For the last few years, Aqua (430 East Waterside Drive), the Studio Gang skyscraper that anchors the west end of Lakeshore East, has generated more local and international buzz than pretty much any other new Chicago building.  But most people only admire it from afar. Even those tourists and...

One of my favorite old Chicago buildings is going to be renovated. I’ve long admired the Old Republic Building (307 North Michigan Avenue).  Maybe because of its anonymity — it’s not as flashy as the Carbide and Carbon Building (230 North Michigan Avenue)across the street....

Earlier this year we mentioned the new LED displays now adorning the atrium of Block37 (1 West Randolph Street), and posted a few pictures and a video.  Now we’ve been sent a press release from the company that engineered the displays, along with some much better pictures than we...

Over the last three weeks or so, several readers have asked if the new Roosevelt University skyscraper (421 South Wabash Street)we wrote about is going to be LEED certified. Today I heard back from a PR person at Roosevelt, and yes the building is going for LEED certification.  I don’t...

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, here’s a shot of the fountain at Daley Plaza all colored green.

While in the Shops at North Bridge (520 North Michigan Avenue) today I noticed two stores being built out. First, is the Art of Shaving store, which we mentioned was coming on this blog back in the fall.  It looks like it’s finally coming to fruition, and if it’s anything like...

A meeting was held today to provide the public with more information about the new skyscraper that Roosevelt University is building in the Loop (421 South Wabash Street).  You can read more about the new Roosevelt University “vertical campus” building here. Nothing...

It looks like Halsted Street Deli is opening another location in The Loop.  One of our readers sent this photo in, but didn’t quite remember where he took it.  Franklin Street near Sears Tower was his best guess. There are no clues on the company’s web site about new locations.

Last week a meeting was held in the Loop at the Spertus Institute(610 South Michigan Avenue) to talk about the future of Northerly Island.  As community meetings go, this one was unusually heavily promoted, even receiving publicity on the local radio and television stations.  WBBM-TV sent...

The banners promise that Loyola University’s new $400,000 streetfront television studio in The Clare at Water Tower (55 East Pearson Street) will open in autumn 2009, but I think we can safely say that isn’t going to happen.  Especially considering that Loyola only got its...

The Art Institute of Chicago opens its biggest expansion in years tomorrow. The new 264,000 square foot modern wing comes complete with a slew of eco-friendly features, a big name starchitect, and a $294,000,000.00 price tag. It’s the first major public project for the Italian architect...

It’s farmers market season in Chicago once again.  It’s your best chance to sink your teeth into the freshest food possible without leaving the city. Today was the first one — at Federal Plaza in the Loop.  The next one is Thursday at Daley Plaza, but they become more...

Thanks to Chicago Architecture Blog reader and Chicago Architecture Info Facebook fan Jim Mitch for letting us know about a glaring error in one of our earlier posts, and more importantly — about a hidden piece of Chicago architectural history. In February we posted a note talking about...

Sure, it’s got a Renzo Piano stamp on it, but I can’t help but feel like the “starchitects” we looked to in the 80′s and 90′s for inspiration have gone off their feed.  Gehry’s become a one-trick pony.  Hadid churns out fantasy after fantasy but...

After yesterday’s mini-rant about the Art Institute’s Modern Wing, it seemed logical to follow that up with an update on the bridge that will link the museum with Millennium Park. The 620-foot-long bridge has a Renzo Piano pedigree and like most modern architecture is simple in...

Crain’s Chicago Business (naturally) reports that the as-yet-unbuilt Mandarin Oriental Hotel is now the subject of a foreclosure suit. The 74-story building was to go in the vacant slot on Stetson Place in the Illinois Center.  In spite of its location, it planned to use a Michigan...