If you were shopping around new highrise condo towers which vista would have the most appeal? A bird’s-eye view of Soldier Field on game-day from high up inside One Museum Park (see right) in the South Loop or the sight of tourists swarming over the city’s newest green space from inside The Heritage at Millennium Park?
The fiesty neighborhood newspaper the Chicago Journal casts its vote for Da Bears in its pithy annual “Overrated/Underrated” survey of the city, out this week.
The newspaper also declared One Museum Park the winner of the highrise beauty contest, saying the development is overshadowed by feverish press about Santiago Calatrava‘s dramatically designed Fordham Spire, but One Museum Park is “largely ignored as the most dazzling .. highrise … that is actually getting built.” Ouch. What say you, Fordham Company?
The Journal goes on: The Heritage’s effort to preserve existing street-side facades is “a mediocre compromise between modern and post modern architecture.” That’s gotta hurt The Heritage, especially after being dumped so publicly by Mayor Daley after he decided he wasn’t leaving the South Loop.
What do you think? Cast your vote with Yo Chicago for the best (and worst) highrises on the drawing board.
I like the Legacy. It manages somehow to blend aesthetically into the surrounding beauty of Millennium Park, while simultaneously doing a spot-on impression of a PlayStation 2 on its side.
Chicago Journal may have failed in this one. Yes, OMP is being built, but its original proportions were much better than the odd looking building that’s now going to go up. Also, the base of the tower seems to be mediocre for streetlife, so don’t complain about the Heritage.
OMP isn’t bad, but many residential high rises under construction around town are better, including 3 from Lakeshore East – The Regatta, 340 on the Park, The Chandler, as well as 30 W. Oak, Joffrey Tower, The Grand Kingsbury and The Streeter among others. Additionally, upcoming projects such as 71 East Huron, Silver Tower, Trio, 1401 South State, ParkView West, 600 North Fairbanks, 550 and 535 St. Clair and almost assuredly the Studio Gang-designed tower at Lakeshore East, among many others will all be superior designs.
also The Legacy at Millennium Park and, if it’s built, the Mandarin Oriental tower in Illinois Center…
and 1620 South Michigan, and 1720 South Michigan…the point is, OMP is not all that exceptional by any means