400 Lake Shore Drive will begin construction in 45 days

Construction will officially begin on 400 Lake Shore Drive in 45 days. Related Midwest outlined their construction schedule yesterday in a construction logistics community meeting. Located on the former Chicago Spire site, the development was originally approved back in the summer of 2020, just a matter of months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With LR Contracting and BOWA Construction working on the towers, the construction will start with the northern tower. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the 72-story skyscraper will rise 858 feet tall clad in a glass and aluminum window wall with decorative metal accent panels. The project will deliver 635 rental apartments overlooking downtown and Lake Michigan with 300 underground parking spaces serving the building. 

 As part of the first phase, construction of DuSable Park will begin prior to full occupancy of the building, provided the Chicago Park District provides construction documents for the park within 16 months of issuance of the tower’s caisson permit. Related Midwest is obligated to deliver the completed park in order to receive the final Certificate of Occupancy for Tower One. The riverwalk along the south edge of the site and a new pedestrian lane connecting the riverwalk up to the Ogden Slip will also be completed as part of the initial phase.

During construction, the majority of truck traffic will use the ramps from the site up to Intermediate Lake Shore Drive. E. North Water St will only be used in isolated cases for oversize load deliveries, such as caisson mobilization, tower crane installation, and hoist installation. 

In 45 days, the construction team will be on site to begin site clearing and mobilization. Crews will begin below-grade work, including caissons, sheeting, and the cofferdam. Work below-grade is expected to begin in Q1 of 2024 and run through Q2 2025. Once underground work is done, crews will transition to vertical construction, including concrete pours, the building enclosure, and interiors. Above-grade work will start in Q1 2025 and continue through Q2 2027. Landscaping and the final completion of the tower is expected for Q3 2027. 

With the overall project approved for 1,100 units, Related Midwest plans to build the 635 units in the northern tower, lease up the building, and then proceed with the construction of the remaining units planned for the southern tower. The second phase will be either condominiums or rentals based on market conditions at that time.