Height: 700 ft
Floor count: 50
Location: 200 North Riverside Plaza
Neighborhood: Fulton River District
Construction end:
Architect: Pickard Chilton Architects
Developer: Hines Interests

Website (http://www.hines.com/property/detail.aspx?id=1946)

Website (http://www.pickardchilton.com/pagProject.aspx?Group='COMMERCIAL'&ID=43&Photo=3)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7899/riverpointiy1.jpg
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1548/200n2xj7.jpg
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4804/200n3ex7.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4468/200n4yj0.jpg

200 North Riverside Plaza is a fifty story, 1.2 million gross square foot project comprising office, retail, restaurants, a boat house and public spaces; a 1.5 acre public plaza; and three levels of below-grade parking. Located on a triangular site bordered by West Lake Street, Canal Street and the broad confluence of the branching North and South Chicago Rivers, 200 North Riverside enhances the character of this prominent river frontage while concealing the existing railroad tracks below. It is Pickard Chilton’s second major project in Chicago for Hines.

The tower’s unique sculptural form creates a striking silhouette from multiple vantage points throughout the city and responds to the wonderful qualities of its important waterfront site. The tower’s sweeping curves capture natural light within the building as well as provide panoramic views outward. A sky terrace perched six hundred feet above the river accentuates the distinct image of the tower’s crown and offers dramatic views of the river, the Loop and Lake Michigan on the horizon.

The riverfront plaza, a welcome public amenity for the West Loop neighborhood, is designed to reshape the urban fabric by creating a lively civic space that encourages pedestrian activity along the waterfront. The open public plaza cascades down to the river walk and the water’s edge through a series of landscaped terraces, water features, seating areas, and arcing pathways. The space enjoys abundant sunlight throughout the day and provides a pleasant respite along on the course of the river.

The public boat house, operated by the Park District of the City of Chicago, accommodates kayaks, canoes, and crew boats. The boat house also provides boat storage, locker rooms, a multipurpose gathering space, staff offices and an elevated, covered observation terrace. The building’s streamlined, sweeping roof design draws its inspiration from the highly refined form of competition oar blades.

As a Class-A office building, 200 North Riverside’s state-of-the-art design will serve as the headquarters for major international corporations. The grand and welcoming lobby features a sixty five foot high expanse of glass that acts as a proscenium arch framing views of the plaza, the river and cityscape beyond. Located above the lobby is a 50,000 square foot double-height conference center with a crescent-shaped exterior terrace that overlooks the river. The tower’s floor plates are configured to accommodate flexibility and efficiency in interior planning. The building’s richly articulated glass and silver metallic curtain wall, a key component in achieving a LEED Silver pre-certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, will minimize solar heat gain, maximize interior day lighting and enable expansive views.

WOW!!! That's incredible! The design is great! Is that a small void near the top (sort of arch shaped.) This is right next to the Riverbend Condos right? If so, it will be a nice complement as that curves inwards and this one outwards.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

Great design! Any idea of the height?

Very nice i am glad they are coming out with more modern ideas for the river front. Lets hope the city keeps going in the right direction.

Great design! Any idea of the height?

Someone on SSP estimated the height to be about 700 feet. Whatever the specific height is, I think that this building will be the tallest building west of the river, by far!

Awww, yeah..

Here is a little diagram I drew up estimating the height.
http://runepixels.com/uimages14/height.jpg

So my best guess is 697 feet.

Wow, this is incredible.

This will be one of the more prominent buildings in the Kennedy skyline view. It will go very well with the curves of Hyatt Center and 333 Wacker.

^exactly. Great contextualism, mixed use, LEED certification, public plaza... what a great project!

Wow... Chicago is getting yet another awesome skyscraper. Unbelievable. One after the other. And to an excellent location. Congrats...

Any info on when this might start going up?

This is fantastical, the riverwalk is pure sexy. And imo this project brings Wolf Point a little closer to happening.:master:

Did this one fall from heaven? Unbelievable!!!

I really wish 200 N. Riverside were taller. It should at least be as tall as it's older brother the Torre Mayor which is Mexico's tallest at 755 feet. By the way, I'm surprised no one yet has noticed the resemblance, which is pretty much a knock-off of it. Not that I care if it is or not. If it is, then we need more knockoff's like these. :)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2919/1torremayorfu6.png

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7342/200ncp4.jpg

Agreed.

This is fantastical, the riverwalk is pure sexy. And imo this project brings Wolf Point a little closer to happening.:master:

The riverwalk is an awesome gift to the city. I hope the walk will one day be unified.

The riverwalk is an awesome gift to the city.

Required, not a gift.

While this would look nice as a taller building, I think there are some good reasons Hines has chosen this program.

First, it's rare for a condo to be on a ground lease or air rights in Illinois (I'm not sure it's legal), so residential would have to be rental. That's doing OK right now, but is not the business Hines is in, and you get less of a premium for killer views than you do in office or condo.

Second, consider the floor plate efficiency. While you only need one elevator for every 70 or so residential units, you need a lot more in an office building with floor plates this size--probably 12. So there eventually comes a point where it costs you more to go higher than you can recover in rents, and you risk having the usable floorplates too small to attract the big anchor tenants.

Finally, think hard about how an office developer's pro forma works in the current market. He has to have a big user signed up for a quarter of the building, but then has to deliver that space within about 30 months for that client. So there's no time to do enough preleasing to do more than about a million square feet at a time. That's why the 50-story, quarter-block, million-square-foot office building has been the sweet spot in the Chicago market for the last 20 years.

As a postscript, inclusion of this site in the LaSalle TIF actually worries me, because now Hines can ask for a city subsidy to pull a tenant out of another Loop building. The tenant threatens to move to Charlotte or Dallas otherwise, and we end up pissing away the TIF money on churning tenants instead of actual public improvements.

[QUOTE=Mr Downtown;13150984]Required, not a gift.

I agree BUT these plans are much more elaborate than what is required.

Required, not a gift.

While this would look nice as a taller building, I think there are some good reasons Hines has chosen this program.

First, it's rare for a condo to be on a ground lease or air rights in Illinois (I'm not sure it's legal), so residential would have to be rental. That's doing OK right now, but is not the business Hines is in, and you get less of a premium for killer views than you do in office or condo.

Second, consider the floor plate efficiency. While you only need one elevator for every 70 or so residential units, you need a lot more in an office building with floor plates this size--probably 12. So there eventually comes a point where it costs you more to go higher than you can recover in rents, and you risk having the usable floorplates too small to attract the big anchor tenants.

Finally, think hard about how an office developer's pro forma works in the current market. He has to have a big user signed up for a quarter of the building, but then has to deliver that space within about 30 months for that client. So there's no time to do enough preleasing to do more than about a million square feet at a time. That's why the 50-story, quarter-block, million-square-foot office building has been the sweet spot in the Chicago market for the last 20 years.

As a postscript, inclusion of this site in the LaSalle TIF actually worries me, because now Hines can ask for a city subsidy to pull a tenant out of another Loop building. The tenant threatens to move to Charlotte or Dallas otherwise, and we end up pissing away the TIF money on churning tenants instead of actual public improvements.


I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to ask permission, or to have that changed.

As for them not being in the residential buisness, there's always a first for everything.

If they can pull off a 60-story office tower at 300 N. LaSalle, they can do better than a measly 50 here. Anchor tenants can use larger floor plates at the base while the smaller high-rise floors can be used by smaller tenants.

Sears Tower ring a bell?

As for the elevator situtation---SKYLOBBIES

Ahhh, the Procrustean Tower. Make the building whatever shape you think it looks nice, and then change the program until it fits.

As for the elevator situtation---SKYLOBBIES

You do realize that office developers have to attract picky tenants who have other choices, right?

Do you think it's mere coincidence that no office building with skylobbies has been built in Chicago since 1990? Tenants don't like them.

Skylobbies are an absolute pain in the ass. Not to mention, the whole point about smaller tenants occupying the smaller floorplates is kind of moot, since the floorplates don't seem to change size in this building.

I think this building is spectacular! I'm surprised noone is posting about how wonderful this building is and how the river needs this to make the river canyon even more modern!

I think this building is spectacular! I'm surprised noone is posting about how wonderful this building is and how the river needs this to make the river canyon even more modern!

Much bigger discussion on SSP.

As a postscript, inclusion of this site in the LaSalle TIF actually worries me, because now Hines can ask for a city subsidy to pull a tenant out of another Loop building. The tenant threatens to move to Charlotte or Dallas otherwise, and we end up pissing away the TIF money on churning tenants instead of actual public improvements.

^ This worries me too.

All the leasing activity we hear about is that simple "churn" of tenants. Chicago rarely gets new corporate offices any more

^ This worries me too.

All the leasing activity we hear about is that simple "churn" of tenants. Chicago rarely gets new corporate offices any more
TUP, do you have recent data on hand to back this up? It was my impression that despite the large amounts of Class A office space that came on the market these past two to three years, that the latest figures showed a drop in office vacancy DT. Perhaps the small number of large corporate newcomers is being offset by many smaller companies that arrrive below the radar screen? Simply guesswork on my part.

^ This worries me too.

All the leasing activity we hear about is that simple "churn" of tenants. Chicago rarely gets new corporate offices any more

Eh, competition is good. :)

there certainly gonna have the coolest veiw in the city

Interesting comments on the similarity of design between 200 Riverside Plaza and the Torre Mayor in Mexico City.

The Torre Mayor has Canadian roots. According to Wikipedia, Paul Reichmann and the Reichmann family developed and still own it. It was designed by Zeidler Partnership Architects, a Canadian firm with lots of landmark Canadian buildings in their portfolio.

Pickard Chilton is the architect for 200 North Riverside Plaza – incidentally, the same firm Hines is using for 300 North LaSalle. They are HQ’d in New Haven, Connecticut. Doubt if they appreciate the implication that their building looks a lot like the Torre Mayor -- the front face does, but I'm not sure about the back and the total effect.

Would love to see what the backside of 200 North Riverside Plaza looks like – anyone have a drawing of the west face? The Torre Mayor has a pink granite slab-like back.

Here’s a shot from Mexico City a couple months ago.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/515035439_63715173fa.jpg

New mega tower planned for Chicago riverfront

By Susan Diesenhouse
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 19, 2007, 4:52 PM CDT


Chicago has about 5 million square feet of new offices under construction ... and it soon may have 6 million square feet.

A new 1-million-square-foot, $400 million office tower that will overlook the Chicago River at 200 N. Riverside Plaza is in the works -- if Houston-based Hines Interests LP can find the anchor tenant it is seeking.

"I'm confident the tower will attract a great company looking for a headquarters with a corporate campus because it's a unique design at a large riverfront location near public transportation," said Gregory Van Schaack, Hines' senior vice president in charge of development in Chicago.

"We believe that the Chicago River corridor is the prime spot for corporate Chicago because it has permanent water views, natural light and is now a 24/7 neighborhood with other offices, hotels, restaurants and housing," he added. "Clearly, there's demand for a new generation of office towers since most of the 5 million square feet under construction is leased."

Hines hopes to develop the 50-story tower in a partnership with Chicago food service entrepreneur Larry Levy.

The curved-glass and metal-clad tower designed by Pickard Chilton Architects Inc. of New Haven, Conn., will have an adjoining 200-room hotel.

The complex will occupy an unusually large 111,205-square-foot triangular site bordered by Canal and Lake Streets and the river. It will feature a 51,000-square-foot landscaped plaza that will cover Metra train tracks, as well as a winter garden and stairs to a river walkway.

If Hines can lease 350,000 square feet for rent in the $45- to $50-square-foot a year range, it plans to start construction early in 2009 and complete it in mid-2011. Likely tenants would include law, accounting and investment banking firms, Van Schaack said.

Problems roiling the nation's tightening debt market are not expected to impede the project since Hines has pension-fund-backed partners able to finance projects with little or no debt.

"Our development funds have a lot of flexibility," he explained.

Currently, Hines is building another office tower at 300 N. LaSalle St. that is about 75 percent leased. Last year, it sold a tower it developed at One South Dearborn St. for $422 square foot, a record price for the city.

Hopefully this building is nothing more than a proverbial "place-holder" because it seems a little uninspired.

Do you sometimes go to other cities and see their downtown highrises and say to yourself 'huh, this would never fly in Chicago'..? That's the sense this one gives me.

I doubt the design will change much unless it is in order to cut costs. However, I think the design is fine and generally eye pleasing.

I hate to attack such a graceful building, but such a facade at that location will cast an awful lot of shadow over the bend in the river. It will rob one of Chicago's greatest assets of an awful lot of sunshine and sunset views.

Yep, one thing that rendering's missing is the building's shadow. River Bend did a huge number on the sunlight over the Main Branch at sunset; this tower will eliminate those magical hours when you can emerge from the dark Loop onto wide-open Wacker, blinded by the orange sunlight glinting off the river and amazed by all the open space.

That's not to say that I don't want a downtown boathouse -- it would be beyond awesome to row to work! I know someone who set up a kayak-sharing club with sites ringing Baltimore harbor, which many people use to get to work.

How many $million in TIF funds you wanna bet Hines asks for? You know, to keep William Blair from moving to Dallas or Charlotte . . .

Yep, one thing that rendering's missing is the building's shadow. River Bend did a huge number on the sunlight over the Main Branch at sunset; this tower will eliminate those magical hours when you can emerge from the dark Loop onto wide-open Wacker, blinded by the orange sunlight glinting off the river and amazed by all the open space.



Exactly. The entire river has become a canyon, except for the openins on the east and west, A lot of the afternoon and early evening sunlight that reaches into the heart of the city floods in through this opening on the horizon.

This building would be the biggest mistake the city has made in my lifetime.

Here's a pic from the double posted article above:


http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-06/30631185.jpg

It's a looker. Still, I'd love to see them raise the height a bit.

Exactly. The entire river has become a canyon, except for the openins on the east and west, A lot of the afternoon and early evening sunlight that reaches into the heart of the city floods in through this opening on the horizon.

This building would be the biggest mistake the city has made in my lifetime.

^ You're probably right, and it's fair to say that you represent the majority viewpoint among most humans.

However, I think sunlight is overrated, and it causes cancer, skin tags, wrinkles, and altogether is pretty toxic to most humans, hence the large amounted of melanin produced by humans who have existed in warmer climates for millennia.

I personally prefer the shadows of urban canyons, and the feeling that the highrise "walls" that surround us are so overbearing that we must succumb to the mightiness of the city in which we dwell. If we wish to free ourselves of this, we must leave. The darkness of the loop is one of my favorite aspects about it, and I look forward to seeing that darkness spread EVERYWHERE. Ha ha ha ha ha!!! (evil laughter commences)

This building would be the biggest mistake the city has made in my lifetime.Well, so far so good, globill. :)

turn this land into open space/parks......the further away from the bend in the river, the more sunlight will flood over the river.


Misunderestimate the importance of sunlight, especially as it reflects from the west, over water (such as the river) at your own expense.


Question to Chicagoans, where can you currently enjoy the western setting sun over water within the city of Chicago?

Answer: on the west side of Chicago River Bridges.

This building will take away that option (ie, being in the city watching a sunset on a bridge ,....... being ABLE TO watch the sun go down over the horizon, over the river).....forever.

tragic.

The late-day sun shining down the river does need serious consideration, but I do not see this property turning into 'open space' or a park. I can't see the city building anything on top of train tracks, and the land value is (I'm guessing) too high to build something low-rise. Would be curious to see if a different 'thin' design would be able to save (or even redirect) some of the light down the river. Perhaps an east-to-west layout, although I don't think the tenants would appreciate the increased views to the north.

Sure would be nice to reserve space for a fourth Metra track into the north side of Union Station. Thirty years from now I think we'll be sorry Amtrak was so shortsighted.

The strength of the Chicago River is its canyon like environment. I believe a tall building due west of where the main channel meets the north and south branches encloses space in a most aesthetic way. Personally I think the site has had a look of neding development to complete the picture.

double post

People should be careful about what they wish for. Whether anyone likes it or not, this is a premier riverfront location and it's ultimately destined to be occupied by a sun-shielding structure of sometime down the line. Don't get too picky, Chicago. The second you take this boom for granted is the second it's gone.

Sure would be nice to reserve space for a fourth Metra track into the north side of Union Station. Thirty years from now I think we'll be sorry Amtrak was so shortsighted.

That is the the one major concern I have had with this building. I don't want infrastructure changes to be hindered or impossible if capacity or efficacy is required in the long run.

Is there any chance they will build around a space to in order lay down a fourth track down the line?

Very doubtful at this point. Amtrak wants the cash, and Metra's idea of long-range planning is running trains next Thursday. They apparently sold off the right-of-way west of Canal reserving room for three tracks only, despite projections of 40% growth in Metra usage over the next 50 years--not to mention high-speed rail to Milwaukee, Madison, or Minneapolis.

I changed my mind. I was on the Brown line at 5:30pm yesterday, crossing the river, and the sun was pretty high above Riverbend at that point. As the evening progresses, the sun only moves farther north as it gets lower. So I don't think the proposed building will kill the sunsets (in the summer, anyway.)

the summer is not the time when the central city needs sunshine. It's the colder months, when the sun is in the southern sky, and daylight is at its minimum, when this building would darken the single largest open space (outside of the lakefront) in downtown Chicago.

I changed my mind. I was on the Brown line at 5:30pm yesterday, crossing the river, and the sun was pretty high above Riverbend at that point. As the evening progresses, the sun only moves farther north as it gets lower. So I don't think the proposed building will kill the sunsets (in the summer, anyway.)

yeah, i was just gonna bring that up. for 9 months out of the year, the sun sets north of where this tower would be in relation to the main branch of the river. riverbend is the tower that robbed the main branch of its sunsets, so i don't know why globill is so up in arms over this tower which will have relatively little effect.

Yeah... the orangey glow on the buildings to the left of that rendering will be no more.

Come to think of it, that IS one of my favorite things about Wacker Drive.

yeah, i was just gonna bring that up. for 9 months out of the year, the sun sets north of where this tower would be in relation to the main branch of the river. riverbend is the tower that robbed the main branch of its sunsets, so i don't know why globill is so up in arms over this tower which will have relatively little effect.

It doesn't matter if the sun sets a bit north or south, the shadows cast by this will be immense. The entire feel of the bend will be adversely affected. Shadows will gather over the bend by 1 or 2 pm, and the entire area fronting the building will be shadowed for the entire afternoon and evening. Riverbend, by comparison, is on the north side of the bend...

A building of that height at that location would be a disaster. All of the people cheerleading for an even taller structure at the exact same location are seriously lacking in basic feng shui.

And btw, I am not a Nimby. It's just all about the light. Let the sun shine....

by the way, Happy Vernal Equinox, today is the longest day(light) in the northern hemisphere.

Not the right time to gauge this tower's year-long shadow.

here's a pic that highlights my concern as to what may be forever lost if this tower goes up.

http://www.whotanb.com/134_3474.JPG

It's just all about the light. Let the sun shine....

well, sunlight is HIGHLY overrated in my opinion. i live on the main branch of the river, and i hate the fact that the plot of land in question for this tower and wolf point are still sitting vacant after all these years. it really ruins the canyon effect of the mian branch when you look west down it and see open sky. it will be a thousand times better when that ugly open sky is blocked out by this new 700' beauty, enclosing and completing the canyon effect of the main branch.

remember,

architecture = wicked-awesomeness

nature (aka sky and sunlight) = stupidity.

[QUOTE=Steely Dan;13862328]i hate the fact that the plot of land in question for this tower and wolf point are still sitting vacant after all these years. it really ruins the canyon effect <snip> it will be a thousand times better when that ugly open sky is blocked out by this new 700' beauty/QUOTE]
:cheers1:

Really? Your biggest concern is the reflection coming off the garbage glass of 77 W. Wacker onto the side of LaSalle-Wacker??? Too bad Waterview's already going to nip that in the bud. Not to mention, this picture is nowhere near this supposed "glow" you refer to.

Your claims of the river going dark by 1 or 2 o'clock are a) fallacious, b) completely irrelevant as it pertains to this tower. If the early afternoon is what you're worried about, you'd be better served turning your agression towards the wall of towers that lines West Wacker, not those on the west bank of the River. This tower won't block any significant sunlight in the summer and only a few minutes worth in the winter. If it's the aesthetics of losing a precious sunset that your concerned with, perhaps you would be better suited in Hawaii? Or you could just keep moving so you're always in the tallest possible building in Chicago that's as far west as possible to see clear over everything to the ever valuable, blinding, glare-inducing, "time to close the blinds like the rest of the world does" sunset.

globill - I understand your point about the shadows, but I think your concern is a bit overblown. The area is open enough to receive plenty of ambient light. Also keep in mind, the sun moves rapidly throughout the day and lighting conditions will change as sunlight reflects off other buildings. I highly doubt the river will become the drab landscape you make it out to be.

And by the way, in the spirit of accuracy, today is the summer solstice. The vernal equinox occurs on the first day of spring.

I think that globill is probably the ultimate NIMBY whiner. now he is complaining about shadows that will be cast on the river. Hopefully globill you will stay out of the 680 N. Rush thread on SSP.
Personally I think the impact will not be significant at all, but this can be easily proven with a computer simulation. I think STR did such a simulation to show what kind of shadows Park Michigan would cast over Grant Park.

Ultimate NIMBY?

Wow...

If the city is determined to totally shadow the east-west axis that of the river, this is not the way to do it.

Either let the December 4 PM sun reach into the city, or build a supertall at that sight.

So I am the ultimate NIMBY?


explain....

globill - I understand your point about the shadows, but I think your concern is a bit overblown. The area is open enough to receive plenty of ambient light. Also keep in mind, the sun moves rapidly throughout the day and lighting conditions will change as sunlight reflects off other buildings. I highly doubt the river will become the drab landscape you make it out to be.

And by the way, in the spirit of accuracy, today is the summer solstice. The vernal equinox occurs on the first day of spring.


me bad. Summer Solstice it is. A very cynical time to unveil a building that will rob the city of more sunlight than any other in the history of Chicago.

Wise marketing...but still, very very shadowy....

this is not the chicago spire thread, so let's keep discussion on track about 200 N riverside plaza.

http://www.globest.com/news/936_936/chicago/161801-1.html

Hines Plans $465M Office, Hotel
By Gina Kenny

Hines Interests LP, based in Houston, is planning an office tower with more than one million sf at 200 N. Riverside Plaza, with a 200-room hotel next door. The 50-story office tower will have between one million sf and 1.3 million sf and a value of about $400 per sf, or more than $400 million, says Tom D’Arcy, vice president at Hines. The cost of the hotel is about $325,000 per key, or approximately $65 million, he says.

The office building was designed by Pickard Chilton, based in New Haven, CT. There have been no leases signed for the office building at 200 N. Riverside Plaza but “we are in discussions with a number of interested companies,” D’Arcy says. The asking lease rate for the office space is between $30 per sf and $35 per sf net, D’Arcy tells GlobeSt.com.

Hines plans to have the building 25% to 30% preleased before starting construction. Construction on the buildings will likely start in 2009, D’Arcy says. The office building will have between 20,000 sf and 25,000 sf of retail geared toward the office tenants, such as a bank, sundry shop, copy center and fitness center, D’Arcy says.

The hotel will be constructed to the north of the office building and will have either 19 stories or 20 stories, D’Arcy says. The majority of the 200 rooms in the “boutique” hotel will be orientated toward the river, D’Arcy says. The hotel will have a restaurant and meeting space as well. “We have had a lot of interest in the hotel,” he says.

The development will also have a public plaza of more than one acre, D’Arcy says. The public plaza will have a walkway along the riverfront. D’Arcy said they chose the location because there is a confluence of three parts of the river that provides “a very large open area of water, which is obviously a protected view.”

William Blair to anchor Riverside project
By Susan Diesenhouse | Tribune staff reporter
3:29 PM CDT, August 2, 2007

Chicago is poised to get its next new office tower now that the developer, Hines Interests LP has a preliminary agreement with a major anchor tenant to lease space, according to industry sources.

The financial service firm William Blair & Co has agreed to take about 350,000 square feet in the 1 million-square-foot, $400-million tower that Hines is planning to build at 200 N. Riverside Plaza overlooking the Chicago River. The Houston-based developer will build the 50-story tower with hometown food service entrepreneur Larry Levy.

Landing Wm. Blair as an anchor tenant at a rent of $45 to $50 square foot means that Hines can start construction early in 2009 and complete it in mid-2011, according to a previous statement by Gregory Van Schaack, Hines' senior vice president in charge of development. He declined to comment Thursday afternoon.

Last month, when the Tribune first reported that planning for the new project was underway, he explained that problems roiling the nation's tightening debt market would not impede it. Hines has pension fund-backed partners able to finance projects with little or no debt.

Adjoining the curved glass and metal clad tower designed by Pickard Chilton Architects Inc. of New Haven, CT. will be a 200-room hotel.

The complex will occupy an unusually large 111,205 square foot triangular site bordered by Canal, Lake and River streets. It will feature a 51,000 square foot public landscaped plaza that covers Metra train tracks, a winter garden and stairs that lead down to a river walkway.

Currently, Hines is building another office tower at 300 N. LaSalle St. that is about 75 percent leased. Last year, it sold a tower it developed at one South Dearborn St. for $422 square foot, a record price for the city.

Steve Stratton and Rob Schmidt of Staubach Inc. were the brokers on the transaction.

I like this project. Glad to see it working to fruition.

Hines is making a killing in Chicago

From Crains

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25906&seenIt=1

Blair is going to take 17 out of 50 floors (340K of 1M GLA). I didn't realize they were that big.

Great building; love to see Financial blowing up like this.

http://www.globest.com/news/970_970/chicago/163145-1.html

Hines/Levy Sign Firm for $400M Office Tower
By Gina Kenny

A joint venture between Hines, headquartered in Houston, and Chicago food service entrepreneur Larry Levy is planning a $400-million office tower development along the Chicago River at Lake and Canal streets.

---

The article refers to the building as "River Pointe."

so is this the final design? looks like its a go for sure huh

http://www.cpnonline.com/cpn/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003625587

More Office Space for Downtown Chicago?
August 14, 2007
By Dees Stribling, Midwest Correspondent

Vacancies have been high and absorption sluggish in the downtown Chicago office market for a number of years, only recently beginning to turn around--a healthy 1.3 million square feet has been absorbed in the submarket thus far in 2007, according ...........

Just like the article spyguy posted, the building is referred to as River Pointe.

I pray this project doesn't go through.....It'd be the biggest single mistake the city has made in my lifetime.....

and from a very wise ssp forumer.....

Jaroslaw's Avatar


But I am against filling in any of that space... blocking the E-W corridor like this will drastically worsen air quality because the wind won't come through. And that great view of the horizon from all the bridges will get eliminated. Well, it's already too late, with the Riverwiev and the Carley...


One of the greatest things about the Chicago river is the canyon with two views of the horizon. The Lake Michigan horizon is not in jeopardy. But the horizon to the west, and all of the air/light/openness for the center spine of the city....

could be forever killed by this project.

Yeah... ummm... you can already only see a tiny sliver of horizon as it is, and only from half of the river (the eastern portion of the main branch already has no view of the western horizon because of the bend). If you want prett sunsets, go live on a farm. If you want to live in a beautiful, dense urban environment then let progress march on!

Yeah... ummm... you can already only see a tiny sliver of horizon as it is, and only from half of the river (the eastern portion of the main branch already has no view of the western horizon because of the bend). If you want prett sunsets, go live on a farm. If you want to live in a beautiful, dense urban environment then let progress march on!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: Nice one GD

I love this building! This is a must build! Is this going to be the new tallest west of the river in the entire city?

I pray this project doesn't go through.....It'd be the biggest single mistake the city has made in my lifetime.....

and from a very wise ssp forumer.....

Jaroslaw's Avatar


But I am against filling in any of that space... blocking the E-W corridor like this will drastically worsen air quality because the wind won't come through. And that great view of the horizon from all the bridges will get eliminated. Well, it's already too late, with the Riverwiev and the Carley...


One of the greatest things about the Chicago river is the canyon with two views of the horizon. The Lake Michigan horizon is not in jeopardy. But the horizon to the west, and all of the air/light/openness for the center spine of the city....

could be forever killed by this project.


"It'd be the biggest single mistake the city has made in my lifetime....."

:lol:

Dude - I seriously hope you're putting us all on with this absurd reasoning for opposition to this project. At any rate, thankfully this beautiful tower is a done deal – probably best to take your peculiar river-sunset fetish thing to another waterway – it’s quite inappropriate for the Chicago River in the Loop – which should feature a wall of towers to the north, south, east and west…

August 17, 2007

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3435/dsc0788pd8.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/6620/200n5cq6.jpg

Nice! Imagine 5 years from now taking a boat ride down the river what a view.

What is that tower across the street from 200 N Riverside?

August 17, 2007

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3435/dsc0788pd8.jpg


I'm all for density....but I really think some of you are missing the point here. This pic, (thanks retro) highlights the largest body of water in the central core. As it stands today, it is flooded with sunlight from the late morning hours until sunset.

If this tower is built, it will be shadowed by the end of lunchtime.

I stand by what I said, biggest mistake the city (if it goes through) will make in my lifetime.

Mark my words.

^^ why will it be a mistake? because the river will lose sunlight earlier?

The river cruises are equally enjoyable whether you're in the canyons or out in the sunlight. Anyway, you're apparently a bit confused about the course that the big ball of fire in the sky follows. See the "sun" (fancy term for the ball of fire) rises in the east and sets in the west. These buildings therefore will not block morning light, noon light, or really any light until late afternoon/evening.

See the "sun" (fancy term for the ball of fire) rises in the east and sets in the west. These buildings therefore will not block morning light, noon light, or really any light until late afternoon/evening.

^ Yup.

Besides, Globill, if shadows were a reason not to build highrises, then the Loop may as well not exist at all.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/6620/200n5cq6.jpg

^ I like how this canyonizes the Green Line. What I love about riding Chicago's L train is how you can look into buildings as you pass them by. Recently, however, with all of those parking podiums, that effect has somewhat diminished. But in this case, it looks like you'll be passing right by somebody's window--recreating a classic Chicago experience.

Also, as ChicagoLvr mentioned, what is that glassy highrise pictured at left, where Left Bank is supposed to be?

^Left Bank is there. You can see a slice of it to the left of the mystery building.

It'd be sweet if the mystery building were the slimmest supertall ever proposed- like an anorexic waterview.

I think the rounded tower is the hotel mentioned earlier. The article said that the building would be 19-20 stories.

The annex to the north, also in blue glass, is only 12 stories in the rendering. It is likely either a parking structure or additional office space.

I think the rounded tower is the hotel mentioned earlier. The article said that the building would be 19-20 stories.

The annex to the north, also in blue glass, is only 12 stories in the rendering. It is likely either a parking structure or additional office space.

^ The hotel is supposed to be along the riverfront, I thought.

I'm guessing that the structure that you're calling a parking garage actually is the hotel. But who knows?

^ The hotel is supposed to be along the riverfront, I thought.

I'm guessing that the structure that you're calling a parking garage actually is the hotel. But who knows?

Yeah, it would make much more sense for the hotel--not a good-for-nothing parking garage--to front the river.

Will any part of the building close to the river straddle the railroad tracks? There are some tracks curving through this site.

Or wiill the entire building be west of the tracks? That would mean, then, that you couldn't walk out the back of the building and be at the riverfront. The tracks would be in the way.

Also, would the building occupy the current footprint of the old two-story railroad building near the river at the south end of the site?

TUP/Hydrogen: Note that I also suggested that the annex could be additional office space. The configuration reminds me of 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta (another Pickard Chilton), which is why I don't think it's a hotel. In 1180 Peachtree, the podium is a parking deck except for the top 3 floors, which are office space.

NearNorthGuy: The lobby will be two levels, kind of like the configuration at 2-Pru. The lower level will include an entrance along Canal. The upper level will be at the level of the Lake Street viaduct, and extend out over the train tracks, forming a plaza that reaches out as far as the riverbank. This will mean that the Lake Street interlocking tower will have to be either moved or destroyed.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4570/200nriversidezq1.jpg

^^ excellent perspective of the site, thanks for posting.

William Blair to lease at 200 N. Riverside Plaza
By Susan Diesenhouse | Tribune staff reporter
12:09 PM CST, December 19, 2007


In what will be one of the largest downtown office leases of the year, William Blair & Co. is expected to sign up this week for 325,000 to 350,000 square feet at a new $400 million tower to be built at 200 N. Riverside Plaza.

The 50-story high rise is being developed by a partnership of Houston-based Hines Interests LP and Chicago food-service entrepreneur Larry Levy. Gregory Van Schaack, Hines' senior vice president in charge of Chicago development declined to comment.

The 15-year Blair lease will start mid-2011 when the financial services firm is due to vacate its current office at 222 W. Adams St.

Great news!

Change of address:
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=28038

This tower is amazing!

They officially signed!...which is REALLY good news for the prospects of this baby.


Wm. Blair Signs 340,000-SF Lease for Tower


http://www.globest.com/news/1119_1119/chicago/169266-1.htm

by globest.com

CHICAGO-William Blair & Co., a Chicago investment firm, has signed a lease to be the anchor tenant of a planned 1.1-million-sf office tower at 200 N. Riverside Plaza, called River Point. The tower is being developed by a joint venture between Hines, headquartered in Houston, and Chicago food service entrepreneur Larry Levy. The estimated cost for the project is close to $500 million, says Greg Van Schaack, SVP at Hines regional office here.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29594

Baker & McKenzie plans to leave Prudential Plaza
By Thomas A. Corfman, May 28, 2008

Giant Chicago-based law firm Baker & McKenzie has signed a nonbinding agreement to move from Prudential Plaza in the East Loop to a new skyscraper along the west bank of the Chicago River to be developed by Hines Interests L.P.

Michael S. Smith, a real estate partner in Baker’s Chicago office who has helped lead the firm’s search for new offices, referred questions to a spokesman. In a brief statement, the law firm confirmed the letter of intent, saying negotiations are under way to take 250,000 to 300,000 square feet.

Between Baker & McKenzie/William Blair, this tower should be half-leased already, and I think there might have been a third tenant that signed awhile back, too, I can't remember.

Things are looking good for this building, especially with the recent approval of TIF funds to build the plaza over the railroad tracks.

Between Baker & McKenzie/William Blair, this tower should be half-leased already, and I think there might have been a third tenant that signed awhile back, too, I can't remember.

Things are looking good for this building, especially with the recent approval of TIF funds to build the plaza over the railroad tracks.

That's really good news! :banana:

Approved this afternoon at Plan Commission.

can you give a link or something to prove that ?

:cheers:

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/1167682,CST-FIN-roeder17.article

September 17, 2008

BY DAVID ROEDER droeder@suntimes.com

STILL BUILDING: Despite the wild times on Wall Street, Hines Interests LP reports it has firm financing to start its River Bend office, at the northeast corner of Lake and Canal by year-end. A source said financing is from Bank of America and J.P. Morgan, two of the strongest names amid the current turmoil. Hines benefits by having two-thirds of the building committed to creditworthy tenants William Blair & Co. LLC and Baker & McKenzie

awesome news!!

Maybe it's because I'm hungry, but this building looks like a Hot Pocket sleeve.

Maybe it's because I'm hungry, but this building looks like a Hot Pocket sleeve.

Yea I agree. But I guess that means whoever designed hot-pocket sleeves would make a hell of an architect, because I still like this building.

This takes the bite out of a lot of recent bad news.

New park planned at Lake Street and river

1.5-acre green space will compliment office/hotel project

The City Council today approved a plan to create a new downtown park along the west bank of the Chicago River at Lake Street as part of the development of an office tower and hotel.

"The new Riverpoint Park will provide open space at a unique location along the confluence of the branches of the Chicago River, and will afford recreational opportunities for future generations of Chicagoans to enjoy," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "This is a great opportunity to further the goals of the Chicago River and Central Area Plans by adding more park space in the heart of downtown."

The 1.5-acre Riverpoint Park will be constructed on an elevated deck over the Amtrak railroad tracks and service road, just north of Lake Street. The deck will be the foundation of the public plaza and park area, and will be improved with landscaping, walkways and an observation platform overlooking the Chicago River.

The developer, L&M Riverbend, a joint venture between the Lawrence Levy family and Hines Interests, will dedicate a public easement over the property to the City of Chicago to secure the public’s rights for the land in perpetuity. L&M will also be responsible for the daily and long-term maintenance of the park.

As part of the project, L&M will build a 51-story office tower and 20-story hotel tower on the property immediately west of the park on the northeast corner of Lake and Canal Street. The anchor tenant for the office tower is the William Blair Company.

According to the plan, the developer will be reimbursed up to $30 million from the LaSalle Central Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District for park improvement costs, primarily for the deck construction, but also including the relocation of a historic rail switching station currently located on the site. The total project costs for the park is $64 million, the remainder to be financed by the developer.

http://cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?blockName=Planning+And+Development%2fI+Want+To&deptMainCategoryOID=&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Planning+And+Development&topChannelName=Dept&contentOID=537005835&Failed_Reason=Invalid+timestamp,+engine+has+been+restarted&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&Failed_Page=%2fwebportal%2fportalContentItemAction.do&context=dept

^^ I think I remember reading that the public boat house was nixed from the project but can't be sure if I am remembering right. Can anyone confirm that it was indeed axed from the project?

The Coast Guard and other authorities had concerns about putting a boathouse in this location, so it was indeed cancelled. If something is built on Wolf Point, we may see some sort of boathouse over there, along the North Branch.

Posted by TUP:

Private-equity firm leases floor at proposed tower (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=31581)

By Thomas A. Corfman, Oct. 29, 2008

(Crain’s) — A private-equity firm backed by the family that owns S. C. Johnson & Sons Co. has leased the top floor of a proposed riverfront skyscraper.
The deal for 24,200 square feet makes the 1.1-million-square-foot tower at 444 W. Lake St. about 60% leased, as developer Hines Interests L.P. moves closer to arranging construction financing for the roughly $540-million project, which is scheduled to be completed by August 2011.

Posted by TUP:

Private-equity firm leases floor at proposed tower (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=31581)

By Thomas A. Corfman, Oct. 29, 2008

(Crain’s) — A private-equity firm backed by the family that owns S. C. Johnson & Sons Co. has leased the top floor of a proposed riverfront skyscraper.
The deal for 24,200 square feet makes the 1.1-million-square-foot tower at 444 W. Lake St. about 60% leased, as developer Hines Interests L.P. moves closer to arranging construction financing for the roughly $540-million project, which is scheduled to be completed by August 2011.

Fantastic news!

August 2011 is pretty specific, leads me to believe they have a set ground breaking date already?

Any idea how far beyond 60% before they start construction? Way higher than usual because of the... current situation?

Check out this week's Crain's Chicago Business - front page article - "Riverfront Tower Stymied." I can't access site to post article - but it basically says Hines is having a tough time securing financing and may have to throw in 30M more equity (on top of the 128M equity and 80M mezz debt Hines already committed), as only $200M of the 328M construction financing is committed. Hines sources say they are committed to the project, as it is 60% leased, but won't comment on when construction will start (supposed to be this month). Wm Blair and Baker McKenzie sources said they are confident Hines will complete the project. Other sources quoted say that there is not a chance that Hines is going to go back to their tenants and say "we're not going to proceed."

My own view - this is a marquee project that is currently 60% leased with premium tenants - it will go fwd. I hope they don't shorten it...

Hey guys. I just spoke to Case Foundation. They are going to be doing a few sections of the foundation here, and from what he told me is that they have a meeting with Amtrak, and that they are starting with a bunch of C Can casings in March, and that the actual cassion work will be done in May. Again, this is just what they are projecting. Will update if I hear anymore news.

^Thanks for the tantalizing information. It would be great to see some substantial activity by March.

lol, no problem. I work close with Case, so I told him to let me know when/if he hears anything.....most likely i will be bringing the cassions and drill tools since we are so close to the jobsite

Thanks, Kevin. We really appreciate your willingness to share this inside info with us. You may also find this site (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/) to be of interest as well.

One of our main discussion threads:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=159437

Hey, no problem!! I'm always glad to give a hand wherever I can. I'm not just one to sit back and watch you guys have all the fun!!!! I love participating, and being part of the community :)

As far as SSP, I heard about it thru here, just haven't had the time to register.......but since I have enough time to post here, I guess I have enough time to register...so awaaaaaaaaaaaay I go lol

Hey guys. I just spoke to Case Foundation. They are going to be doing a few sections of the foundation here, and from what he told me is that they have a meeting with Amtrak, and that they are starting with a bunch of C Can casings in March, and that the actual cassion work will be done in May. Again, this is just what they are projecting. Will update if I hear anymore news.

^ I don't get it. Hines plans to move forward before there is a financing deal?

^ I don't get it. Hines plans to move forward before there is a financing deal?

Trust me man. I want this job to start up more than anyone. We are so slow here at work. If Case isn't performing, then no one is. Can't erect a building if theres no foundation. I have to talk to him today anyways, so I will see if he has any other news.

looks like financing will fall through..... not a very good time to build something of this magnitude.

^ Thanks and welcome to the forums.

Could you please tell us where you are getting this info or how you know this?

more bad news. sad times we live in.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33191

Hines misses financing deadline for proposed tower

(Crain’s) — Hines Interests L.P. has missed a deadline imposed by William Blair & Co. LLC to get construction financing for a $536-million skyscraper to be anchored by the investment firm, intensifying doubts that the riverfront tower will be built.

A joint venture led by Houston-based Hines still has a 30-day grace period to arrange financing. But the firm now risks breaking the lease and being forced to pay Chicago-based Blair a hefty, multimillion-dollar penalty.

Meanwhile, the two sides are discussing Hines’ request for a 90-day extension of the financing deadline, according to sources familiar with the talks.

A spokesman for Blair declined to comment except to say, “We are having ongoing discussions with Hines.”

Yet the delay might force both sides to take a hard look at the transaction, observers say.

“I don’t know that Hines can make money on the building,” said tenant representative Todd Lippman, an executive vice-president in the Chicago office of CB Richard Ellis Inc., who isn’t involved in the negotiations. Does Blair “just look at it and say, ‘You know what? We don’t want to go forward.’”

Even with the delay, the 52-story tower, proposed for a site along the west bank of the Chicago River at 444 W. Lake St., must be completed before July 2011, when Blair’s current lease expires at 222 W. Adams St.

Executives in Hines’ Chicago office declined to comment.

Missing the financing deadline is likely to set off a chain reaction, observers say. Blair, which signed its lease for 340,000 square feet about a year ago, could demand a space reduction before agreeing to any extension of time. In December, Blair said it was cutting nearly 10% of its 1,000-employee workforce, and many investment firms are projecting slow growth in the future.

Hines, Blair kill deal for proposed tower

By Thomas A. Corfman, March 18, 2009

(Crain’s) — William Blair & Co. won’t be moving to a proposed riverfront office tower.

Developer Hines Interests L.P. said Wednesday it worked out a “mutual termination” of Blair’s lease to anchor a skyscraper proposed for a site along the Chicago River, forcing the real estate firm to push back construction and consider cutting the size of the 1.1-million-square-foot tower.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33366

At least Baker & McKenzie is still committed, which is probably the only reason the project hasn't been canceled completely. There's still hope, although the possibility of a shorter less-impressive tower isn't a good thing.

That parcel is too prominent for some pathetic stub of a building. Build tall or don't build at all.

That parcel is too prominent for some pathetic stub of a building. Build tall or don't build at all.

^ Exactly. That would be the biggest blown opportunity in Chicago's architectural history if a stub is built

This is disappointing. This was a really nice-looking project. Is it officially dead, or just on hold?

Damn. The quantity got built. The quality got scrapped.

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/kr53i4mpmrt8m1qntg-18.jpg

http://www.izipik.com/images/200906/06/l4j4aljwosd7ij01w3-19.jpg

nice, thanks for the photos Tylow

Developers court large companies to anchor new office buildings
Goal is to resurrect West Loop projects that fell victim to credit crisis

By Alejandra Cancino, Tribune reporter
July 15, 2011

Developers are dusting off office building models and brochures with an eye toward finding the right tenants to resurrect West Loop projects that were put on hold two years ago amid the credit crisis...

...A case in point is Hines Interests LP's project at 444 W. Lake St., also known as River Point. In 2008, Hines pre-leased about two-thirds of the 52-story building to investment firm William Blair & Co. and law firm Baker & McKenzie. Both deals fell through when Hines couldn't obtain financing, and the proposed 1.1 million-square-foot building was put on hold...

Now, as the economy recovers in fits and starts, a version of the project seems to have a second chance.

Van Schaack said it could be pared to 40 stories. Scaling back would make it easier to meet the pre-leasing threshold to secure financing...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0715-building-barometer--20110715,0,4907128.story

So... did anybody else see this building on the news Wednesday?

http://www.suntimes.com/business/12570926-420/new-money-behind-plan-to-build-lake-canal-tower-on-spec.html