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Eight months since our last update, and progress at the site of 640 N Wells, a 24-storey apartment tower by JDL Development currently on the rise in downtown Chicago's trendy River North district, has been swift. The structure now stands at just under 20 storeys, with the first glimpses of cladding having appeared over the last few weeks.
Viewed above, the Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 640 N Wells has already begun to become a fixture of the rapidly intensifying River North district, part of the downtown-adjacent neighbourhood's ongoing urban transformation. While some locals have bemoaned the loss of a long-established 1950s-style diner, the new addition fits right into an area which has today become much more synonymous with the future than the past.
Soon to become home to 251 residential units in addition to 12,000 square feet of ground floor retail, along with 117 above-grade parking stalls concealed within a porcelain-clad exterior on the 2nd and 3rd storeys, 640 N Wells is set to engage the neighbourhood in a real way. Its considerable street presence should help bring back, if not improve upon, whatever pedestrian traffic was lost upon the demolition of the diner.
Designed as a stacked box tower, there will be ample room for balconies at the apex of each block, and it is reported that 28 percent of all units will have outdoor space. Units will average a generous 875 square feet, with the residential portion of the building beginning on the fourth floor and continuing all the way to the top floor penthouse level. In addition to this, the development is slated for LEED Silver certification for its stormwater retention system and planned green roof installations.
Above, the first glimpses of cladding can be seen, with the glass panes contrasted against the void created by the parking garage installation and related porcelain-clad wall. Below, a view of the finished product gives an idea of how the structure will appear once complete in 2017.
Once complete, 640 N Wells will be a welcome addition to the River North district, its future residents to enjoy close proximity to transit, along with all of the local amenities that the popular downtown neighbourhood has on offer, including numerous bars, restaurants, and the largest collection of local art galleries this side of Manhattan.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
