The Marriott Marquis Chicago, and the American Book Company building. Soon to be joined as one.
Down in the South Loop (you may call it this part of the South Loop the Prairie District if you like. McCormick Square? That jury’s still out), Clark Construction is working feverishly on the new Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel at 2121 South Prairie Avenue. Part of the expansion of McCormick Place by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier), the new Marriott Marquis will be a 39-story tower boasting a whopping 1,206 hotel rooms.
Designed by Goettsch Partners (150 North Riverside! YAY!) the Marquis will also include 90,000 square feet of meeting space. As part of the project, renovations are being done to the American Book Company building next door at 330 East Cermak Road, which will then be connected to the new hotel.
It’s a huge construction site. And that, of course, means I take a billion photos. In fact, it’s more like a field trip than a visit every time I go down there.
Enjoy the gallery.
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This is the American Book Company building, with the Marriott Marquis rising next door.
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American Book Company building and the Marriott Marquis Chicago.
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Shiny new glass.
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Installing glass.
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I watched them work on glass for awhile. No doubt they think I’m nuts. But I’m not the one hanging off a building.
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Equipment being used for glass installation.
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The view from across Cermak Road.
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The crane lifting glass panels.
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From in front of McCormick Place, on the southwest corner of Cermak Road and Prairie Avenue.
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Standing down low, pointing to things. I appreciate this.
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Upper-level crew.
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This will support the pedestrian walkway over Cermak Street from the Marriott Marquis Chicago to McCormick Place.
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The same walkway support.
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And this is the hole in McCormick Place where the walkway will be.
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STEVE! Steve is helping with the walkway.
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Looking straight up the south wall from Cermak Road.
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This will be the “front” of the Marriott, along the now-closed-off Prairie Avenue.
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The back of the American Book Company building. yes, they too a large chunk out of it. yes, they will fix it.
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Looking west at the east wall.
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Atop the core.
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Giant street crane.
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Marriott construction reflected in the windows of McCormick Place.
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A rendering from Marriott.
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And another Marriott rendering.
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Sadly, I couldn’t get up to the rooftop garden at McCormick Place this visit. So here’s a shot from up there in May.
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And another May shot.
