http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=268358&page=1&pp=20

Above is the link to a thread in the Chicago Development section. It is the 2nd thread on the topic as the 1st just about hit its limit. The project is very exciting and aesthetically, its a stunner.

Has anyone here been watching the progression of this project?
Any thoughts / comments on it?

i'd post some images but alas, am technically challenged (clueless how to drop an image into a thread)

I remember seeing that render about 4 years ago now............ just like the big ones in Toronto, it's taking AGES to get these things built (Trump Toronto is still at sales?) - Melburnians have nothing to complain about the slowness of construction - especially when you compare it to Chicago or Toronto.

it's very Chicago, is it me or does the whole city and its skyscrapers seem to keep to one or a few similar basic forms? You could say the same thing about Melbourne 5 years ago, but Docklands & Southbank is smashing that to pieces. Bit on the conservative side - the trump tower seems to be the only one breaking away from the 'short back and sides' mould that most of the other recent towers fit into. However I like the look of this one, looks schwoit, and loving the crown & podium.

this one has grown from 280m to 320m. beautifully crafted highrise. so slim and elegant.
bout time it commenced.

They never reject the biggies over in america. lol

^^ heaps of 'big' projects are rejected in america. is there something about thisone that youthink warrants it having been rejected? i think the design is gorgeous, the site its on is stunning. every unit will have a waterview either the river or lake.

Amazing looking tower. I really love how Chicago embraces tall towers, unlike the city I live in where they're snuffed out by a wad of stupid rules.

Amazing looking tower. I really love how Chicago embraces tall towers, unlike the city I live in where they're snuffed out by a wad of stupid rules.

LOL which city did you live in?
and agreed about chicago embracing the towers. the scrapers were born there though so it would be a shmae if they abandoned them.

Pictures from the groundbreaking 2 1/2 weeks ago.

I able to speak with the developer Ivan Dvorak and the architect Thomas Hoepf.

Alderman Burton Natarus was there and made a cool speach about the stunning and beautiful architecture of the tower. He was promoting Chicago like it's Gods greatest gift. (And lets face it, it is). He also mentioned the face that Manderin Oriental was coming to town:)

Ivan Dvorak, president of Waterview LLC, mentioned the 250 permanent jobs once the building is complete. He said that negotiations began with Shangri-La began back in October of 2004. I was able to speak with him personally later and he said that the building has been in the works for about 4 years. The site has always been seen as an "unobstructed view cooridor", because of the river.
-There will be a high end restaurante on the ground floor, "possibly" something new to the U.S.
-There will be limited retail space

Teng Principal Design Architect Thomas Hoepf said that the glass will give the building visual texture. Chicago's new energy code was a major driving factor for the building glass and granite curtain wall. He also said because a lot of the design and structural work was done "in house", it nade the process much easier.

FEBRUARY 2006 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
-The percentage of sold condominium units is in the Mid 60's
-About 11% of the hotel units have been sold so far

Here are some photos from yesterdays ceremony...

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B6%3Cnu0mrj

The gentlemen in the blue tie is the architect (Tom Hoepf)
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B74nu0mrj

Silver shovels used by Teng officials at Waterview Towers' cerimonial groundbreaking - 2006-1-31
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B75nu0mrj

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433151.jpg

Alderman Natarus with the mike.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B78nu0mrj

Shangri-La official
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B7%3Cnu0mrj

City, Shangri-La and Teng officials including architect Thomas Hoepf(on the left), at the cerimonial groundbreaking for Waterview Tower - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433154.jpg

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B86nu0mrj

Engraving on the spade of the shovel.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B8%3Bnu0mrj

View across the site to the northeast corner - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433160.jpg

One of the project managers.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B94nu0mrj

View of the site from the 35th floor of the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433168.jpg

2 of the 3 people in the sales center who have been quite helpful to me over the past 2 years.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B%3A732%3Anu0mrj

The architect (blue tie) standing next to the model of the building he designed.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B98nu0mrj

View to the southeast across the construction site - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433172.jpg


This concludes the lesson for today.:):):)

LOL Thanks for the lesson BV!

I'm gunna love this tower and don't mind where in the world it is built. It will however fit into Chicago well tho'. Great classy scraper!