Business, high-rise news from the Windy City

Thompson, HR Green Form Area Alliance

Thompson Elevator Inspection Service, Inc., serving the Chicago area since 1975, has formed a strategic alliance with HR Green, Inc., which has offices nationwide and has had a Chicago presence since 1913, aimed at better serving area municipalities. According to HR Green, the alliance provides fire and elevator code compliance that will allow for quicker building occupancy. HR Green observed:

“This team can quickly mobilize International Code Council- and QEI-certified plan reviewers and inspectors, engineers, architects, certified building officials, accessibility specialists and counter staff. With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, each elevator inspector is QEI certified and State of Illinois licensed to provide plan reviews, acceptance, routine code inspections and other code assistance.”

Streeterville Residential Tower Welcomes First Tenants

Optima Signature, a 57-story residential tower at 220 East Illinois Street in the Streeterville neighborhood, welcomed its first tenants in June, Curbed Chicago reported. It joins its sibling, Optima Chicago Center (ELEVATOR WORLD, July 2016). Optima Signature houses nearly 300 units and, in June, was approximately 20% leased. Despite stiff competition in Chicago’s residential rental market, developer/architect David Hovey is confident Optima Signature’s location near Michigan Avenue and amenities, such as a gym and indoor and outdoor pools, will make the property appealing.

Lakefront High Rise Gets Green Light

A 27-story tower with approximately 370 residential units and ground-level retail on the lakefront received a US$45-million construction permit in June, paving the way for its construction, Curbed Chicago reported. Planned for many years on the former Cuneo Hospital site at the corner of Montrose and Clarendon, Eight Eleven Uptown is being developed by JDL and was designed by local firm Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. The approximately US$125-million project is being funded in part by tax increment financing. The structure is also set to include parking for more than 270 vehicles.

Architects Reveal Design for Condo Tower

Renderings have been revealed for a new, 74-story luxury condominium tower planned for a vacant lot on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, ArchDaily reports. Known as 1000M, the 832-ft.-tall skyscraper is being designed by JAHN, the practice led by prolific architect Helmut Jahn. The design will feature a blue-green glass curtain wall divided by horizontal metal spandrel panels and have a metallic mesh crown over a rooftop terrace. The project joins several new developments in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, including a residential tower by Rafael Viñoly Architects (EW, December 2015). Site preparation work for 1000M has already begun, and construction is expected to start in 2018. Opening is planned for 2021.