Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 9272045)

Good riddance... this is the most transit-accessible site in North America outside of NYC or Mexico City. Put the rental cars out at the airports.

Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 9272045)

Good riddance... this is the most transit-accessible site in North America outside of NYC or Mexico City. Put the rental cars out at the airports.

Originally Posted by the urban politician (Post 9272080)

But it’s amazing how many out of towners visit Chicago and still think they need a rental car. Obviously for some people it’s justified, but for many it seems to be ignorance.

My cousin’s family from Atlanta came to Chicago to vacation and see the sites and attractions a few years ago and they rented a car for literally no reason.

Originally Posted by sentinel (Post 9272091)

They probably just assumed that Chicago was similar to Atlanta, where you literally have to drive everywhere :shrug:

Frankly, I really love the park, I think it's a great asset for that part of the west loop, and I feel that it will get a lot of use in the warmer months.

Originally Posted by the urban politician (Post 9272080)

But it’s amazing how many out of towners visit Chicago and still think they need a rental car. Obviously for some people it’s justified, but for many it seems to be ignorance.

My cousin’s family from Atlanta came to Chicago to vacation and see the sites and attractions a few years ago and they rented a car for literally no reason.

Originally Posted by kolchak (Post 9273790)

This morning-

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7 (Post 9278626)

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to see MORE steel extending about 20’ atop the core. Unexpected height. Photo to follow!

Originally Posted by Gedung Tinngi (Post 9278696)

BMO creating more bulk in the skyline to the south.

[imghttps://www.flickr.com/photos/190257...posted-public/[/img]

Originally Posted by Hudson11 (Post 9281222)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d019eec3_h.jpg
Chicago Cityscape by Rick Wilhoit, on Flickr

Originally Posted by dropdeaded209 (Post 9283530)

BMO last Thursday:



I guess I wasn't anticipating that BMO would have a sizable impact from the river (looking north on south branch and looking south from confluence).

Originally Posted by Zimme (Post 9284663)

A couple shots from 5/8

Originally Posted by Ned.B (Post 9271685)

As some background, the original programming for this site actually retained a considerable parking component to serve Amtrak, and what is today a public park was originally a rooftop amenity deck atop a multi-story garage along Clinton. Like with some other recent projects, it was the alderman who beat down the number of parking spaces and the incorporation of a public park. The trade off is that car rentals are no longer offered from Union Station.

But the need for parking, dock, and pedway entrances and a large level space for park programming combined with the slope across the site resulted in the raised platform. In addition as rivernorthlurker noted, it was desirable to provide a barrier between the bus station and the park both for noise and fumes.

That said, many efforts were made to make the park and podium as welcoming from the street as possible. Along Van Buren the park slopes down to grade, be visually open to the street, and include 3 paths to enter the park.The wall along Clinton is held as low as possible, including a section in the middle that will slope down close to the sidewalk with terraced greenery offering a glimpse into the park. There are landscaped entrances into the park at both corners and the wall will have the same folded design as the curtainwall to make for a more interesting pedestrian experience. I would compare it to walking outside Millennium Park along Monroe and Columbus at the SE corner.

Originally Posted by Drcastro (Post 9271772)

I haven’t been to Chicago in a while, but I’m pretty sure the park is on the west side of the site.

Originally Posted by Hudson11 (Post 9281222)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d019eec3_h.jpg
Chicago Cityscape by Rick Wilhoit, on Flickr

Originally Posted by PittsburghPA (Post 9286100)

terrible quality but looks like finally topped out.

https://i.imgur.com/4bROinJ.jpg

Originally Posted by left of center (Post 9292683)

^ Honestly it was a surprise. Definitely one of the better towers of this building cycle.

Originally Posted by Klippenstein (Post 9295290)

Taken quickly before a Metra ride to visit my friend.

Originally Posted by Ned.B (Post 9305851)

Marble installation is getting underway along with the glass fins for the lobby. Spanning between the fins will be single 10'x40' laminated glass sheets.

Photos taken last Thursday, 6/3:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4810a4ce_b.jpg

Originally Posted by rivernorthlurker (Post 9305971)

Is this leftover marble from the lobby of 110 Wacker? Looks exactly the same. :P

Originally Posted by Ned.B (Post 9306437)

They are definitely related lobby designs. Though 110 has vertical extruded accordion walls with a lit reveal at the outer fold, where as this wall will start out straight and flat at the bottom and fold into the accordion pattern by the time it reaches the ceiling. Also maybe not as obvious yet since it's not lit but 110 is gray marble and this is white.

I know it's been mentioned before but it is interesting the BMO is apparently not concerned that their building is an obvious cousin to Bank of America's. But IMO, BMO also got the more interesting, and next level of refined building, and that goes for the lobby design as well.