23rd October 2008 , from Magnificent Mile, taken by forumer Mercato:

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo332/mercato2008/Chicago%20Oct08/CIMG3901.jpg

.

I walked by this one today, and I love it!

I usually hate the podiums that most new highrises have in Chicago, but I think it works well with this one. It looks like it is close to being T/O

My favorite project in Chicago atm

My favorite project in Chicago atm

Mine too, now that Trump is TO.

flickr.com - mycityofblindinglights

November 29, 2008
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/3068378114_189d129f7f_b.jpg

i think it would look a lot better if they had used black windows on the tower like those in the little courtyard area instead of white ones...but still, looks pretty good

Yesterday:
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6330/dsc056761979464jw4.jpg

Taken today:
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/958/elysian115jo5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Beautiful addition to the skyline.

Such a gorgeous photo, i_am_hydrogen. Cold is truly beautiful.

Beautiful addition to the skyline.

Agreed.:cheers:

maybe it would've been....a 100 years ago. now it's just a standard government cheese lucien project for rich people with no taste. consider it a really tall hinsdale tear-down.

Cool crisp cold Chicago air makes for great photos
then again, at any temperature the Chi is simply beautiful

i just have never been a fan of historicist design like this. i think it's safe, fake, and soulless. sorry.

^ No need to be sorry. This building is terrible. Not as terrible as some of Lagrange's other projects but terrible nevertheless.

^ No need to be sorry. This building is terrible. Not as terrible as some of Lagrange's other projects but terrible nevertheless.

That's the thing. Was he pandering with this design or was he just trying to be "contextual"?

Overall, I don't hate it. Just seems like an obvious Park Hyatt rip-off (which it is.) But of all things, why does it have to be BEIGE!?! There should be a law...

It isn't as bad as Park Tower. But that isn't saying much.

I'm not a huge fan. However, I'm very pleased it's not simply Another Glass Box.

There's nothing wrong with an historic look to a building. This building looks good to me. It is nice to have some buildings that are not flat-topped.

The Elysian is tall and slender with a nice peak to the roof. A great addition to the skyline.

We have plenty of glass boxes. It's OK to have a mix of styles. This is no masterpiece, but it is by no means an eyesore.

In River North, I'll take a glass box over a beige penis any day. Heck, keep the hat-on-top idea, just modern it up a bit.

I don't think it's an eyesore, I just hoped for something with a bit of originality.

you on these boards are all aware that lucien lagrange let all his modernist designers go about 3 months ago....right?

^That's a shame, because Erie on the Park is fantastic.

Doesn't it feel like this tower has been frozen in basically the same state for the months and month now? I remember looking out my 26th floor at 191 N. Wacker and getting an awesome view straight up the North Loop and seeing this tower as it is today....and that was last fall.

Uh, no. Not really. The huge 'roof' has only taken shape these past few weeks.

I think it's a great addition to the skyline. I'm not a HUGE fan of the modern glass boxes, so I like this design.

I think it's a great addition to the skyline. I'm not a HUGE fan of the modern glass boxes, so I like this design.

I agree. I'm not a big fan of this building but it definitely adds to the skyline...especially when driving south on LSD (coming from the northside)...as well as a few other angles.

I'm reading a collection of Chicago Tribune's architecture critic Blair Kamin who has a thing or two to say about recent development when it comes to skyscrapers. I kinda agree with him that the past years have been more a matter of quantity (or Consumerism) then of quality. That doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing as urban mass by itself can be good looking as well (which is why New York looks great as a tight collection of mostly bland towers), but also because the world becomes more global, a true local way or expressing architecture becomes quite rare. If it happens, architect just add some references on a box and that's it. Personally my flavour tends to lean more toward Aqua looking buildings than retro ones by the way. Designing something of the past can be eye pleasing but easy, designing something of the future, that's the challenge. But really what they are are designs on a box. Most new building don't seem to have an agenda any more.

Sorry. Just because it does not equate to a glass box does not mean that it is trash. Recently people have been focused on modern garbage. Why? Maybe when you realize that this is variety from the mundane then you will come to appreciate it. Variety makes a great city. It is surprising you people want to have a homogeneous, communistic city.:ohno:

p.s Aqua is really just a glass box that was produced by a jaded and very uncreative individual who felt like 'plastic fins' would ameliorate a rectangular prism. If this is the style you people are interested in, then...

The vast majority of River North is beige, so this building blends right in. It's also an almost identical copy of Park Hyatt, only a few blocks away. (A 'Mini Me', if you prefer.) The peaked roof isn't exactly unique either, since there are at least 3 others within 5 blocks.

I don't actually mind the building by itself, but the AREA would certainly have "more variety" if a few glass/steel towers were sprinkled in. (modern or not)

Charlie Trotter and Elysian Hotel part ways
Posted by Phil Vettel at 2 p.m. CST

Chef Charlie Trotter, who was scheduled to open a fine-dining restaurant in the new Elysian Hotel, has pulled out of that deal.

A joint statement issued by the hotel and condominium project states that the Elysian and Trotter “have mutually and amicably agreed to part company.”

A spokesperson for the Elysian said that a new restaurant partner for the Elysian, which is scheduled to open in June, would be named quickly.

^^Oh well, the tower is topped out, it's in the heart of the luxury-center of the Midwest and is a relatively decent addition to the skyline - frankly I think Trotter is dumb for deciding to pull out as he would always be guaranteed a busy night at that location, but who knows what his financial situation is so maybe he's just playing it safe..

^Don't know what his situation is but this isn't entirely unprecedented. Remember Trotter pulled out of opening a restaurant in Time Warner Center in New York because the costs skyrocketed.

Saw this on PriorGuest.com (http://www.priorguest.com/en/hotels/united-states/chicago/34619/elysian). It's the first time I've seen a rendering of the hotel lobby.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4482/lobbyo.jpg

http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/CA6640536.html?industryid=47563

Spotlight On: Elysian Hotel Chicago
By Derek Gale, Senior Editor -- Hotels, 2/27/2009 7:42:00 AM

...
HOTELS: The statement released mentions that the Elysian is not announcing a new culinary partner “at this time.” Does that mean the hotel does plan to bring in a different partner?

Quinlan: We will be bringing in a new culinary partner. We have a few options on the horizon, and we hope to be able to share our new partner with the community shortly.

HOTELS: Is one of the possibilities a local Chicago chef?

Quinlan: Yes, that is one of the possibilities. The partner we choose will exemplify the 5-star experience.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1861/elysian3.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8708/elysian.jpg

Lower right first pic = ?

Sterling condo building. http://www.thesterlingcondos.com/

I love the tapering and the roof. not impressed with the colors, but overall I definitely approve.

Renowned Pastry Chef Segal Joins Elysian Hotel Chicago
The high-end hotel project, which Charlie Trotter exited in February, also named Jason McLeod as executive chef.
-- Restaurants and Institutions, 4/15/2009 8:34:00 AM

(press release)

April 15, 2009 (CHICAGO) – In preparation for its flagship launch in July, the Elysian has unveiled its elite culinary team of experts that will bring an authentic, approachable and world-class dining experience to the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast.

Mindy Segal, Chicago’s finest pastry chef, and Jason McLeod, award winning executive chef, are the first to be added to a larger team of Elysian Masters who will define the culinary team. Chosen for their individual excellence and creative approach, Mindy and Jason will work together to support the two dining destinations, as well as in-room dining and catering.

http://www.rimag.com/article/CA6651709.html?industryid=48494

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3680/p1000942t.jpg

It's looking good!

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8881/elysianted.jpghttp://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2963/dsc09785.jpg
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3203/dsc09787.jpghttp://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3662/dsc09788.jpg
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9394/dsc09798.jpghttp://img34.imageshack.us/img34/710/dsc09816.jpg
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9033/dsc09823.jpghttp://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8011/dsc09819.jpg

i still think it would of had a better impact on the skyline if were some 200ft taller

Still, it's a good-looking tower. :yes:

June 5th 2009

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/kj6gd9mpw2yxljgzhr-1.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/h7ye5lhrxbycifv95k-2.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/ipwcj4ipascbmbmdf6-3.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/m760jtjbixvun8cqvo-4.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/jribxrm0meb9kjlibn-5.jpg

tnx for the update

i have to say, i absolutely hate this tower. i was skeptical when i saw the rendering, and i'm even more underwhelmed seeing it go up in person. if it weren't for its summit, it would be a boring generic block :ohno:

i have to say, i absolutely hate this tower. i was skeptical when i saw the rendering, and i'm even more underwhelmed seeing it go up in person. if it weren't for its summit, it would be a boring generic block :ohno:

I think it is a very interesting building, as in I am sure many cities would die for a tower like this to be built in their city. But overall the tower just blends in with the surrounding area, which isn't completely a bad thing compared to what was sitting on this block a few years back. The only thing I do not care for much is it's "Faux Parisian" look... it is too "Disney" and reminds me of a French chateux on growth hormones.

June 12th 2009

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/12/iyu3wwlitrpol5ca6n-7.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/12/k4uhwymbjezwmn14xh-8.jpg

Wish they painted the bottom of the balconies dark.

10-27

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/829/ely1.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2005/elywaltondel.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6925/ely4.jpg

It's coming out better than I anticipated.

It's looking good!