A significant milestone has been achieved in the development of Chicago’s 13th-tallest building, as a curtain wall of windows begins to envelop the residential skyscraper at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive.
The building is part of the 400 Lake Shore project, which includes a second planned tower, both situated at the iconic intersection of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. This ground-up construction, a rarity in the Streeterville neighborhood, promises to include several acres of open green space.
The site was acquired by developer Related Midwest through bankruptcy court in 2014, following the abandonment of an ambitious plan by previous developers Garrett Kelleher and Steve Ivankovich for the tallest condominium tower in the Western Hemisphere.
After a lengthy process to fill the 75-foot-deep crater, construction is moving forward. Related Midwest Executive Vice President of Construction Don Biernacki noted that the site’s cofferdam is expected to be filled this month, marking a significant change in the site’s history.
Construction on the project is occurring in two phases, beginning with the 72-story tower located at the northern end of the site. This phase will also feature a plaza with retail spaces, public artwork, and three levels of underground parking.
The first tower will include 635 residential units, 127 of which will be set aside as affordable apartments. The residences will range from studios to three-bedroom penthouses, all boasting views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and the vibrant city skyline. Completion of the initial units is projected for the first quarter of 2027, with preleasing anticipated to commence next fall.
Following the completion of the northern tower, construction on the second tower—standing at 765 feet tall—will commence. This southern structure is slated to feature 500 residential units.
According to co-general contractors LR Contracting Co. and BOWA Construction Group, about 300 skilled tradespeople are currently working at the site, where they are focused on elevating the floors of the northern tower.
Notably, a new floor is completed with windows approximately every 3½ days, while new concrete decks are poured every three days. The building’s structural framework will comprise over 236 million pounds of concrete and 13 million pounds of rebar. By October, the concrete superstructure for the northern tower is expected to be complete, with the curtain wall of windows slated for completion a year later.
The $500 million project officially broke ground in June 2024, with the goal of finishing by the end of 2027.
Efficiency has played a key role in the construction, as many electrical and utility components have been prefabricated off-site, resulting in time savings, according to Biernacki. With experience from their collaboration on The Row Fulton Market luxury high-rise, LR Contracting and BOWA are well-equipped for this ambitious project.
Despite ongoing challenges from President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Biernacki stated that Related has not yet felt the full impact, though that may change. He emphasized the uncertainty surrounding import taxes, which can lead contractors to adopt more conservative pricing strategies that inflate overall development costs.
A range of building appliances are sourced from Mexico, while cabinetry comes from Italy, highlighting the international dimensions of the project’s supply chain. Tariff-related challenges are anticipated to be a factor, as Biernacki acknowledged the inevitability of cost impacts from international sourcing.
image source from：chicago
