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The second tower in the Optima Chicago Center complex continues to climb as glazing begins installation on the lower floors. At 54 storeys, Optima II at 220 East Illinois Street will be taller than its 42-storey predecessor. Its extra height permits space for more units — 381 in total compared to the 325 in the completed building.
Designed by Optima founder David Hovey, the building will include a large podium with a sweeping rooftop deck packed with amenities. A basketball court, golf simulator, and at least two pools are just some of the planned recreational and entertainment options that will be afforded to residents.
Multiple types of cladding are now being affixed to the podium, including black, terra cotta and transparent glazing panels. It's unclear just what hue we can expect the tower itself to take on, though one rendering suggests a reflective green glass facade may be the choice colour.
The project falls within the boundaries of Chicago's Streeterville neighbourhood, which has been built mostly on a reclaimed sandbar east of the Magnificent Mile. Containing a broad mix of hotels, offices, restaurants, cultural hotspots, and educational institutions, the area is one of the city's most active when it comes to recent development. The empty lot where one of the world's tallest buildings would have risen, the Chicago Spire, is located in Streeterville. It serves as a reminder that despite recent successes in the neighbourhood, urban development is a fragile business to be in.
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