Crown installation completed at 400 Lake Shore Drive

Related Midwest has announced the completion of the crown installation for the North Tower of 400 Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago. The tower’s 72-story, 857-foot tiered exterior is now complete with its distinctive bay-window glass curtain wall, including the 83-foot architectural apex, marking the final milestone in exterior construction. When complete, the project will feature 635 rental apartments with 127 of them set aside as affordable.

“With the exterior of 400 Lake Shore Drive now substantially complete, future residents can see just how spectacular this building will be when it opens next spring, taking full advantage of its location where Lake Michigan meets the Chicago River,” said Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest. “We’re grateful to the hundreds of tradespeople who have worked tirelessly over the past two years to transform this long-dormant site into a bold addition to the lakefront skyline.”

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the residential tower features a distinctive waterfall profile, with outdoor terraces defining a series of setbacks. Set at an angle to the future South Tower, the two towers together preserve sightlines for residents while forming a dynamic new gateway to the city. Their exteriors draw on Chicago’s architectural heritage, including a reimagined Chicago bay window and metal detailing that evokes the rippling surface of Lake Michigan.

The North Tower's design integrates architecture and structural engineering into a single system. Its terraces are deliberately staggered along the north and south faces to disrupt airflow and prevent pressure buildup at one of the city's most wind-exposed sites. A continuous outrigger wall system reinforces this strategy, running from the foundation through level 44 and capped by belt walls at levels 44 and 72. The result is exceptional wind performance achieved without mechanical dampers or open blow-through floors. Because the engineering is fully integrated into the building's form, the North Tower achieves its wind resilience invisibly, yielding an uninterrupted facade and a skyline profile that is clean, continuous and poised to become the defining gateway to the city from the lake.

With LR Contracting and BOWA Construction leading the tower’s construction, delivery is slated for spring 2027. Pre-leasing will begin this summer, and prospective residents can sign up for the interest list at www.400lakeshore.com or by calling (312) 912-0400.