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It has been just over three months since we toured Chicago's 150 North Riverside. At the time of our last update in December, the 53-storey Goettsch Partners-designed office tower had just installed the first rows of curtain wall glass. In the months since, much progress has been made on the project by Riverside Investment & Development Company, evidenced in new site photos captured by Forum contributor harryc.
150 North Riverside recently reached a major milestone when the tower's concrete core reached its final height. New images reveal that the concrete forms used to shape the tower core have been removed, while the building's steel skeleton has risen to reveal its stepbacks. Now just a few levels shy of its final height, the steel frame is also expected to top off in the coming weeks.
To celebrate the structure's topping off, a ceremonial final beam bearing signatures and well wishes from those attending was hoisted to the top of the tower. The beam also had a tree mounted on it, a tradition that can be traced back to an ancient Scandinavian religious practice to appease tree-dwelling spirits disturbed during construction.
Much of the office tower's lower half has now been sealed off with cladding, covering the facade with reflective blue glass accented by flowing vertical fins that create a visual dialogue with the adjacent Chicago River.
Upon completion, currently targeted for November 2016, the development will add 1.2 million square feet of office space to Chicago's Loop, as well as spaces like conference rooms, a bar, a dining venue, a second-floor green space, and a fifth-floor fitness centre. The tower itself only occupies one quarter of the site, with the remaining site footprint to be transformed into City of Chicago-mandated public park space, including a 1.5-acre riverfront promenade.
Additional images and information can be accessed in our Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment below.
