Recent plans from developer Sterling Bay for a 958-foot, SOM-designed tower for Chicago's ongoing Union Station redevelopment have revealed a proposal for what would become one of the Windy City's ten tallest buildings. Known for now as the Union Station Tower, the two-million-square-foot office tower would likely replace a low-rise parking garage, which has occupied a prime parcel of Amtrak-owned land adjacent to Union Station for decades. 

Union Station Tower, image by Sterling Bay

Part of a long history of selling the air rights to developers since Union Station's opening in 1925, this most recent proposal, if successful, will add to the West Loop's rapid rise while simultaneously giving a financial boost to the ongoing redevelopment plans for the 90-year old transit hub — the third busiest in the United States. 

Union Station Tower by night, image by Sterling Bay

Likely to replace an Amtrak-owned parking garage, the tower would radically transform the area, adding thousands of potential rail passengers into the system, while simultaneously removing hundreds of commuter parking spaces, thus increasing pressure upon the city's transit infrastructure. 

Amtrak parking garage (left), and Union Station (right), image via Google Maps

The proposed SOM-designed skyscraper would most certainly change the look and feel of the immediate area, bringing some serious density to this rapidly intensifying corner of downtown Chicago. 

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as more details emerge. 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.