Caisson permit issued for music hall at The 1901 Project

A caisson permit has been issued for the new music hall as part of the first phase of The 1901 Project, a $7 billion mixed-use development located around the United Center. Planned by United Center Joint Venture consisting of the Reindsdorf and Wirtz families, the project will redevelop 55 acres of land and parking lots surrounding the arena.

Designed by architects RIOS and landscape architects Field Operations and Site Design Group, the long-term, multi-phased development vision will include 25 acres of open space, 9,500 residential units, 1,300 hotel keys, 660,000 square feet of office space, 670,000 square feet of retail space, and entertainment space. 

Planned for approximately 12.3 acres of surface parking located south and west of the stadium along S. Damen Ave and W. Adams St, the $500 million first phase of the project consists of a 6,000-seat music hall, retail and restaurant space, a hotel, parking garages and green space.

The new music hall will be the second building to be built within the first phase, sited at the corner of S. Damen Ave and W. Adams St. New renderings released in tandem with the project’s recent groundbreaking show a redesigned structure that shifts from the alternating ribbon concept peeling up from the ground to a scalloped extruded form rising from a one-story brick podium. The 6,000-seat music hall will open towards a large plaza to the east. 

City Council recently approved a Cook County Class 7(b) property tax incentive that will provide an estimated $54.7 million in tax savings over its 12-year term. The project also recently secured $125 million in financing from Wintrust to support the 1901 Project’s initial phase as well as some work at the arena itself, according to Crains. 

Construction is already underway for the West Garage, located north of the new music hall, with general contractor McHugh Construction already receiving a foundations permit and tower crane permit for the building. The south garage, located to the east of the music hall separated by the south plaza, will be the third building of the first phase with a retail brick podium, two floors of parking, and a 233-key hotel. Phase 1 is anticipated to be complete in 2028.