Don't post very often these days, but noticed the tower popped up in the back, so the final push to the top is underway now.

https://i.imgur.com/eDzL4YZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L9WSpu1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qN8mAhI.jpg

Great shots, Kumdogmillionaire. I never realized until that angle how well Essex and NEMA play together. The vertical lines feel almost evenly spaced.

1/8/19

https://i.imgur.com/0iwqIZe.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/UXr7SX9.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/uYtlSpj.jpg?1

More interior renderings thank to Curbed
https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/1/8/...ents-amenities

01/04/19

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...018544/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...018570/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...018983/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...018441/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...018943/enhance

What an absolutely gorgeous building. I'm probably in the minority here, but I hope the western parcel doesn't end up being just a larger version of this. This building is so nice, I'd like to see it just stand on it's own and a different, equally good design is chosen for the next one.

* moderator note *


i moved the general south loop skyline talk to the general chicago discussions thread as it was veering a bit too far off-topic.

link: https://forum.skyscraperpage.com/sho...d.php?t=208431

I like the building and the height, but I'm annoyed by the uneven setbacks and how the top setbacks don't continue climbing in a spiral fashion. Reminds me a little of OBP in how arbitrary some of the design seems. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

they put in the effort of editing out the vista crane lol, wish they would have just edited in the finished vista :D

But they do.

It looks like the southwestern most setback is finished, but it drops down several floors instead of jumping up like it should if it was a true spiral. That is one of the things that throws me off.

01/04/19

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...286242/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...375575/enhance

Fantastic shots Bvic. That pool bump out doesn't bother me as much now that the dark screening is in higher up. It seems to balance it out.

From Northerly Island today:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xH...=w1019-h764-no

And another one later on from the 11th Street Bridge:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IO...c=w717-h955-no

^ That first shot from northerly..... magnificent!

I actually like the dark screening as well

Jan 11









Jan 13

From Oak Park - District House

Northerly Island has amazing prairie + skyscraper views. Only saw 4 other people there today though... (maybe has something to do with it being cold and the path covered in snow).

A few years ago, I was walking around the Museum Campus and a tourist stopped me. He asked if One Museum Park was Sears Tower. I said, "No, it's that one over there, with the two antennae." I imagine some tourist is going to ask a local if NEMA Chicago is Sears Tower this summer.

Given what we're seeing in construction, does that mean this image is either obsolete or incorrect?

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/65VJ...ant_Park_2.jpg

Obsolete? Doesn't appear much has changed.

I think the question is whether the white box frame top thing is still going up there or not

I think its safe to say that it doesn't look like it will. The picture on the front page of the renting website doesn't have the box either.

No box, but it definitely has a final vertical element in the back, which I think is what was being hinted at what was missing in that one rendering where that final thrust to the sky is absent from view. Just what I'm thinking they are getting at

I don't think the current top could be described as a 'white box frame top' :P Also yeah that new rendering shown does make it seem like its gonna not have that element but I also do think it will. That rendering may give the impression because of it being so close to the building and not high up?

And I'm pretty sure that back vertical element is the damper/tank. I think we still have another 50'-60' to go...

This was exactly what I was referring to. The image doesn't seem to include that final vertical thrust, making the top appear far more squat than every other rendering we've seen to date.

Can you post a link to the picture or page you are referring to? I can't find a rendering anywhere that doesn't include a final tier on the back rank. I would think there is a reason the crane is clearing the top of the core by a hundred feet.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/65VJ...ant_Park_2.jpg

But I think its just the angle that makes it seem that way

I honestly have never seen that rendering. It may be the angle but it does seem like something is missing. I can see the cause for concern now but again I doubt they installed 4 extra sections of crane as a novelty

I don't like that exposed core section. Is that just going to be painted white?

Couldn't they just put a fake façade on it and design it the same way as the rest of the building?

That was my guess, though I wouldn't be surprised if there were some code or structural issues that could limit that. But I'm neither a structural engineer nor a building code specialist, so who knows ...

There aren't any codes or structural/fire issues that I can think of if it is designed properly (I'm an architect).
It's typical to cover expanses like that in a "dummy facade", be it metal panel, glass to match, etc. Although given the facade treatment of the rest of the building it looks like they are just going to paint it white and leave it exposed.

I have only seen the white box crown in the initial renderings. If you look at the model Vinoly had and presented (pages 1-3 on this topic) and also at the updated photos in Crescent Heights Portfolio it does not show the white box "crown". The above photo looks the same albeit the angle may make the highest vertical column seem more squat


https://www.crescentheights.com/portfolio/nema-chicago

[quote=

Thinking about renting an apartment... the rent is reasonable for a one bedroom apt. There’s one that actually comes with a den. The downside is that the highest floor that it’s available in is the eighth floor. There’s a cheaper one bedroom apartment that would have a living room/kitchen view of grant park from the 43rd floor, but the bedroom doesn’t not have windows.

I mean look at Vista, part of its facade is over the sheer walls and it looks like the rest of the windows

It's the angle that's making the top look squat.

Lakeshoredrive do you have any problem in sharing what the rates are?

Also my motto when choosing apartments is the bedroom is purely for function and little of my time is ever spent there other than sleep. It's all about 43rd floor with view of Grant Park, just my preference. Also which direction did it face? I'd think any view on the North or East side (assuming you can't see GP from West or South) would be pretty epic.

Best of luck on the apartment hunt!

That's definitely what it is. If you look closely you can tell that middle tallest portion on the view from below has different glazing than the rest of the tower, which is only like that on the tallest and skinniest portion in the aerial rendering. :tup:

Final vertical thrust...

01/15/19

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...630273/enhance

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...630246/enhance

so i am pretty sure others have noted the homage to the sears/willis tower by this building.

^ Actually, it's a Sears tower copy-cat and should be demolished immediately. (Check back a couple pages) :haha:

Aside from the crown, in this rendering the exposed core part has a dummy/fake glass facade covering. I hope they still do that. :fingerscrossed:

Yeah, the exposed core at the top has had me a bit nervous about what's developed into an otherwise excellent tower. Hopefully they do cover it as depicted in the renderings.

I'm hardly concerned. All of Vista's concrete will be covered up, so I'd imagine the same here

wt

Yes! I love the cube. Very unique design aspect.

I wonder where 800 units ranks in terms of apartment buildings in Chicago. I know Presidential Towers has over 2000 units, but that's split over 4 towers...