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Following a tumultuous expedition through the planning process, a construction permit has been granted for a new limited-service hotel at 237 E. Ontario Street in Chicago's Streeterville neighbourhood. Plans for the 19-storey Aloft Chicago Mag Mile development have significantly evolved from its original incarnation, when developer Tishman Realty and architect Valerio Dewalt Train Associates first proposed a 24-storey scheme for the site.
A fall in the room count from 395 to 336 coincided with the cut in height, but the proposal still faced fierce opposition over its site plan, which situated the porte-cochere in the rear alley. Citing anticipated congestion, a neighbourhood coalition had pleaded with the developer to opt for street-side valet stations instead. But that all appears to be moot now that a shoring rig has made its way to the site.
The demolition of a building that once housed the Museum of Contemporary Art gives the project clearance to move forward. Just as construction is beginning, updated renderings have hit the web, showing general consistency in massing between the morphing versions, but some noticeable alterations to the exterior expression of the building. The grid framing that had fronted the street in the earlier proposal has ostensibly been abandoned and replaced by a design that includes a lot of panelling. The visual aides appear to resemble elevation sketches rather than polished renderings, so the design may not fully adopt the hues and materiality suggested.
The development is joining a tsunami of new building projects around town. The latest results from the Crane Index, a biannual tally of crane activity tracked by Rider Levett Bucknall North America, puts Chicago at the top of the country when it comes to the number of construction cranes servicing residential projects. Last November, 31 active tower cranes were working on new condominiums and apartment towers, with 56 in total dotting the skyline. Boasting a strong total of 62, only Seattle places higher on the ranking.
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