An updated look at Optima Center and 435 North Park

Early yesterday afternoon I visited Streeterville for a look at two major apartment projects underway in the neighborhood.

Drilling of the caissons for 435 North Park began two weeks ago, and is continuing. A line of concrete trucks was on the site yesterday, awaiting their turn to empty into the caissons. When complete the nearly 600-foot tall mixed-use development will include 398 apartments and about 400 hotel rooms. You can follow the progress of construction at SkyscraperPage.com.

The never-boring architecture critic Lynn Becker provides a brief look at the caisson boring process in the above video, and some night shots of activity at “the coolest construction site in the city.”

The 325-unit Optima Center, 200 E Illinois, is about three-quarters of the way toward reaching its eventual 42-story height. The sharp contrast between the black glass base and the balance of the tower is coming into clear focus. Occupancy is expected late this year.

Optima Center is a project that generates a lot of interest among architecture buffs, and you can see many more pictures of its progress in a thread at SkyscraperPage.com.

You can track all of the major new apartment projects proposed and underway in downtown Chicago at our at-a-glance list and map.

Related posts:

1. Construction check – Optima Center in Streeterville
2. An updated look at Wacker Gateway Park
3. An updated look at The Maxwell
4. New condos under construction in North Center
5. North Center condos near a pre-construction sellout

Tagged as: 435 North Park, Apartments, Architecture, David Hovey, Downtown Loop, High-rise, Lynn Becker, New construction, Optima Center, Rentals, Streeterville, Video