Chicago’s Nobu Hotel is finally ready to begin construction

While the ceremonial ground-breaking for the West Loop’s upcoming Nobu hotel and restaurant in June got plenty of press for bringing out big personalities like Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Nobu investor Robert DeNiro, the eleven-story, 119-room development wasn’t ready to begin construction. In fact, Nobu required a second appearance at the Chicago Plan Commission in September followed by a City Council vote before the permitting process could even begin. Now, the wait is finally over. The project at 854 W. Randolph has landed its first actual, real-life construction permit.

Originally proposed as a 12-story building before being chopped down to eight levels and then growing back to eleven floors, the project has been at the center of intense neighborhood discussions for nearly three years. Since then, Nobu has changed architects and has seen the addition and subtraction of funky dragonfly wing (or chicken wire?) patterned windows. The finalized design comes from Modif Architecture with Chicago-based Studio K handling the interiors. It will feature an indoor pool, private event space, rooftop bar and lounge, and a 10,000-square-foot Nobu restaurant from namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

Though the Nobu site at the northeast corner of Randolph and Peoria was eerily quiet this morning, expect things to quickly change now that construction work has been green-lit. Meanwhile, just down the street, several older buildings standing in the way of Related Midwest’s yet to be revealed Equinox Fitness-branded high-rise hotel are already coming down.

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• New construction permit at 854 W. Randolph St. [Chicago Cityscape]
• Taller Nobu Hotel, other projects approved by Chicago Plan Commission [Curbed Chicago]
• Redesigned Nobu Hotel ‘Breaks Ground’ But Still Faces Key Hurdles [Curbed Chicago]
• West Loop archives [Curbed Chicago]