The construction of 400 Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville has recently advanced with a significant concrete pour, involving 250 truckloads delivering nine million pounds of concrete. The 72-story, 858-foot-tall tower is currently the tallest building under construction in the city and will be built on the site of the canceled Chicago Spire project. This first phase of a dual-skyscraper development by Related Midwest will span 1.1 million square feet and house 635 apartments, including 127 affordable housing units. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Chicago office is leading the building’s design, with input from architect David Childs and the interior design by MAWD. The exterior features an interpretation of the iconic “Chicago Window” and incorporates a metal and glass facade with various setbacks, resulting in a distinctive sail-like shape.
400 N Lake Shore Drive concrete pour. Photo by Related Midwest
400 N Lake Shore Drive concrete pour. Photo by Related Midwest
The concrete pour for the building’s mat foundation involved deliveries arriving at the site every two minutes for 12 consecutive hours. A total of over 2,300 cubic yards, or 470,000 gallons, of concrete was placed, equivalent to the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool or a nine-mile-long sidewalk. In preparation for this foundation pour, approximately 622,000 pounds of reinforcing steel, comparable to the weight of 155 automobiles, were placed on site over the preceding two weeks. The coordination behind these efforts required the management of 30 on-site workers and 25 concrete truck drivers.
400 N Lake Shore Drive. Rendering by SOM
400 N Lake Shore Drive. Rendering by SOM
400 N Lake Shore Drive. Rendering by SOM
The project incorporates 4.5 acres of public land, featuring a plaza between the towers with various amenities, a two-story podium, and art installations. In collaboration with the Chicago Park District, a portion of this public space will include the 3.3-acre DuSable Park, a project originally envisioned by former Mayor Harold Washington. The park will be accessible to the public via Founders Way, a proposed extension of the Chicago Riverwalk.
400 N Lake Shore Drive concrete pour. Photo by Related Midwest
400 N Lake Shore Drive concrete pour. Photo by Related Midwest
400 N Lake Shore Drive. Rendering by SOM
Financing for the project comes from a collaboration involving the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Wells Fargo, and other financial institutions. With LR Contracting and BOWA Construction as co-general contractors, the completion of the first tower is expected by early 2027.
“The vision for 400 Lake Shore combines our expertise building multifamily towers in Chicago with the design prowess of dozens of professionals for a thoughtful solution that will benefit the entire City,” said Ann Thompson, executive vice president of architecture and design at Related Midwest. “As the birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago deserves a development that is rooted in history but also forward thinking and we are thrilled to partner with the Chicago Office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to bring a new design to the iconic skyline.”
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Finally. Get it done already.
Now, get going with Tribube tower east and the 90 story parcel K next to St. Regis.
Don’t blow it Chicago.
Cooooool
So not a concrete expert here. They poured a steel reinforced concrete mat at the bottom of the pit. I assume that steel will then be bound to that mat and the core of the building will rise from that????
Wow! Finally a nice looking skyscraper for a change! They put them up in this country with absolutely no aesthetic value. We, the people must see these buildings, often daily and they have lately been of a boring design. Come on, the rising great world cities across the globe are erecting some awesome and terrifically stunning buildings on a grand scale. Why won’t we? Money I suppose.
Better looking than the spire, dare I say. The spire was once my favorite proposed tower.
I completely agree, and we get 2 of them for the price of…2! 🙂
Looks like we need to crash a Christmas party you k n ow he is still alive. Container on the farm? 😉
Am I the only person that is just underwhelmed with these towers? Such a significant location in the skyline and along Lake Shore Drive. I feel that they just miss the mark.
You’re not. They are mediocre
Go Chicago
Skyscraper living as two sieds of a medal: less ground being used up, so less e sealing of valuable soil. But living in an artificial setting like we find it here still, produces much bigger foot prints: elevators, all food being carried into town, and I guess, most of it, despite all better knowledge, still carried home and wrapped in throw- away plastic bags due to unplanned shopping and the “forgotten” canvas tote at home. Also, concrete uses up beach sands, which a mafia since long is up to illegally withdraw from poor countries. Let´s move to new horizons and join the advantages while eliminating the damages!
Thank you for posting the pictures of the concrete pour.