Finishing Touches Underway at Lake Shore East’s 101-Story Vista Tower

Work is wrapping up at Vista Tower, a 101-story mixed-use building in Lake Shore East. The tower’s bold design is the work of Studio Gang Architects. The Chicago-based firm led by renowned architect Jeanne Gang also designed the planned O’Hare terminal and the nearby Aqua Tower.

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower (right) and Gang’s other tower, Aqua Tower (left). Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Diagram by Studio Gang

Gang’s tower features a stacked-frustum design that steps back from the lake as it rises, culminating in a 1,191-foot peak. The glass curtain wall changes tint and shades of blue to adapt to changing heat-load demands of its angled exterior.

Developed by Magellan Development Group, formerly co-developed with Dalian Wanda Group, the building will accommodate 396 condominium units and a 191-key hotel. According to the Chicago Tribune, the condominiums begin at around $1 million for a one-bedroom unit near the base. The price and size scale up to $18.5 million for a 10,640-square-foot unit, according to a 2018 Crain’s article. The unnamed buyer configured a custom layout that combined the full 71st and 72nd floors, along with an 8,000-square-foot terrace that occupies the second tower setback.

Condominium owners will have access to a wide range of amenities, including a fitness center, a golf simulator, terrace space, and a kitchen area for cooking demonstration classes. Magellan will also integrate a parking garage with 346 spaces.

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

The development is officially located at 375 E Wacker Drive, just south of of the river’s southern bank. The plot is one of many that has transformed the Lake Shore East area from a large swath of undeveloped land to one of downtown’s premier residential neighborhoods.

The nearest bus access can be found at Route 60’s Harbor Drive & Randolph stop, located a four-minute walk south. Additional access further west includes buses 4, 6, 20, 134, 135, and 136. The two nearest CTA L stations are the elevated State/Lake station for the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines, as well as Lake Station for the Red Line subway. Each station can be found via a 16-minute walk west.

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower. Photo by Jack Crawford

Vista Tower north entrance area. Photo by Jack Crawford

Much of the remaining work resides near the base, which is still undergoing exterior installation and landscaping. The vertical length of the tower’s northwest corner has also received window installation, which is currently nearing completion. McHugh Construction has served as the general contractor for the $1 billion project, which is expected to complete before the end of the year.

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