Work begins, plans are modified at waterfront properties.

Construction Starts on 67-Story Chicago Building

Construction began in May on One Bennett Park, a 67-story, 850-ft.-tall residential building near Navy Pier in Chicago, Curbed Chicago reported. Located at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Peshtigo Court, the building is the tallest in the city’s current building boom and will rise above its tallest neighbor by 250 ft. Developer Related Midwest is building a new 1.7-acre park as part of the Robert A.M. Stern Architects-designed project. Assuming Vista (ELEVATOR WORLD, July 2016), designed by Jeanne Gang, and Grant Park Tower (EW, December 2015), designed by Rafael Viñoly, also proceed, One Bennett Park will be Chicago’s 13th-tallest building.

Chicago Spire Revived as Gateway Tower

San Francisco-based design and architecture firm Gensler has proposed a concept for the waterfront site of the now-scrapped Chicago Spire in Chicago. It plans to avoid another US$50-million loss (as took place in 2008 with the global economic downturn) by having mixed-use floor space to attract and retain diverse investors. The proposed Gateway Tower would house condominiums, rental apartments, two hotels and tourist attractions. It would keep the old plan’s height at 2,000 ft. but use a thin, rectilinear shape, rather than a twisting one.

Gensler Principal Brian Vitale explained:

“Our solution was to create an anti-tower, one that was not designed purely as an object to look at, but rather one that is engaging at different scales to the entire city; one that would welcome newcomers as it simultaneously embraces locals.”

Dezeen reports that amenities include a funicular for mid-level access, a water taxi service, two Riverwalk entries and a tall “skydeck” with a restaurant and garden. Few details are available as of yet.