Height: 310 ft
Floor count: 26
Location: North St. Clair and East Ohio
Construction end: 2007
Architect: Brinstool & Lynch
Developer: Sutherland Pearsall Development Corp.

Website (http://550stclair.com/)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3550/550stclairdl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This building looks pretty damn good to me. It's being designed by Brinstool + Lynch the same people that did designed LoftHaus (one of my favourite new buildings going up) and the new Racine Art Museum which has gotten a lot of press. I like the glass tower look to it and design of the garage is tastefully done. I counted the number of stories and it looks to me like it's 28 stories tall, but heard that it was 26 somewhere else. it will have 110 units a mixture of studios and 1-3 bedroom apartments.

Looking Hot! this could be the best addition of modernism to streeterville since lake point tower was constructed.

I thought MoMo was being designed by Larry Booth of Booth Hansen (?)

you're right, i'll edit it

It looks very silimar to Ontario Place, right down the street.

I'm not digging that base, but other than that, a great-looking tower.

How the hell could you compare that to Ontario Place??? The Windsor @ Ontario is a hulking piece of black garbage... a true travesty in the skyline. If this reminds me of anything, it would be a more refined version of 2 E. Erie.

At any rate... what does any of this have to do with Larry Booth or MoMo?

I'm praying to GOD that the ground-level is interactive. The structure is alright, I love the glass walls, but the base seems like it doesn't go with the building, which is I suppose typical for the tower/podium thing. The base is itself very interesting architecturally, it just really doesn't belong with that tower. In contrast to the tower, it looks dead and heavy.

i wonder what that grey material you see covering the parking garage is

I would guess the darker grey to be some sort of screen.

That parking garage needs to be shot

I don't see much wrong with it TUP. They're an unfortunate necessary evil these days (damn rich people and their damn cars) and this seems like a fine enough way to handle it to me. Underground would obviously be better, but, it's usually not an option in the swamp that we call Chicago.

^I agree completely, Geoff. I am just saying that this parking garage base looks like ass. I'm not saying we should build parking garages that have cute little windows with flowers (like the Bernardin), but at least build something other than a giant windowless cube.

I'd rather just NOT be able to tell that it's a parking garage (ie Trump Tower) and have it look like the rest of the building than what we're seeing now. I hope too many of these types don't get built

TUP--I agree. It would great for them to be completely shielded, i.e. look like the rest of the building. This is a place where, unless the form is spectacular, form SHOULD definitely not follow function.

Blair Kamin would disagree with you two. He wrote an article explaining how architects should learn to design parking garages with more dignity and architectural value rather. He specifically compared to the new parking garage on clark street designed to resemble a building versus the Ralph Johnson apartment garage on Wells to make his point. I personlly think the parking garage actually compliments the building so that it doesn't like another glass tower. Also we really don't know what this grey cube is, it's probably cement or concrete, but what if it's like a screen or stone or something, then it would look really cool, that's what i'm counting on.

I like the design, and I don't mind the parking garage either. At least it isn't trying to harken back to a French Chatau (Fordham?) or some other very inappropriate historical vernacular which should never be applied to a highrise of the 21st century. And at least there aren't town houses stacked upon top of the parking structure (Fordham again).There are far too many buildings that have been and are being put up that look like a mish-mash of historical design or a bland concrete box. This is quite appropriate for the current time.

Noticed this today on a little walk through the 'Ville.

http://img104.echo.cx/img104/6958/550stclair061205015nf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Not to sure if this means anything. The dry cleaners that is located at this site has now closed and moved to a new location. Maybe this means they will be starting on this project soon.

We're losing too many dry cleaners, 7-11s, and Walgreen's in the city! :)

Losing Walgreens!? That has never seemed like much of an issue since for every one that we knock down we build 6 more.

Noticed this today on a little walk through the 'Ville.

http://img104.echo.cx/img104/6958/550stclair061205015nf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)


^Is this the building 550 St Clair will replace?

Sure is tup

Question: Is this building only going to take out the parking deck with the diner or is it including the little building with Sayat Nova on the first floor and that freaky little old queen bar upstairs? I have a soft spot for Sayat Nova. The interior is so sixties with the funky little nooks and cut outs. My partner and I had our first date there five years ago. Either way, this new tower is good design and I won't cry if that little three story building goes, but I do think it would make for a really more interesting streetscape if it were to stay.

Yeah, I'm pulling for it to stay. I just love those narrow little three-flats... they're so fucking Chicago it's fantastic.

Wow it has been awhile for any news on this building. I'm glad I can be the first to say it.

Bye Bye Parking Garage!!!

I took these today out my window so they are kind of bad from the reflection. I think they will work for now.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5157/10ve.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/9273/27gj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/9180/31qd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^ Great news! So I guess this goes under site prep/demo

Strangely enough, the parking garage that it replaces really wasn't too bad. There are some really butt-ass ugly parking garages in Streeterville that I would much rather see torn down

I'd like to see the one at 535 St. Clair torn down next. That one is ugly.

Good news. I like this tower more in the ads that have this rendering:

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/539/100036ss13796sectionads3678923.jpg

But it's probably the fake echanting lighting effect that makes it look so cool.

This one looks like it is under construction. The crane for the caisson's is up and they have the rebar or whatever its called on site. I will try and post some pictures in the next day or so. I have pics of the demo from start to finish and I am now starting on the construction.

I'd like to see the one at 535 St. Clair torn down next. That one is ugly.

Is that the one where the White Hen Pantry sit?

It is right across the street from the White Hen. There is also the development that is going next to White Hen which is 535 St. Clair.

Ok this one really is under construction now. They are drilling as I type. Will post pics later. To busy right now. Sorry

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8108/535stclair7po.jpg

^^^Whoah wait a minute...is that picture distorted? Because all the other renderings of this place implied it was a simple square design...however this sure does appear to be a rectangular base...?

Dan it is not the same building. This building Spy posted is 535 St. Clair which is going where that very ugly garage sits at the corner of St Clair and Grand. Both from the same developer.

^^^oops! well thats the dumbest thing I've posted since I joined...it was early Sunday morning and I was groggy eyed...

Anyways...Im not sure I feel too enthralled to have these two similiar buildings so close together...I love and live by modern and minimilist architecture but just feeling this is going to take away from 550 but its better than a parking garage.

Well underlying the mess-up is a crucial point: 550 and 535 are too similar! Is this Brininstool and Lynch? Comon guys, work out of this one-trick pony shit.

And in color

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4069/535stclair25uh.jpg

^oops! well thats the dumbest thing I've posted since I joined...it was early Sunday morning and I was groggy eyed...

Disco, I made the same mistake. So, these "brother buildings" are basically going to be across the street from one another? Hmmm... I'd rather have both buildings than neither, but why would they do that?

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/539/100036ss13796sectionads3678923.jpghttp://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4069/535stclair25uh.jpg

Taken yesterday by Pherek on SSP (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2207646&postcount=1701)

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3959/200607260903xg2.jpg

The building of a tower crane and the insane people that do it.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8917/1pm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4765/2sx3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/15/3lh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1281/4ma3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2143/5hz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/3082/6pg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7052/7zj5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8092/8ei6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2350/9dz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow! A Paul Bunyan erector set! Very informative. Thanks :)

550 st clair, interesting desgin, but a bit oldie to me!

October 13, 2006

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7726/pa130400zw7.jpg

Two updates for the price of one...

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2224/550stclairzh2.jpg

550 just topped out parking so it should be a smooth shot up from here.

January 12, 2007

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2694/dsc0189copyqp7.jpg

February 15, 2007

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4038/dsc0606copyff0.jpg

From afar


http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4391/550nstclairrl3.jpg

When do they start putting cladding on smaller buildings? Do they wait until its topped out or when they reach a certain height?

Taken today:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7954/500stclairfh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3330/500stclair2pg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

When do they start putting cladding on smaller buildings? Do they wait until its topped out or when they reach a certain height?
There is no set rule. It's all a product of the scheduling set forth by the general contractor as it pertains to the different trades who need to work on the building. Other issues crop up as well (i.e. the leaky and streaky glass for Burj Dubai) that can determine when a structure is enclosed.

March 13, 2007

Avenue East & 550 St. Clair
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1346/dsc0272copyhs7.jpg

March 20, 2007

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/886/dsc0376copyjc5.jpg

I can't wait for the glass. I'm thinking its gonna be like 600 N Fairbanks but probally with even less tint. If it sucks I'm going to have to change my avatar:)

Also, its amazing how much of an impact this will have from Michigan Ave. (I'll snap a pic for ya all tomorrow)

April 5, 2007

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7673/dsc0061copyyi6.jpg

Retrograde, I don't know if you saw this, but was there any glass installed yet?

Retrograde, I don't know if you saw this, but was there any glass installed yet?
I walked around the perimeter of the site and I didn't notice any glazing. Hopefully some windows will go up soon.

550 St. Clair taken today:

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1205/550stclair413ce5.jpg

May 3, 2007

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/796/dsc0027copyyb6.jpg

Avenue East and 550 N St. Clair adding to the canyon:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/166/aveeastand550stclairla8.jpg

it look like nothing like the render

^How do you figure? It's not even complete.

The glass must be on backorder?:dunno:

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1923/dsc02d17ss1.jpg

This is from an advertisement in the Chicago Sun-Times. I looked back through the thread and didn't see this posted before. It shows 550 St. Clair in context with its surroundings.

Here's my thought, why can't the developer add a LED screen to the base rather than have that bland mesh look that so many developer use to cover up the garage? I would think then would love the added revenue that they could have by having a large LED screen showing comercials.

May 21, 2007

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8464/dsc0f112tj2.jpg http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1923/dsc02d17ss1.jpg

This architect needs to discover that architecture exists in three dimensions.

Mr. "Yawn" are you posting in every single one of the threads to actually write clear, thoughtful, intelligent comments or are you simply just posting to bump the threads up and to just read what you write? Just curious.

Mr. CHIsentinel, I'm not quite sure what "bumping up" exactly means. I've just been monitoring this site for about 6 months now and I sort of reached a point or over-saturation where I needed to respond to some of the 'educated comments' I was reading.

Height and brand names don't make architecture Architecture....quality does.

That isn't even the right rendering.

Looks pretty three-dimensional to me:
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3550/550stclairdl7.jpg

Brininstool & Lynch are great at smaller scale projects. Their houses are stunning.

However in my humble opinion, their high rises are not yet at the level of their smaller scale works. This doesn't mean they won't be some day, but one look at their VUE 20, 1720 S. Michigan and their building at Ontario and Franklin work is a telling example of what I'm referring to. They are flat and generally uninspired.

A better example of the type of modernism they are attempting to achieve at the high rise scale is the work of David Hovey and his firm, Optima.

Nice talking to you!

Could someone post some pictures of this building? I moved from Chicago :cry: 3 weeks ago for work and don't get to see this anymore . Watched this thing out my window from demo and never got to see the glass. Is there any yet?

^Long time no see. Sorry to see that you've left.

pherek on SSP posted these on 6/26

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1266/img2954rf8.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8081/img2958pg3.jpg

This one is topped out! WOo!.

Thanks Spy. Wow no glass yet. Seems kind of odd.

I will be back to Chicago again someday. You can only be away for so long before you have to move back. I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing a whole new skyline.

Still awaiting some glass!!!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1352/749692919_498e96a877_o.jpg

checked out this building recently and not only did they have totally un-informed sales people who were completely clueless, but they really disappointed on the finishes. building had the potential to be beautiful but alas...

:ohno:

^^^ I dunno - they still have to put up the glass, finishes, etc. - still a skeleton at this point (it'll never look as good as the Fairbanks, though... ;) )

...building had the potential to be beautiful but alas...

You just described Brininstool + Lynch's entire career so far in their projects over 8 stories tall.

So um is there any glass yet?

So um is there any glass yet?

Yes.

August 8, 2007

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7513/dsc0131cm0.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6111/dsc0146sx0.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4443/dsc0145ni1.jpg

Thanks Retro

Finally.

It's about time. I used to be pretty enthusiastic about this one, but it's stalled out for so long I've lost interest. I'm just hoping the glass turns out for the best. My first impression is that it looks good.

3 floors of glass so far and its stunning AND *CLEARLY* gorgous (stupid pun I know lol)

Well I will be back next month for the weekend so I get to see it for myself. I can't wait to come back and see everything now that it will be like 4 months of missed construction time for me.

Taken today:
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/5558/550stclair91ib0.jpg

WOW! the glass is almost worth the painfully long wait :banana: lol. It's so clear!

On their webstie the developer of 550 St. Clair- Sutherland Pearsall Development Corp, claims that the building is 85% sold. They are also developers for the taller twin tower- 535 St. Clair. Has anyone heard any info on when they might begin marketing that project or is it postponed for the time being?

Is that really all glass? It is so clear. I think I might like it.

September 11, 2007

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9366/dsc0088xv5.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1007/dsc0085qp7.jpg

October 9, 2007

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3001/dsc0014ka9.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/8046/dsc0019ne6.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5981/dsc0021dl9.jpg

Here's a shot from Nsullivan that was posted to the 600 N Fairbanks thread. (Check out the other interior shots -- very nice)

This is a view from Helmut Jahn's southwest corner -- a different perspective on 550 St. Clair

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6966/IMG_1237.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_1237.jpg)

October 29, 2007

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/4098/dsc0068co5.jpg

Hey Retro/Solarwind, you are one talented kid. No offense to everyone else, but your pics are by far the most outstanding. The detail, contrast are truly mindblowing. You actually make this city look better than real life. Keep up the great work!


P.S. So when are you gonna make a photo tour thread?

November 13, 2007

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2239/dsc0082qe8.jpg

Hey Retro/Solarwind, you are one talented kid. No offense to everyone else, but your pics are by far the most outstanding. The detail, contrast are truly mindblowing. You actually make this city look better than real life. Keep up the great work!

P.S. So when are you gonna make a photo tour thread?
Thanks, Lucky Lefty. I've thought about a photo tour thread, but it will have to wait until I accumulate enough quality photos, and maybe take a few pics with people in them.

December 19, 2007

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9237/dsc0108fm2.jpg

Taken 2/16:
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4021/550nstclairvq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The base sort of reminds me of the New Museum of Contemporary Art, so in that sense I kind of like it now.

Here are a couple street/solo (from today):
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2425/dsc03287ju7.jpg
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/29/dsc03350qw0.jpg

23 March.

Glass on the condo portion of the tower looks great.....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/131.jpg

.....untill you look down at the parking podium. Yikes! Metal-mesh screen or no, this podium is brutal:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/121.jpg

Could've been a beaut of a tower - too darn bad these windowless, glassless, inhumanely-scaled podia are taking over the town.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/wjcordier/231.jpg

Taken today:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9044/550nstclair426qd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

even worse than the podium is the west elevation- you know, the one that 90% of the public see from michigan avenue....it looks like circa 1960's public housing.

brininstool + lynch should stick to midrises. if you count their debacle on jackson and this- forgiving their east berlin homage on franklin & ontario because it's too short, they're 0 for 2 over 20 stories.

Wow I actually agree with you on something Helmet. This building looks like crap coming down Ohio. That whole side of the building is just garbage and it sucks that we will have to look at this from Michigan Ave.

It is too easy to build in Chicago...

...it WAS too easy to build in Chicago.

^^

It's too easy to build crap in this so-called city of great architecture.