Construction of New Skyscraper Underway in Downtown Chicago

CHICAGO – Construction is underway on 300 North LaSalle, a new 60-story office building in downtown Chicago. The 1.3-million-square-foot building, being developed by Hines, is located on the west side of LaSalle Street on the north bank of the Chicago River. Clark Construction Group, LLC is serving as the general contractor for this project.

Rising over 800 feet, the building will be one of Chicago’s tallest upon completion. It will offer dramatic views of the city’s skyline.

The project includes a waterfront café and a half-acre public plaza by the river’s edge. In addition to office space, the building also includes retail, conference and restaurant spaces and three levels of below-grade parking.

The facade of the building is primarily composed of a unitized curtainwall system with stainless steel accent covers incorporating metal panel buttresses at the top of the structure.

Plans call for the building to incorporate environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient materials and systems, so that it can obtain LEED Gold Certification. It is designed to maximize the use of daylight, while minimizing solar heat gain.

Pickard Chilton, of New Haven, Conn., is the design architect and Kendall/Heaton Associates, Inc., of Houston, will serve as the Architect of Record for this project. Magnusson Klemencic Associates, of Chicago, is the structural engineer, and Alvine and Associates, Inc., of Omaha, Neb., is providing MEP engineering services.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, a global law firm founded in Chicago, is the anchor tenant. The project is expected to be completed in December 2008.