For the last decade or so, Columbia College, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University have gone through a tremendous growth spurt, leading to a building boom in The Loop and the South Loop. While those institutions are cooling down, things are picking up for the other educators in the neighborhood.
One is East-West University, which is putting up its first tower on South Wabash Avenue. The 17-story building will connect to The Loftrium (819 South Wabash Avenue), which is also connected to the college’s main building on Michigan Avenue.
So far, the foundation appears complete, as the rebar for the columns is starting to peek into view.
While it doesn’t have the flash of Roosevelt University’s new building, it serves essentially the same purpose — a multi-use housing, educational, recreational, and office facility. More importantly, it has the monogram of venerable Chicago architecture firm Holabird & Root on it.
Look for completion of the building next year.