I understand, but that's like comparing an apple to a rotten pear, sure they are both fruit, but one is obviously superior to the other. :shrug:

Also, it was designed by Lucien Lagrange, and was built at a rather inconvenient time. Finally, the momentum of Michigan Avenue really has shifted south, so I can see why being on North Michigan might not be as desirable as it used to be.

I agree. While not offensive, I think it's boring.

I find the cost of doing business in Chicago remarkable. That a very tall tower in the city’s best area can contain rental units, and yet, be profitable, is insane.

One thing is for certain is that the apartment units and hotel will both not be cheap, but most likely the key to success would be the condo units. I'm guessing the hotel and apartments together would probably be in anywhere from $35M to $50M per year. Then you have 125 condo units, so if they were $1.2M average per unit then that's $150M if you sold everything. So if you estimated this thing at $1B, then I guess you could pay it off in what, like 20-25 years? Just an estimate but yeah who knows......quite interesting when you think about it

The programming could make this possible. Sign a hotel and a few contracts up top. Apartments are an easy sell for investors. And as others have mentioned it is a team that could pull it off

It’s cheap by major city standards. I’ve heard that the Vista condos sell for $750-$1,000/ sf.

Presuming this project can sell units and get financing... which still is a big if....

Maybe the numbers won’t work, and this will be another “never built.”

Can't say I disagree, but we'll see. It would be really awesome if it happened.

It’ll be interesting to see who they’d like to land for the hotel operator. Chicago still doesn’t have a Mandarin Oriental hotel, nor a St. Regis. Again... it’s location lends itself very well to a high end, 5 star hotel operator.

Considering the location and the magnitude of this project, I could definitely see the hotel being something like a St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental, or Shangri-La or something like that.

Not necessarily. If the apartment units run an average of $4000 for a 1 bedroom, then it's not really as far below some of the other very expensive cities as you may be thinking. Below it, but not like half price or anything. And yes, Vista is $1000 per sq ft, but not $750. It's $1000.

I’m in this camp as well. It’s got curves that play well off of Trump Tower and it also has verticality along the east west sides, that compliment Tribune Tower, Aon, 333 N Mich.

I also like the crown that, from the East/West, will appear as a contemporary take on our traditional Chicago spires of the Sears Tower and JHC.

Cool proposal, we'll see if it actually happens...

I'm getting the same feeling I got with the Waldorf and Mandarin announcements, so I'm not getting my hopes up for awhile. Whats the pricetag on this one. Love the design though.

Stunning!
I'm completely on-board with this, I hope it happens. Tweaks and changes are surely coming, but I really don't have any major beefs with the design as-is, I hope any refinements are thoughtful improvements and not just cost reductions. So much potential here for a new icon!

Honestly, I love it. I love the curves. I love the gold. And I really think there is a good chance it gets built.

I'm hopeful at this point. Also that shot from Lake Michigan is a real stunner.

Quality meme

I love it too. Im not a big fan of Smith/Gill, but I like this much much more than most of their other stuff.

Me too. I like the gradual curving aspect of it, as I feel if provides some nice variety. At the same time, the curves aren’t so audacious as to make it stick out like a sore thumb. I especially love the way the East/West sides really offer a soaring appearance, enhanced by the verticality of the gold (bronze?) design elements. And your view on the crown being a contemporary take on the traditional Chicago spires is interesting and a view I can get on board with! ;)

http://nerdist.com/wp-content/upload...erDrooling.gif

This is so much more modern than I was expecting, and a really pleasant surprise. I thought they were going to do something while not PoMo would try to copy the massing of the Tribute Tower, which is already super risky. That can either turn out really nice or really poorly.

Just love how much this fits, while still providing a better-than-decent modern punch in the arms.