Cirrus, Cascade Construction Continues
Since nobody except the employees of WBEZ have been to Navy Pier lately, chances are you’re not up to date on the construction progress of Cirrus and Cascade. Cirrus and Cascade under construction (Courtesy of YoChicago!) Fortunately, the lens crafters at YoChicago! are, and sent in these photographs taken from the roof of North Harbor Tower showing the progress on the two new skyscrapers at Lakeshore East. We hear that the ‘rona is...
Sit Back, Breathe Deep, and Enjoy The Vista
What’s up with Chicago TV stations? They spend heaps of money beaming beauty shots of the city’s skyline all over the place. So you’d think that we might occasionally see the Vista Tower make an appearance. In the words of Jim Belushi, “But nooooo!” Vista Tower. (Courtesy of YoChicago!) We keep seeing the shuttered Pioneer Court Apple Store, the vacant wastes of State Street, and WGN’s interview set backdrop that’s so crusty, it...
Pandemic Not Stopping Chicago’s Loop From Getting a New Skyscraper
A location where a grotty brick pile once hulked in The Loop will soon become a shiny new skyscraper, according to the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Tribb reports that Sterling Bay and Magellan Development plan to break ground next month on a 47-story mixed use tower at 300 North Michigan Avenue. March 2019 rendering of 300 North Michigan Avenue We’ve been telling you about pending skyscraper plans for this location since 2017. The...
Potential New Chicago Architectural Gem Needs More Time To Shine
While the vast majority of architectural tourists stick to the wonders of downtown Chicago, there are dozens and dozens of wonderful buildings dusted across the city, from Beverly to Bronzeville to Bucktown and beyond. You can even find great buildings in Racine and Gary without much effort at all. Rendering of the new Giordano Dance Chicago building (via bKL Architecture) Back in 2017, we told you about a new neighborhood...
Construction Workers Continue Pounding Away on Lakeshore East
As people slowly emerge from their spider holes to explore the lakefront they once knew and adored, the joggers, cyclists, and yoga moms will discover lots of changes at Lakeshore East. Cirrus and Cascade under construction (Courtesy of YoChicago!) As you can see in these photographs sent in by YoChicago!, work continues on both the Cirrus and Cascade residential towers going up between Lake Shore Drive and North Harbor Drive. When...
Construction Crews Filling Out (Concrete) Forms in Lake Shore East
If you used to cut through the badlands between Lakeshore East and Lake Michigan to catch some rays in the summertime, you’re in for a surprise when the lakefront opens to the public again. The badlands are gone. Construction of Cirrus and Cascade in May, 2020 (Courtesy of Joe Zekas/YoChicago!) Joe Zekas at YoChicago! sent over the photograph above showing the construction progress of Cirrus and Cascade. Those are two of...
Chicago Architecture Firm Happy to Not Be Needed Today
While you were sequestered in your micro apartment exchanging accusing stares with your cat (she totally ate the last Yoplait), the boffins down at bKL Architecture have been fighting the good fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. And now their part is done. The Loop designers of glassy things that scrape the sky have completed their mission of banging out protective face shields with a stable of 3D printers. Face shield production at...
Chicago Architecture Firm Joins Fight Against COVID-19
3D printers aren’t new, but they aren’t exactly household appliances yet. The COVID-19 pandemic may change that, as the once-exotic gadgets have finally found their killer application: Filling in when the supply chain falls down. Face shield production at bKL Architecture (Via GoFundMe) We’ve seen everyone from computer companies to casino moguls venture into the medical merchandise making milieu. And...
Evanston’s Newest Apartment Building Open For Business
Evanston is the latest Chicago suburb to sport a new apartment building. LINK Evanston recently had its official grand opening, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 811 Emerson Street, on the northern edge of the city’s downtown. The LINK Evanston (Courtesy of CA Ventures) LINK (shout when you say that) brings the neighborhood 241 new apartments in a nine-story building. Apartments in the bKL-designed building range from...
A Brief Slice of Union West
If you haven’t seen what’s happening with the Union West development lately, now you have. Construction of Union West (Courtesy of Near West Spy Joel) Near West Spy Joel sent in the photograph above showing one of Union West’s new 15-story towers from West Washington Boulevard. The ZOM Living project designed by bKL has a second such tower, and together they bring 357 new apartments, 255 new parking spaces, and...
