Amtrak’s Plans for Chicago Good for Football, Architecture Fans
If you’ve watched the news lately (and if you haven’t, it’s OK — sometimes we need a break, too), you know that President Biden wants to spend a metric assload of money to fix America’s infrastructure. Things like train tracks, roads, bridges, and formerly strong things seem to be falling down more and more often these days. Naturally, there are people who are opposed to this. The reasons are many, and...
Could 210 South Canal B-MO Glassy?
The first glass panels have gone up at the new BMO Tower rising across the street from Union Station. West Loop Spy Sam slipped these photos of the construction into our virtual mailbox, and you can already see that the Goettsh Partners design is going to be a little special. BMO Tower under construction in December 2020 (Courtesy of West Loop Spy Sam) GP has been glassing up this corner of the world quite a lot lately. It recently...
Union Station Food Hall Photo Update
If you’ve looked at Goettsch Partners‘ portfolio lately, you might have noticed that the Loop architecture firm has a crush on glass. But that doesn’t mean it’s a one-trick pony. Union Station renovation in December 2020 (Courtesy of West Loop Spy Sam) To wit: The Union Station redevelopment plan, which is revitalizing the biggest passenger rail hub in the Midwest. Goettsch has already gotten more high-fives...
A Look at the Chicago Union Station Renovation
If you’ve spent any time in the West Loop, you may have had a chance to completely ignore the western side of Union Station. Whether you were rushing to get the 125 bus, headed to Beggar’s for a slice of pepperoni and a nice side salad, or hoofing it across the Kennedy for a little after-work nightlife, there are plenty of reasons to never look at the western facade of this building. Chicago Union Station (File) Since a...
BMO Tower Construction Update
If your daily commute used to take you through Union Station, you might wonder what’s going on with the BMO Tower under construction across the street. Well, wonder no more my home-bound friend. We’ve got your virtual back. BMO Tower construction in April 2020 (Courtesy of YoChicago!) YoChicago! sent in the photograph above showing construction progress on the skyscraper at 320 South Canal Street. OK, so there’s...
The Union Station Tower is Finally Real
For as long as anyone can remember, it’s been lots of discussion but no digging in the West Loop where Amtrak has wanted to add a skyscraper to the Union Station complex since before Amtrak was a thing. In the last 15 years, we’ve seen at least three different plans for Amtrak skyscrapers that simply never got off the ground. But that has finally changed. 2019 rendering of BMO Tower, formerly Union Station...
Goettsch Partners’ Renovation Sets the Stage for Union Station’s Next Act
If you haven’t been by Chicago Union Station in a while, here’s your excuse to make the trip: The renovations are done. This is what the kids call “awesome sauce.” (© Amtrak. Courtesy of Goettsch Partners) Just in time for the landmark transportation hub to be reimagined with a new hotel, restaurants, and a sister skyscraper, Goettsch Partners has announced that work is complete on its renovation of the...
Another Loop Skyscraper Expanding Upward, Getting Open-Air Observatory
We’ve written a number of times about buildings in Chicago that were erected with vertical expansion in mind. 300 East Randolph is the most visible example, but there are others like 168 North Michigan and Union Station. Now another one of The Loop’s skyscrapers is getting a vertical expansion. But you probably won’t notice it unless you work in, or adjacent to, the building in question: Beacon Capital...
Details of Union Station Renovation Show Potential, Complexity
We’re learning more of the nitty-gritty details involved in the Union Station redevelopment recently approved by the City of Chicago. A lot of it is just numbers and trivia, but a few things stand out. The former Harvey House at Union Station will be renovated into a new entrance to the Great Hall from South Clinton Street. But it will also have plenty of leasable retail space. Hopefully this space will end up being another...
You Get a Skyscraper! And You Get a Skyscraper!
In its most Oprah-riffic maneuver since the great Skyscraper-palooza of 2014, the Chicago Plan Commission approved a slew of new skyscrapers for the Windy City. In a series of votes today, the commission approved plans for 18 new towers for downtown Chicago. To put that into a completely inaccurate and meaningless comparison, it’s like Chicago just got Indianapolis added to its skyscraper menagerie. 700 at the River The Plan...
