Stuff That’s Done: The Green at 320 [Updated]

Posted on June 22, 2022 by danieldschell

A rendering of The Green at 320 from Goettsch Partners.

This post has been updated to recognize the work by Confluence, designer of The Green at 320.

The Green at 320, the public plaza below the just-completed office tower 320 South Canal, opened quietly last week, ahead of its official opening Friday the 24th. The dreaded day job will keep me away from the big ceremony, so I headed down to the West Loop (Gate) Sunday to check out the park. It was worth the trip.

The “main” entrance to the park is a stairway on the corner of Clinton and Van Buren Streets. There are accessible ramps at both ends of the park: one off Clinton Street next to the Union Station Transit Center, and one of Van Buren Street. There is also a street-level entrance on Canal Street.

Here’s a press release from Biederman Redevelopment Ventures regarding the park and the programming plans to come:

CHICAGO, (April 27, 2020) – – Dan Biederman, one of the country’s leading urban redevelopment experts and public space management consultants has partnered with Riverside Investment & Development Company and Convexity Properties to design free programming for The Park @ 320 at the entryway of 320 South Canal Street in downtown Chicago. The building serves as the new US headquarters for BMO Financial Group.

Biederman and his firm Biederman Redevelopment Ventures ( www.brvcorp.com ), will provide a detailed programming plan for the public park, including a tentative schedule for programs, amenities, events, budgets, and a procurement list related to supplies and equipment.

BRV will also participate in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of the Program Coordinator for the public space and will be responsible for training the successful candidate as the programs start-up and continue working with that person throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

320 South Canal, also known as the BMO Tower, is a new 50-story commercial office building adjacent to Union Station in Chicago. The building will feature a selection of restaurants, world class amenities and a spectacular 1.5-acre urban park with year-round programming, which will be one of the largest privately owned public parks in the City of Chicago. The website: https://320southcanal.com/

“Riverside and Convexity are seeking to provide their tenants and their employees and visitors and citizens of Chicago with an actively programmed public space,” said Dan Biederman. “With their building manager CBRE, they deserve a lot of credit. And we are proud to be part of this team.”

Dan Biederman gained national prominence when he privatized and transformed New York City’s Bryant Park from a neglected, crime-ridden, drug-filled, dangerous midtown Manhattan space into one of America’s grandest urban parks and Manhattan’s “Town Square.” Bryant Park is privately operated and totally supported by private sources of funds.

BRV specializes in creating programming, self-sustaining budgets and building management teams for urban parks and public spaces in 32 states and six countries. BRV has worked with some of the most successful public spaces in the country, including Klyde Warren Park and Fair Park in Dallas, Titletown District in Green Bay, WI., Levy Park in Houston and Salesforce Park in San Francisco, Hudson Yards, and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor district.

In addition to overseeing BRV Corp. and serving as the Executive Director of the Bryant Park Corporation, Biederman is also the president of the 34th Street Partnership, an ambitious business improvement district. He was also a co-founder of The Grand Central Partnership, which helped renovate the neighborhood of a NYC landmark from a deteriorating, dreaded and sometimes dangerous transportation hub to today’s mecca for tourism, food, and a safe destination for commuters.

About Riverside Investment and Development

Riverside Investment and Development Company is a multi-faceted real estate firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2010 by John O’Donnell, a longtime Chicago real estate veteran with more than 30 years and 40 million square feet of investment, development, and redevelopment experience, Riverside is focused pursuing of complex development and redevelopment opportunities. We aggressively manage risk via detailed front-end evaluation and planning, selective locational focus, and a willingness to form strategic relationships where appropriate for a particular transaction. Our relationships have been carefully cultivated over years of experience with local and national consultants, brokers, and other stakeholders. For additional information, visit www.RiversideID.com

About Biederman Redevelopment Ventures:

Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation is the private consulting firm of Daniel Biederman, co-founder of the Bryant Park Corporation and 34th Street Partnership. BRV Corp. is a nationally recognized leader in the creation and revitalization of parks, public spaces, streetscapes, and business improvement districts. BRV designs free programming and events, creates self-sustaining budgets, and builds management teams for urban parks and public spaces in 32 states and six countries. BRV works with real estate developers, government agencies, and non-profits to reinvent public spaces and has worked with some of the most successful urban parks and spaces in the country, including Bryant Park in New York, Klyde Warren Park and Fair Park in Dallas, Titletown District in Green Bay, WI., Levy Park in Houston and Salesforce Park in San Francisco. More detailed information is at www.brvcorp.com

Enjoy the photos, then get down to 320 South Canal and enjoy the public space!

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

A tower crane permit dies at 320 South Clinton

Posted on April 14, 2022 by danieldschell

Unsurprisingly, it looks like all bets are off at what was supposed to be the Toyoko Inn at 320 South Clinton in the West Loop. Long before the parking garage across the street had been demolished for the nearly-completed Union Station Tower, crews buried caissons in the ground for the would-be 24-story hotel. There was word a local alderman wasn’t happy at all that work had gotten started, and he put a stop to it. Now, almost four years later, there’s a For Sale sign up on the property, the gaping foundation hole that sat full of water for months and months has been filled in, and the lot smoothed over.

The now-moot tower crane permit was issued April 10, 2020. In May of last year, a permit was issued to “restore and secure the site while construction is suspended.” Hence the new fence and infill.

So if you’re interested in a developable plot of land with caissons already installed, you might want to look into this one.

It ain’t no Spire Hole, but it’s still an eyesore.

Stuff That’s Done: The Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons at the University of Chicago

Posted on April 8, 2021 by danieldschell

The new Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons is open on the University of Chicago campus. The Commons is a joint development between the University and Capstone Development Partners. It was designed by Boston’s Elkus Manfredi Architects, and was built by Turner Construction. The 16- and 7-story buildings contain almost 900 rooms and 1,300 beds.

The Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons at the University of Chicago April 2021

Stuff That’s Done That I Kept Forgetting To Take Photos Of: University of Chicago Campus North Residential Commons

Posted on March 31, 2021 by danieldschell

There was a time when the only building I took photos of was Aqua. It was the first tower I really fell in love with, and it gave me an immediate appreciation of Jeanne Gang’s work at Studio Gang.

As you may know, I’ve taken a few of The Residences at the St. Regis (formerly Vista Tower) too. And Solstice on the Park down in Hyde Park. But as many times as I went down to Hyde Park for Solstice, I kept forgetting to swing by the University of Chicago Campus North Residential Commons. Until now.

Something about the coloring of this development. Standing in front of it, it looks like a rendering.

Studio Gang towers in San Francisco, Brooklyn, and St. Louis are next on my visiting agenda.

Stuff That’s Done: The David M. Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago

Posted on March 30, 2021 by danieldschell

14 months ago, I called this the most unique construction project in the city. No one told me I was wrong.

The David M. Rubenstein Forum on the University of Chicago campus is done and open and really darn cool.

Congrats to the whole team on this one: The University of Chicago; architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro out of NYC and Chicago’s own Brininstool + Lynch, and general contractor Turner Construction.

The David M. Rubenstein Forum, March 2021

Stuff That’s Done (and renamed): The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago

Posted on March 23, 2021 by danieldschell

Oh, the photos I’ve taken during this build.

I haven’t been inside yet (there’s a good chance I never will be) but what is no longer Wanda nor Vista is open.

The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago is all glassy and glorious over in Lakeshore East. The hotel portion is still a work in progress; that will bring nearly 200 guest rooms when open later this year. But the condos are move-in ready (and have been for awhile.) And, as luck would have it, I’m an experienced mover. (Wink wink. HMU.)

Congratulations to all involved, including architecture firms Studio Gang and bKL Architecture, developer Magellan Development Group, and General Contractor James McHugh Construction. You’ve done Chicago and its skyline proud.

I was tempted to fill a gallery with construction-progress shots from the last — wow, fur years. But you can find those on your own, if interested, but checking out the Vista Tower link. Instead, a whole bunch of photos from this past weekend, from a whole bunch of different vantage points.

Stuff That’s Done, Sydney Edition: Greenland Centre Sydney

Posted on March 22, 2021 by danieldschell

Remember travel? Those were good times.

Stuff That’s Done: The Residences at the Eagle Building

Posted on March 17, 2021 by danieldschell

The Residences at the Eagle Building at 3833 North Broadway.

The Residences at the Eagle Building are open and lived in at 3833 North Broadway in Lake View. This Jonathan Splitt Architects-designed, 8-story, 134-unit apartment development from DLG Management is notable for its dismantling and reassembling of the terra cotta eagles adorning the façade. The building began welcoming tenants in 2019.

: 1

: 3833 North Braodway

Stuff That’s Done: 210 North Carpenter

Posted on February 25, 2020 by danieldschell

210 North Carpenter is 12-story, 200,000-square-foot office building in the West Loop. Developed by Sterling Bay, it is a design by Solomon Cordwell Buenz. 210’s most important tenant is Leopardo Companies; they were the general contractor, and moved their Chicago offices here upon the building’s completion in March of 2019.

: From the Ashland L platform, 210 North Carpenter rises against the Chicago skyline.

Stuff That’s Done (And Already Changing): The Mason

Posted on February 23, 2020 by danieldschell

The Mason is a 13-story, 263-unit apartment building in the West Loop that began its life known as 180 North Ada. The L-shaped structure was designed by Brininstool + Lynch for Marquette Companies, with Power Construction on the build. The Mason opened to residents in Spring 2019.

Last week, the Chicago Plan Commission unanimously approved a zoning change for The Mason:

The Applicant is proposing to rezone the property from the current Planned Development #1384 to Planned Development #1384, as amended, to allow for a restaurant and tavern use to be established on the ground floor.

Helping move Restaurant Row further west in the West Loop is a good thing for hungry Chicagoans.