Lakeshore East

For the commuter rail line in Toronto, see Lakeshore East line.
Lakeshore East map depiction
View from across Grant Park
Lakeshore East from NEMA in 2021
an urban park and skyline
Lakeshore East from Cascade (east) with prominent views of Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, Aon Center and Aqua May 2022
an urban park and skyline
Lakeshore East from St. Regis Chicago (north) with prominent views of buildings and Lakeshore Drive in December 2022 File:

Lakeshore East is a master-planned mixed use urban development being built by the Magellan Development Group in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located in the northeastern part of the Loop, which, along with Illinois Center, is called the New Eastside. The development is bordered by Wacker Drive to the north, Columbus Drive to the west, Lake Shore Drive to the east, and East Randolph Street to the south. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill created the master plan for the area.[1] The development, which had been scheduled for completion in 2011,[2] was set for completion in 2013 by 2008.[3] Development continued with revised plans for more buildings in 2018 and continuing construction of the Vista Tower in 2019.

Although the majority of the buildings in the neighborhood will be 21st century constructions resulting from the master plan, some of the current buildings were built as early as the 1960s and 1970s decades. Thus, the term "Lakeshore East" refers only to the components of the new master plan, while the term New Eastside refers to the greater neighborhood surrounding Lakeshore East that extends westward to Michigan Avenue.[4] In the 1960s, Illinois Center near Michigan Avenue was developed. There is little formal distinction between buildings in the masterplan and other buildings in the neighborhood because the pre-existing buildings are referred to as being located in the Lakeshore East area.[5]

Lakeshore East features several of the tallest buildings in Chicago and may include a few of the tallest buildings in the United States. The overall planned development, the park, and several of the individual buildings have won awards for architecture and/or urban planning. The buildings are planned for various types of residential use (condominiums, apartments, or hotels). Due to the neighborhood's proximity to both Lake Michigan to the east and the Chicago River to the north, many of the buildings are named with aquatic or nautical themes.[6] As of August 2008, 1,500 condominiums have been sold and 1,200 apartments have been completed.[3]

  1. ^ "Portfolio". magellan development. 2007. Archived from the original on February 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  2. ^ "Lakeshore East Master Plan". Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  3. ^ a b Diesenhouse, Susan (2008-08-01). "Lakeshore East project lifts Magellan to top". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  4. ^ "New Eastside". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SrwviLE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Aqua". Chicago Architecture Info. Artefaqs Corporation. Retrieved 2008-05-28.