The Chicago River’s south bank has a new neighborhood: Southbank

Southbank

Southbank, created by Lendlease.

It’s been so long since I’ve visited this development, it’s changed names. Twice.

Southbank is the new moniker for the Lendlease’s multi-phase project along the South Bank of the Chicago River. Formerly Riverline, the name was changed when co-developer CMK Companies split off, and the development was divided into north and south portions. (The Chicago Architecture Blog explained it here.)

The first tower of Southbank began with the name Ancora, and as we suspected would happen, that tower has been renamed as well, now officially going by The Cooper. (You can see the entire press release from Lendlease following the photo gallery of life as it currently exists at Southbank.)

The Cooper is topped out, glassed up, and having major interior work done. And while it gets ready for residents, site work is being done on the ground around it, so when folks start moving in, they’ll have more than just a dirt lot surrounding them. In April, a permit was issued allowing for “NEW CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS, ELEVATED WOOD WALKWAY ON WOOD PILES, DRINKING FOUNTAINS, WATER FEATURE, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, 4FT HIGH METAL FENCE, GUARDRAILS & LANDSCAPING.” (The city always uses CAPS for permits. Sorry.)

Hopefully soon we’ll see a permit to get the second tower started.

Lendlease Announces First Multi-Family Development
in Chicago – The Cooper at Southbank
The Cooper is the first of five high-rise residential buildings opening
Fall 2018 at Southbank.
(CHICAGO, IL, May 29, 2018) — Lendlease, a leading international property and infrastructure
group, is proud to announce The Cooper as the developer’s first of five residential high-rises to
open at Southbank in Chicago’s South Loop.
Southbank, which was unveiled earlier this month, is a new neighborhood spanning more than
seven acres in the South Loop of Chicago, which is zoned to offer as many as 2,700 units
across five high-rises surrounding a two-acre park. Construction is well underway, and The
Cooper will begin pre-leasing this Summer.
Residents at The Cooper will benefit from a robust amenity package including over 11,000 square
feet of communal activity space equipped with a personal training gym with Peloton bikes, a
maker space, a high-end rooftop demonstration kitchen, a fully equipped music listening and jam
room and a separate virtual sports simulation room. The Cooper features a must have, spacious
exterior rooftop pool deck complete with private cabanas, a bocce ball court, and an outdoor
screening room. At 29-stories tall, The Cooper offers stunning panoramic views of the lake and
downtown.
“The unique and best-in-class amenities at The Cooper provide residents with endless
opportunities for inspiration,” said Justin Patwin, Project Director – Southbank, Lendlease. “The
addition of Southbank Park will be another amenity to the entire community that will further
demonstrate Lendlease’s commitment to delivering the best places.”
The Cooper, which is managed by Bozzuto, is composed of 452 rental units, including 26 townhomes,
parking and retail space. The units range from a mix of studio, one-, two-, and threebedrooms,
townhome and penthouse living options. The 26 townhomes line the base of the
building and have direct access from the park.
The Cooper at Southbank will be adjacent to the new Southbank Park. Southbank Park will
include open green space with recreational amenities and a continuous Riverwalk along the
South Branch of the Chicago River. A new water taxi stop at the south end of the property will
connect the property to Chinatown and The Loop. Southbank is within walking distance from The
Loop, lakefront, and several CTA stops, offering easy access to the city’s parks, trails and
museums.
Not only do The Cooper residents have easy access to Southbank’s blossoming landscape to
support their mental health and promote physical activity, but their wellbeing is also supported by
the sustainability measures inside their residence.
Consistent with Lendlease’s commitment to sustainable development, The Cooper is targeting
LEED Gold Certification. Lendlease’s extensive sustainable construction best practices in
material procurement, construction waste management, environmental safeguards and indoor air
quality protection also contribute to the project’s validation of the delivery of a healthy, highperforming
building.
For more information on The Cooper, please visit the newly launched website:
http://www.thecoopersouthbank.com.

 

For additional information, contact:
John DeLibero
Director of Public Relations
212 592 6895
John.Delibero@lendlease.com

 

Carleigh Thalmann
Skirt Public Relations
773 661 0700
cthalmann@skirtpr.com

 

About Lendlease:
Lendlease is a leading international property and infrastructure group with operations in
Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our vision is to create the best places; places that
inspire and enrich the lives of people around the world.
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange,
Lendlease has approximately 12,350 employees internationally.
Our core capabilities are reflected in our operating segments of Development, Construction and
Investments. The combination of these three segments provides us with a sustainable
competitive advantage and allows us to provide innovative integrated solutions for our
customers.
http://www.lendlease.com

 

About Bozzuto
The Bozzuto Group is an experience-focused real estate company that is continually celebrated
for its developments, customer service and workplace culture. With an expertise in
homebuilding, multifamily development, construction and management for itself and its clients,
Bozzuto is devoted to crafting extraordinary experiences.
Founded in 1988, Bozzuto has developed, acquired and built more than 42,000 homes and
apartments. Currently, it manages more than 70,000 apartments and 2.2 million square feet of
retail space along the East Coast between Miami and Boston, in the Northeast and
Chicago. http://www.bozzuto.com

 

A topped-out 727 West Madison dresses up the parking podium

727 West Madison June 2018

That’s the top of the topped-out 727 West Madison in the West Loop.

If it seems like 727 West Madison hasn’t gotten any taller the past few days, it’s for good reason: The 44-story apartment tower by FitzGerald has topped out. Lendlease accomplished the feat some time during the end of May.

You might also have noticed the parking podium is wearing a new outfit. Panels have been added on the south facade to help disguise the parking portion of the building. And it’s a good look.

UIC’s Harrison Hall clads without glass

Harrison Hall at UIC

That’s not glass on Harrison Hall, but we’re clad to see it anyway.

There’s no glass on UIC’s Harrison Hall yet, but swing by the site these days and you’ll notice the exterior getting a new outfit. Pepper Construction is cladding the outer layer, just not with windows. And most impressively, they’re doing it without the tower crane, which is down from the site already. Just one more surprisingly-fast step in progress on the new academic & residential center.

Progress Update: The Banner Waves at Twelve01West in the West Loop

Twelve01West June 2018

Twelve01West flying The Colors on Memorial Day.

Twelve01West,  the new seven-story office building at 1201 West Lake Street from McCaffery Interests, is rising above street level out in the West Loop. W.E. O’Neil not only has the site all dressed up in the typical oranges and reds of construction material, but also had the Stars and Stripes draped over the top of the core, waving in the hot Memorial Day weekend breeze. Have a look:

Here comes Alta Grand Central

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjaperMBZ-8/

Well now, this is news.

A couple new Instagram accounts popped up in our feed last night. And they announced the same thing: There’s a new development coming to the southwest corner of Harrison and Wells in the South Loop: Alta Grand Central.

Alta Grand Central looks like it will be an apartment development comprised of two 14-story towers, with a total of 346 units. Wood Partners is the developer, Pappageorge Haymes Partners the design architect, and Walsh Construction will be the general contractor. If those names sound familiar, just look around the corner for Alta Roosevelt.

According to that Instagram post, site prep got started Wednesday. No permits as of Tuesday, but we should get a fresh round of those any minute now. Congrats, Alta Team!

Chicago’s Nobu Hotel is back in action

Nobu Hotel May 2018

Centaur Construction is back on the build at Nobu Hotel, 854 West Randolph Street in the West Loop.

After a brief (okay, kinda long) hiatus, Nobu Hotel on Randolph Street in the West Loop is back. Centaur Construction found the keys to their tower crane, and work is back in full swing now that financial details have been fixed on the hotel project.

Obviously, that delay has set completion back considerably. Originally planned to open late this year, updated expectations are now for late in 2019. Pending any other holdups, my money is on Centaur being able to push that timeline up a little bit. But we’ll see. We’re just happy to see the hotel wasn’t scrapped altogether.

Home2 Suites River North brings the pane

Home2 Suites River North

You’ll now be able to see River North from your room, as Home2 SUites installs windows.

The 17-story Home2 Suites in River North has grown to exactly 17 stories. And to top off that topping off, M.A. Mortenson has also started adding windows to the exterior. That means two things (at least): Interior work can start ramping up in earnest, and that tower crane will probably come down very soon.

 

61 East Banks is rising along the lakefront

61 East Banks May 2018

As seen from North Avenue Beach, 61 East Banks is making quite an impression along the Lake Michigan and Lake Shore Drive.

Granted, it would be even better with another 40 stories or so. But I can’t stop imagining the views from 61 East Banks, the new apartment building that took over a surface parking lot on Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

At just eight stories, residents of the 60 new units won’t have elevated views of Lake Michigan, but since they’ll be right on the water, they won’t need height. Location is key here.

Draper & Kramer is the developer of 61 East Banks; Leopardo Companies is handling general contractor duties. Designed by Booth Hansen, 61 East Banks has already risen to its 8-story goal. That pretty yellow tower crane along the water will probably come down soon, but you can still marvel at it from the lakefront path for now.

Eight Eleven Uptown approaches the finish line

Eight Eleven Uptown May 2018

Eight Eleven Uptown sits nearly complete at Montrose and Clarendon.

The tower crane is gone, cladding is complete, and Lendlease has entered the home stretch at Eight Eleven Uptown.

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, and co-developed by JDL Development and Harlem Irving Companies, the residential tower at 811 West Agatite in the Uptown neighborhood will deliver 381 apartments and 36,000 square feet of retail space upon completion.

Opening will include a new Treasure Island grocery store, which this neighborhood badly needs.

Clayco getting ready to build 12 stories, 149 units in Uptown

Sheridan and Wilson

A rendering from CRG of Sheridan & Wilson, coming to 4555 N Sheridan in Uptown.

A foundation permit was issued Wednesday for 4555 North Sheridan Road in Uptown. Developed by CRG, Sheridan and Wilson will be a 12-story tower containing 149 apartments. Included will be 5,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, and outside parking spots for 29 cars.

This is a real in-house development. The design architect, BatesForum, and general contractor, Clayco, are both integrated companies with CRG under the Clayco brand. (You may recall this team from the Cook County Central Campus Health Center build.) Because when you want something done right, sometimes it’s best to do it all yourself.

As you can see in the photos, site prep is underway. No word yet on an anticipated opening date.