This week, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new eight-story office building known as ALLY, located at 1229 W Concord Street along Chicago’s North Branch corridor. The building will serve as the first step in a much larger masterplan known as Lincoln Yards, set to transform the former industrial zone into a 21st century community.
With nearly all of its glazing installed, the 50-story skyscraper at 320 S Canal Street, aka BMO Tower, can now be seen in its final form along the Chicago skyline. Co-developed by Riverside Investment & Development alongside Convexity Properties, the 727-foot-tall behemoth is one of the city’s tallest new structures, let alone office buildings. The structure is situated in West Loop Gate directly south of the iconic Union Station, and is replacing a former parking and retail structure.
Landmark Development has revealed further details for the first phase of its One Central mega-development, which will cap the rail tracks in the Near South Side. Although often considered the most ambitious of the current mega-projects proposed for the city, such as The 78 and Lincoln Yards, Landmark is pushing forward with the Gensler-designed complex despite recent worries that The Chicago Bears could depart from nearby Soldier Field. The first phase will come at a cost of $3.8 billion and is being dubbed as the ‘Civic Build’ phase of the project.
Developer Sterling Bay has released updated plans for its office development at 360 N Green Street in the West Loop. The Gensler designed building has received a significant height increase although its overall square footage remains largely unchanged. The changes come after a re-evaluation of the post-pandemic office market which is beginning to favor multiple smaller floors or singular boutique spaces over larger single floor layouts.
Final touches are drawing closer toward completion for the second phase of an adaptive reuse project known as Mural Park. The developers Condor Partners, Transwestern, and Chicago Development Partners are converting two four-story masonry warehouses to commercial and office space, while adding a new park space in between. The second phase of this project is the southern of the two buildings, located at 920 W Cullerton Street. Last year, it was announced that the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield would lease the entirety of this second building.
