I bet you are right. I just posted it because I wasn't sure if anyone had seen these images yet. I personally hate the design for such a promising site.

Thank god those aren't getting built. I'd riot and burn the whole site down if that was the trash they had decided to go with

just lock this thread already and end the suffering

These aren't terrible. Just not worthy of the spire site.

So to answer your question, Gateway Tower isn't going to happen. Sadly, Gateway Tower was a concept, and not an actual proposal with financial backing. However, the development firm in control of the site (Related Midwest) does seem to have some plans for the site. What those plans are nobody knows. Related hinted early this year that they would release information about their 60 acre site in the South Loop and this site in 2017 (there is a Curbed article on this), but so far nothing has happened. As for what is likely to go there we can only speculate. I hope we get a tower over 1,500 ft, but I it's unlikely. In my opinion, it is more likely that we get a 1,000 foot tower with apartments, condos, and a hotel, similar to Wanda Tower. Anyway, that is pretty much all I know, and most of it is just speculation. I hope that helps. :)

On Spire site, Related Midwest will can build a tower like these, without spending so much money :)

A)
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4484/3...f505ef8f_b.jpg

B)
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/3...081b9762_b.jpg

C)
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4413/3...7d124191_b.jpg

Although I understand the concept of sunk costs - it would seem that the current foundation would be a huge discount on a building with about the same footprint.

Pretty neat renderings. Did you make them?

Those renderings are sick. Also shows how the city's skyline is so massive it can take a 2000+ foot building and make it still fit in

These towers are like to CN Tower. They are 2000 ft tall, and have restaurants, shops and observation points for tourists. They are not skyscrapers.
Their base is like to the Spire hole, except for the conic tower that is larger.

Although it would be nice to extend the ceiling of the city, I would be incredibly disappointed if they built something like that - Chicago architecture places a heavy emphasis on function, after all. Though I find it unlikely anyway, since there's not much need for new antennae and already several great observation decks in Chicago.

I don't know if the economics of the site will be able to support a megatall anytime in the near future (maybe only if the L is extended to Navy Pier). But the existing foundations should reduce the marginal cost of building higher, so I'm hopeful for something that at least exceeds Vista.

Since we're bumping this topic again anyway, does anyone have a sense for whether we're still likely to hear something concrete on Related's plans by end of year as previously announced? Only a few months left at this point...

We were also supposed to hear more on their plans for the 78 this year, unless the Tribune article is as much as we're going to get for the immediate future.

^^^ I thought we were supposed to hear something the first half of this year. I doubt we will be hearing anything about this site until One Bennett Park is sold out. Related isn't going to want to put anything out there that may delay or cannibalize demand for something that's already under construction. I assume whatever is proposed here will have a large condo component.


Chicago architecture also puts a huge emphasis on kick ass engineering so tall is easily justified that way.

I saw this got bumped and immediately got my hopes up that Related finally released some news for this site. Here's to hoping they say something before the year's up.

will be shocked if anything happens this cycle, way too much in the pipe already

hmmm. I would KILL for a 2000+ tower but I am not here for Chicago's tallest to be an observation tower. NO. NO. NO. :uhh:

Sorry, but this is a your problem!

Now, an observation tower is the only solution for Chicago.

Ummmm. I tend to disagree with that. What makes you think its "the only solution"??? I just don't see Chicago as one of those cities. I'd be open to the idea if it weren't the traditional martini glass shape but.....yeah..
¯\_(ツ)_/¯