Vertical Campus Video Excites

The new Roosevelt University Vertical Campus building is well underway and we recently stumbled upon this video (albeit old):


The vertical campus looks to be an interesting addition to the Chicago Skyline and a building that definitely will bring more students to the neighborhood.

Roosevelt's "Vertical Campus" a Risk

The new face of Roosevelt University, the thiry-two story, blue glass skyscraper on Wabash near Congress, certainly spices up the South Loop’s skyline. But according to a post in the Chicago Reader, this $123 million “vertical campus” is a risky investment for a university already straddled in $248 million of debt.

“Everyone I've talked with is smitten by what they've seen of the building. The financial situation behind it? Not so much.

Projections of continued enrollment growth were used to justify the debt load and escalating multimillion dollar annual payments. According to one of its own brochures, the university was projecting‘a 50 percent increase in the number of full-time equivalent students at the Chicago campus between 2007 and 2017.’

But that’s not how it's worked out so far. In 2008, the total number of students (part- and full-time, on both campuses) was 7,692,an all-time high. Then both enrollment and, to a lesser extent, credit hours took a dive. From 2008 to 2011, the total number of students fell 14 percent.”

The university says the building will ultimately contribute to the long term well-being of the city.

What do you think? Do you like the new visual dynamic the building brings to the loop and Sloop?

(Hat tip: SS!)

Top 11 Sloopin Stories of 2011: #3 - Educational Institutions Lead Development Push in the Sloop

It's that time of year and like many other websites, tv stations, newspapers and blogs, we're going to take a look back at some of the most important and biggest stories of 2011.

#3 - Educational Institutions Lead Development Push in the Sloop

If we were to say that some new impressive, huge buildings are going up in the South Loop, you might think we travelled back to 2005 or were on crack. Well you would be wrong on both accounts, but the truth is that there are some amazing buildings being built in the neighborhood, but not by commercial entities - they're being built by educational institutions.

The most impressive building of them all (and maybe the most impressive building in all of Chicago in 2011) was Roosevelt University's Vertical Campus. While just North of what we consider the South Loop (since it's just North of Congress) the strikingly beautiful blue building looms large over the South Loop.

Beyond that, construction has begun on the new Jones College Prep high school at 606 S. State. East West University also broke ground at 819 S. Wabash to build a multi-purpose building consisting of classrooms, dorms and such. It's a similar concept to the Roosevelt University's vertical campus building albeit on a smaller scale.

Two other announcements in 2011 were Roosevelt University's new athletic center that will be built on the just Southeast corner of Congress on Wabash and Columbia's purchase of the Ebony/Jet HQ building at 820 S. Michigan.

Needless to say, these institutions are expanding and continue to bring more and more people to the neighborhood.

(Image from Curbed Chicago)

Progress at Roosevelt Universities "Vertical Campus"

In case you haven't been by the proposed site of Roosevelt Universities "Vertical Campus", it looks like they're making some progress according to a blog called Chicago Architecture Plus:

It also touches on some of the architectural artifacts that are being discovered as the building is being built. An interesting read for people that are into these types of things.

For some of the Sloopin posts we've done in the past, click here.

'Vertical Campus' to Begin Construction in February

Two weeks ago we posted about Roosevelt University's new building and yesterday the Chicago Sun-Times reported that construction of the building is scheduled to start this upcoming February:

Construction is scheduled to start in February on Roosevelt University's new 32-story "vertical campus'' at 421-25 S. Wabash.

The building's wavelike design was based on a well-known Romanian sculpture, The Endless Column, and meant to convey that education is endless and infinite, officials said.

Roosevelt University to Build Athletic Center in the South Loop

Roosevelt University's Vertical Campus has added a new dynamic to the Chicago Skyline and the South Loop neighborhood and today we read on Curbed Chicago that the university unveiled new plans to build an athletic center at the Southeast corner of Congress and Wabash:

With work nearly finished on the new 32-story Vertical Campus,
Roosevelt University recently announced plans to add another building to the
South Loop. With a $3-million donation from discount retail chain owner Larry
Goodman, Roosevelt will construct a two-story, multi-purpose athletic facility
at the southeast corner of Congress Pkwy. and Wabash Ave.

The post goes on to say that the athletic center is scheduled to be done by the end of 2012.

It seems like the only building going on in the Sloop is by educational institutions. Glad to have them in the neighborhood to ensure that the neighborhood continues to expand and evolve.

(Image from Curbed Chicago)

East-West University to Build Dorm on South Wabash

Roosevelt Universities Vertical Campus has added some new flair to the Chicago and South Loop skyline (which is a beautiful building if you ask us), so that's why we were excited to see a post on Curbed Chicago yesterday talking about another "vertical dorm" being built by East-West University on South Wabash:

Buried in a Tuesday Sun-Times article, is a bit about East-West University announcing plans for a 17-story dorm building at 825 S Wabash. Reliable sleuth
Spyguy, over at SSP, cast a brighter light on the info with renderings from architect Holabird & Root. According to the Sun-Times and East-West's own literature, the building will room 220 students, with space for an auditorium, gym, food court, and library. Some basic green features are thrown in (can you say PR?), and the University claims to be striving for LEED certification. Efficient heating and cooling systems and a green roof are the main components. Responding to student demand, this will be the first on-campus housing.

This is absolutely fantastic news! There are a lot of high profile vacant lots along South Wabash and a dorm will only add to vibrancy of the neighborhood. Supposedly construction will start in December and be completed for the 2013 school year.

(Image from Curbed Chicago)

Head of the Class: New Schools Shine in the Sloop

The fine folks at Curbed Chicago had a recent post looking at the progress of two new schools in the South Loop - Jones College Prep & East West University.

Both schools are in the process of finishing their buildings and from the outside both are unique and stunning:

New Jones College Prep at Polk & State (image via Kevin Dickert - Curbed Chicago)

Shinny new East West University building at 825 S. Wabash (image via Kevin Dickert - Curbed Chicago)

Both buildings are great additions to the neighborhood, but in our mind the East West building is simple and elegant with some subtle architectural flourishes that make it interesting.

The Jones College Prep building is massive!  While it's also interesting to look at for some reason it feels unsettling to our eye.  It lacks consistency and seems like a jumbled concept with many layers that screams "let's make this more complicated than it needs to be".

Anyway, the Curbed post has some additional pictures of each structure and has information on the architects and other attributes to each building.

While neither stack up to the impact or scale of Roosevelt University's "Vertical Campus", both are solid additions to the neighborhood. 

TLC Cafe Coming to Wabash Just North of Congress

With construction for Roosevelt University's "Vertical Campus" now under way, a smart business person might see this as an opportunity to cater to these potential students. That's why it was pleasant and unsurprising when we saw a sign in the window for a new cafe at the old Gina's Cuisine Restaurant (424 S. Wabash) across the street on Wabash . It looks like it's going to be called TLC Cafe according to the sign in the window:

We couldn't find much on the Internet specific to this spot, but maybe it could be associated with this TLC cafe in Glenview? We doubt it...

Anyone have additional background on this spot?

Educational Institutions Lead Way for Construction in the Sloop

In the height of the housing boom it was common to see cranes every direction you looked. Fast forward to recent times and the opposite is true.

Although apartments and condos aren't being built like they were a couple years ago, that doesn't mean the neighborhood isn't growing.

Thanks to some educational institutions, the landscape of the Sloop will look different in the months to come. We've chronicled some of the proposed projects individually, but recently noticed that they appear to be picking up steam. With that said, we snapped some pictures of these new developments.

Probably the highest profile project is the new Jones College Prep high school being built on the Northwest corner of State and Polk (picture to the right). It's tough to miss the gigantic crane that has been put into place and will help build the structure that will no doubt change the look and feel of State street in the Sloop.

Other less high-profile, but still important structures are also beginning constructed. Roosevelt University is building an athletic complex at the Southeast corner of Congress and Wabash. While it might not be as sexy as its "Vertical Campus" building, it will no doubt bring more density to the neighborhood (which we think is good - especially in this part of the neighborhood). Below is a picture of construction workers laying the foundation (among other things) at the site:

Finally, East West University broke ground at 819 S. Wabash for what will soon be there own building to house students:

Good to see that the neighborhood is growing even if the housing market isn't in great shape.

(Hat tip: TP!)

Two Important Planning Meetings for the Sloop. One Tonight; One on Tues Mar 2nd

Micah Maidenberg of the Chicago Journal had a post notifying readers of two interesting and important meetings coming up relevant to the South Loop. First, a discussion about student housing plans:

South Loop Neighbors is hosting a discussion Wednesday, Feb. 24 about new student residences in the neighborhood. Invited guests include Lesley Slavitt, vice president of governmental relations and outreach at Roosevelt University, and Keith Giles, a principal at Kargil Development.

Roosevelt is building a 32-story "vertical campus" that will replace the Herman Crown Center at 421-425 S. Wabash. The structure will host seven floors of classrooms, six floors of student services and 615 beds for the school's freshmen and sophomores, as well as space for student organizations and activities and street-level retail.

Kargil Development, which has built and rehabbed number of residential structures in the South Loop, wants to build a $100 million, 21-story tower with 420 two-bedroom suites and 20 single rooms for dorm resident assistants at 1136-1140 S. Wabash, land currently owned by the city.

Also Ald. Fioretti is hosting an event on upcoming construction projects around the Sloop:

Fioretti will be hosting a meeting March 2, meanwhile, about three major infrastructure projects slated to start this April: the Congress Parkway remake; reconstruction of Wacker Drive; and repaving the Eisenhower Expressway. Representatives from the city and state departments of transportation will be on hand to discuss the projects.
The road construction meeting starts at 6 p.m. March 2 at Robert Morris University, 401 S. State, in Room 803.

If you click on the Congress Parkway remake link above you will find an interesting PowerPoint talking about that project. It looks like the idea of this is to make the street more pedestrian friendly (which we love). The duration of the project is scheduled for two years (to start during Spring of 2010 and wrap up in Spring of 2012). Here are some renderings from the PowerPoint:

Roosevelt University's New Tower Adds "Sizzle to Chicago's Skyline"

Will students be gazing at the views instead of the lecturer?
 (photo from Chicago Tribune)

One of our favorite drives in all of Chicago is heading North on Lake Shore Drive from the South Side.  A couple of weeks ago we were making this drive after being out of town for a long weekend.

As you pass under the sky-bridge connecting McCormick Place to the Crown Arie Theater the image of the skyline hits you in the face and leaves you speachless.

However, this most recent trip was different.  It was a sunny day and the new Roosevelt University tower was shimmering.  It caught our eye and thought about the statement the new building made on this beautiful picture.  We loved it.

A couple of days ago, Blair Kamin, the acclaimed Chicago Tribune architecture critic, reviewed the building and offered some nice perspective:

From Chicago Tribune

Savvy architecture buffs tend to view look-at-me buildings with a wary glance. All too often, these designs are slick packages, not real places that ennoble our daily routines. Anybody who's witnessed the cacophony of shrieking skyscrapers in Dubai knows that. 

Still, there is reason to think that Roosevelt University's striking new $123 million tower in downtown Chicago (left) will amount to something more than an eye-grabbing envelope.

The 32-story tower, which flaunts a zig-zagging silhouette and an equally arresting skin of blue and green glass, represents Chicago's latest innovation in skyscraper design. It is a vertical campus, stacking everything from a student union to lecture halls to dorm suites within a single, all-encompassing structure.

The gist of the piece was that it's a beautiful building that on paper seems to be functional as well.  However, questions still remain whether or not Roosevelt University can attract more and more students to fill the tower.  The Chicago Reader had a good piece about the risk the university took by constructing the building (see Sloopin post here).  Only time will tell.

Roosevelt University Adds a New Sign for the Skyline

Roosevelt University's Vertical Campus building shot up pretty quickly and recently they crowned the building with a sign. The Chicago Sun-Times has some cool photos of the installation here.

And we read this story about Roosevelt University cutting back expenses. Interesting to see a brand new building going up, but some school resources being cut back.

(Image from Chicago Sun-Times)