Checking in on Robert A.M. Stern’s 67-story One Bennett Park

The residential high-rise has been under construction since this spring

By Jay Koziarz Dec 8, 2016, 2:05pm CST

It’s been quite some time since we last stopped by 451 E. Grand, the site of Streeterville’s skyline-altering One Bennett Park to check in on progress. While crews have been hard at work ever since the 67-story skyscraper officially began construction back in May, for many months the majority of the progress occurred out of sight as the subterranean caisson foundations required to support the building’s considerable mass were drilled and filled with concrete.

Things are now starting to become more noticeable as the Robert A.M. Stern-designed tower begins its 850-foot climb skyward. As of this week, the project is several floors above street level and rising fast. While many Chicago skyscrapers are slow to start due to the time-intensive process of building complicated ramps for interior garages, One Bennett Park forgoes this step by utilizing a pre-existing underground parking structure.

While the large fenced-off area just west of the tower currently acts as a handy staging area for construction materials, this plot will eventually become a new park designed by Maggie Daley and 606 Trail architect Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. Both the tower and the planned green space take their name from architect Edward H. Bennett—co-author of the influential 1909 Plan of Chicago along with legendary urban planner Daniel Burnham.

Touted as Chicago’s tallest purely residential building, One Bennett Park will contain a mix of both apartments and high-end condos commanding prices as high as $1,200 per square foot. According to project developer Related Midwest, units in the swanky art deco-inspired skyscraper are expected to delivered in late 2018 and early 2019.