28 North Clark (Block 37)
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| 28 North Clark (Block 37) | |
|---|---|
| Name | 28 North Clark (Block 37) |
| Alternate names | Block 37 Tower |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Start date | 2009 |
| Completion date | 2012 |
| Building type | Office, retail |
| Height | 550 ft (approx.) |
| Floors | 27 |
| Architect | Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects; Foster and Partners; Pickard Chilton |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti |
| Developer | Joseph Freed and Associates; Crescent Heights |
28 North Clark (Block 37) is a mixed-use high-rise located on Block 37 in downtown Chicago's The Loop neighborhood. The tower anchors a multi-block redevelopment that involved collaboration among municipal authorities, private developers, and design firms, and sits adjacent to major landmarks including State Street (Chicago), Daley Plaza, and the James R. Thompson Center. The project intersected with broader urban revitalization initiatives tied to transit projects such as the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line (CTA) and private investment patterns in the Chicago Loop.
Introduction
The building occupies a prominent parcel bounded by North Clark Street (Chicago), North State Street (Chicago), and West Randolph Street (Chicago), forming part of the larger Block 37 complex developed amid controversies involving entities like Related Companies, FBW Group, and municipal leaders including Richard M. Daley. The site links to civic institutions such as Chicago City Council deliberations and regional planning efforts exemplified by the Metropolitan Planning Council. As a vertical addition to Chicago's skyline, it engages architectural conversations alongside towers by Adrian Smith, Lucien Lagrange, and practices like Gensler.
History and development
Block 37's redevelopment traces to proposals during the administrations of Richard M. Daley and later Rahm Emanuel, with early concepts involving tenants such as Nordstrom and entertainment anchors considered by firms like Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres. The parcel saw multiple developers including Joseph Freed and Associates and financial restructurings involving investors tied to Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, and municipal bond markets. Court disputes and zoning reviews engaged entities such as the Chicago Plan Commission and were influenced by regional actors like the Chicago Transit Authority and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.
Architecture and design
Design iterations reflected inputs from international firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and U.S. practices such as Pickard Chilton, with concepts invoking precedents by Mies van der Rohe and contextual dialogues with neighboring landmarks like the John Hancock Center and Wrigley Building. Facade treatment, curtain wall systems, and podium design responded to streetscape expectations set by Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago and later urbanists like Jane Jacobs. Public realm components linked to plazas and surface retail, engaging retail brands comparable to Macy's, Apple Inc., and boutique operators witnessed in other central business districts like New York City's Fifth Avenue.
Construction and engineering
Construction mobilized engineering teams including Thornton Tomasetti and contractors familiar with complex downtown logistics, coordinating with utilities overseen by ComEd and transit infrastructure managed by the Chicago Transit Authority. Substructure work navigated a dense underground context featuring proximity to Metra facilities and Chicago Pedway networks. Structural systems drew on composite steel and concrete solutions used in contemporaneous projects by Turner Construction Company and seismic/ wind-load practices referenced in standards from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Tenants and usage
The tower houses a mix of office tenants, retail spaces, and service providers. Corporate occupants resemble regional headquarters and national firms similar to United Airlines's downtown offices, while retail components follow leasing patterns comparable to Nordstrom Rack and technology showrooms like Microsoft Store. Food service and hospitality operators aligning with downtown demand include chains analogous to Starbucks, boutique restaurants paralleling establishments in River North, and ancillary fitness providers akin to Equinox Fitness Clubs.
Reception and impact
Reception combined praise for activating a long-dormant parcel with criticism related to cost overruns and procurement controversies involving local officials and developers that echoed debates seen during projects such as Olympic bid (Chicago 2016). Urbanists and commentators from outlets like Crain's Chicago Business and institutions including the Chicago Architecture Center assessed the project's contribution to downtown vitality, retail mix, and pedestrian flows, situating outcomes in comparisons with redevelopment efforts in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.
Transportation and accessibility
The site's connectivity capitalizes on proximity to CTA rail lines including the Red Line (CTA), Blue Line (CTA), and bus routes administered by the Chicago Transit Authority, as well as regional rail access via Metra lines at nearby stations. Pedestrian linkages integrate with the Chicago Pedway and transit-oriented development principles promoted by the Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois), facilitating commuter access from suburbs served by agencies like PACE (transit). Bicycle and micro-mobility infrastructure follows municipal guidelines influenced by advocacy groups such as Active Transportation Alliance.
Ownership and financing
Financing involved a combination of private equity, construction loans from institutional lenders similar to Wells Fargo and Bank of America, and tax increment financing mechanisms overseen by the City of Chicago's development arm. Ownership changed hands through transactions typical of downtown commercial real estate, involving investment firms and real estate operators paralleling CBRE Group and JLL, with portfolio management influenced by market cycles examined in reports by entities like Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's.