Closing the Gap at The Parker Fulton Market
We’re only a matter of days away from seeing the final pieces of glass added to the upper floors at The Parker Fulton Market. Shapack Partners‘ 29-story apartment tower at 171 North Halsted Street broke ground in the West Loop back in Winter 2015. 14 months later, Focus Construction crews are just three floors away from sealing the whole thing off from the outside world. Designed by Chicago architecture firm Booth Hansen,...
215 West Lake Street Signs On, Deletes History
No one cared much when news broke of the impending demise of a two-story parking structure in The Loop at 215 West Lake Street. And why would they? Even as far as parking structures go, it was run-of-the-mill at best. Not to mention tiny. But news that its neighboring building at 209 West Lake Street would also meet the wrecking ball prompted a much different response. Built in the late 1800’s, it was one of the oldest...
The Parker Fulton Market Tops Out at Halsted and Lake
Sometimes you can just sense change in the air. Such was the case this morning, when we flung on the lights at the Chicago Architecture West Loop Bureau, looked out the window, and saw the tower crane at The Parker Fulton Market (171 North Halsted Street) has been lowered below the top floor. That can only mean one thing. A top-out. We reached out to Focus Development, Inc., the general contractor and developer (along with Shapack...
215 West Lake Garage Crumbles Ahead of Residential Tower
What used to be a two-story parking garage at 215 West Lake Street in The Loop is in the process of being demolished, clearing the site for a new apartment tower, for now known simply, and unsurprisingly, as 215 West Lake. Details have been hard to come by for the new project by Chicago firm Thomas Roszak Architects, but expect a 33-story tower comprised of 260-some apartments. The prolific donut franchise formerly shoehorned into the...
171 North Halsted Brings the Pane, Gets a Name
There are two things you can write to get a reaction out of the staff at The Chicago Architecture Blog: “New Glass!” and “New Name!” But something one should never do is announce both of those phenomena without making sure you’re not blocking the fire exit. Such was the case Monday, when we scrambled on foot over to Lake and Halsted to confirm rumors the Booth Hansen-designed residential tower at 171...
Curve on the Kennedy Now Visibly Curvy
What we at the Chicago Architecture Blog have taken to calling The Curve on the Kennedy (171 North Halsted Street) might conjure up nightmares for Chicago drivers. What exactly do we mean? The angled segment through Hubbard’s Cave? The constant jam as you veer west at the Edens junction? The turn at Nagle before you hit the home stretch on the way to O’Hare? Wow. Now that we list them out, we see your point. And apologize...
River Point Slips Into Something Tight and Shiny
River Point (444 West Lake Street) has been shrouded in mystery from the get-go. We’ve been able to watch the core grow up through the center of the tower, but all the exterior work has been covered, shielding outsiders from peering in. So it was a delight to wander past River Point last week and see the curtain raised just enough to reveal its latest outfit: glass. Luxurious, curved, blue-sky-reflecting glass. According to...
Status Update: 171 North Halsted Begins Blocking View of Cool “Breakout” Wall
The new, wonderfully-curved residential tower at Lake Street and North Halsted is taking shape in West Town. We zipped over to have a look, and it’s already risen 5 stories above the street. When the Booth Hansen design is complete, it will have (depending on which document filed with the city turns out to be final) 28-30 stories, with 214-227 residences. Another thing it will have is the ability to completely obstruct our view...
Height. Density. Parking. Renters. West Loopers Play NIMBY Bingo With Mid-Rise Proposal
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward) and the West Loop Community Organization hosted an introductory meeting at the Merit School of Music for a new apartment building proposed for the 900 block of West Lake Street. Patrick FitzGerald, CEO of FitzGerald Associates Architects, along with associate Richard Whitney, detailed what would be a 10-story building containing 168 rental units. The ground floor would include a lobby and garage...
Status Update: The Curve on the Kennedy
It was with a great sigh of relief that architecture enthusiasts greeted the design of 171 North Halsted Street when it was presented to the public just about a year ago. Well, keep exhaling because the building you loved on paper is well on its way to becoming a concrete and steel reality. The Chicago Architecture Blog’s Daniel Schell went a calling recently and found the hardware store that was once there is long gone, the...
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