful accents. The black glass alone is enough of an accent. I for one hope that it doesn't have accents tacked on just for the sake of accents.

He did use red accents on Old Orchard Woods. I think that looks great.

The building is clean and simple, well proportioned. However there are plenty of other towers who seemed to be geometric perfection, but when the reality of the actual materials come to light simple statements can deteriorate fast. I prefer some complexity and depth to cladding myself. Details make simple into elegant. Since it doesn't have any external depth, I'd like it to have some internal depth. On one hand I trust Hovey that there is more to this building than we see here, but I find it easier to be overly skeptical.

macatawa · #**6460** Posted: **Nov 11, 2011, 12:59 PM**

Maybe its time to update the front page. I love seeing new buildings being added to the site prep, and under construction lists.