Under construction in Chicago skyline guide
After the events of September 11, 2001, it was proposed that the era of the super-tall skyscraper was over; people did not want to live or work in what were, essentially, big attack targets. Funding dried up for a while, and modest designs were the word of the day.
That didn't last long. Chicago is too wrapped up in the idea of the skyscraper to stop building them, and in time, the economic backing returned: Chicago's downtown underwent an unprecedented residential real estate and construction boom over the next six years, leading Forbes Magazine to declare the 60602 zip code the hottest in the country. Things have slowed down following the financial collapse, but the air is still filled with cranes and scaffolding and dreams?expect the construction to pick up faster than the economy. Most of the boom period's constructions will be wrapped up by 2010, with a couple very notable exceptions:
The Chicago Spire, 400 N Lake Shore Dr. 2000 ft. Construction should have been done in 2012 to become Chicago's new tallest building, which will also surpass New York's Freedom Tower to become the tallest building in North America (and second tallest in the world). Its dream-like design by Santiago Calatrava features an upward spiral, likened by the architect to smoke swirling up from a Native American campfire on the shores of Lake Michigan.This building will be 150 floors tall. Earlier speculation (mostly fueled by real estate rival, Donald Trump) held that the building will never be finished; construction has begun on this building, which could dramatically alter the Chicago skyline and become the world's second tallest building (after Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which will be about 160 floors, designed by the Chicago firm of SOM), but construction as of 2009 is halted, owing to the credit crisis. �
Waterview Tower, 111 W Wacker Dr. 1047 ft. This building was intended to open in 2009 to house luxury condos and the Shangri-La Hotel. It will be Chicago's fifth tallest upon completion. In addition to being supertall, it will be superthin as well, being built upon only 1/4 of a block! In 2008 the project has gone on hold mid-construction, as there have been financial problems related to ongoing turmoil in credit markets. �
Legacy Tower, 21-39 S Wabash. 822 ft. This very visible and hotly anticipated tower will bring 360 new condos onto the downtown market, right in the heart of the Loop by the end of 2009. Its immense height, its location looming above Millennium Park, and its striking, slender form have made this building one of the most visually arresting additions to the skyline throughout the past boom. �
Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, 300 E Randolph. 796 ft. The existing tower on the north wall of Millenium Park is being built up from 411 ft to become one of the city's taller skyscrapers. Construction should finish by 2010. �
Elysian, 11 E Walton St. 700 ft. A thin skyscraper to be finished in 2008 in Chicago's Gold Coast, which will house a hotel, luxury condos (of course), and restaurants. It will sport a faux-stone facade, a faux-French style roof, and general faux-taste. �
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