Permit Issued for 76-Story South Loop Skyscraper

Written By Editor on October 17, 2016

This time last year, there were three super-tall skyscrapers proposed for downtown Chicago.  We asked several prominent local architects what they thought the chances were of any of them being built. The answer was universally skeptical.  Most thought that just one would be built.  The rest of the people we spoke with said none had a chance of getting off the ground.

Rendering of 113 East Roosevelt (Courtesy of Crescent Heights)

Today we’re delighted to report that the second of those three skyscrapers has received the necessary paperwork from the city to begin foundation work.  It’s the Rafael Viñoly-designed tower at 113 East Rosevelt Road.

Architect Rafael Viñoly next to a model of 113 East Roosevelt

Lately, construction teams have wasted no time between paperwork approval and pounding dirt.  This means that in a few days, Chicago could have two the those three enormous skyscrapers under construction.

The other one under construction is, of course, the 1,186-foot-tall Studio Gang/bKL-designed Vista Tower at 363 East Wacker Drive in Lakeshore East.  The tardy pupil right now is the 1000 South Michigan tower, which at one time was anticipated to be over 1,000 feet tall.

The new South Loop tower from developer Crescent Heights will be the neighborhood’s tallest, and continue the framing of Grant Park by landmark buildings.

Its first phase is anticipated to be 829 feet tall, with 12,000 square feet of retail space.  Phase two calls for a sibling tower just to the east, several stories taller.  A third phase is expected to involve townhouses.  All three phases will fit in the empty lot bounded by Michigan, Roosevelt, Indiana, and the Sky55 tower.  You can see that plot in the photo below from Joe Zekas at YoChicago!.

The future location of 113 East Roosevelt (Courtesy of Joe Zekas/YoChicago!)