Wolf Point West groundbreaking—No turning back now
Wolf Point West rendering courtesy of bKL Architecture
One of Chicago’s most anticipated building projects of the last 50 years is now officially underway.
Formal groundbreaking ceremonies were held today for Wolf Point West, the first of three skyscrapers in the billion-dollar Wolf Point development at the confluence of the Chicago River’s main channel and North Branch.
As we’ve documented here over the last few months, construction is already well underway. But today more than 150 people from politicians to developers to architects to union members came out for the ceremonial turning of the first shovel-full of dirt.
When completed, the $160 million Wolf Point West will be a 493-foot-tall, 48-story residential tower with 509 apartments and 579,000 square feet of floor space. It was designed by friends-of-the-blog and Chicago’s own bKL Architecture and is expected to open a little over a year from now.
Wolf Point’s South and East towers will rise after Wolf Point West is completed. The South tower is next. Designed by Connecticut’s Pelli Clarke Pelli, it is the tallest of the three planned towers, stretching 950 feet tall, making it Chicago’s 8th-tallest building. (Sorry, 900 North Michigan!) The south tower is envisioned as a combination hotel and office building with some retail space.
The completed three-tower Wolf Point complex
Developer Chris Kennedy at the Wolf Point West groundbreaking
Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the Wolf Point West groundbreaking
42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly at the Wolf Point West groundbreaking
