Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood is booming with new projects rising along Clark, State, and Wabash. Meanwhile the city’s Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority continues work to expand and transform McCormick Place into a new entertainment and hospitality district dubbed McCormick Square. Soon to be followed by even larger residential towers like 1000M, 113 E. Roosevelt, and the recently-redesigned Essex Inn expansion plus the multi-phased Riverline and 62-acre Related Midwest project, the changes to the South Loop will be nothing short of transformative in the coming years. Here's a look at some of the developments already in progress.

801 S. Financial

↑ Located just south of Polk Street and west of the Metra rail tracks, this 33-story apartment tower dubbed Alta Roosevelt broke ground this spring. Designed by Pappageorge Haymes, the development includes 496 units and 348 parking spaces located both below ground and in a three-story garage topped by a pool and amenity deck. Due to the site’s relatively soft soil composition, crews are using foundation pilings in addition to drilled caissons.

1333 S. Wabash

↑ This Brininstool + Lynch-design tower will contain 307 rental units and 213 parking stalls. Approaching its final 28-story height, the development will join a neighboring 16-story condominium tower located just to the south at 1345 S Wabash, also from developer CMK Companies. The project also recently launched a new website.

1001 S. State

↑ The recently topped-out SCB-designed tower at 1001 S. State features a curvy glass facade topped an unremarkable boxy podium. A joint venture between Golub & Company and LA-based CIM Group, this 40-story high-rise will bring 397 new luxury apartments to the area when it opens later this year.

1000 S. Clark

↑ Designed by HPA and developed by JDL Corp, this glassy 29-story tower broke ground in the Summer of 2014 and has managed to deliver what was promised in its rendering. The development features 469 rental units and, while some of the phased build-out at ground level is ongoing, 1000 S. Clark officially welcomed its first residents this spring.

McCormick Place Marriott Marquis

↑ The new McCormick Place hotel continues its ascent and has made considerable progress since December. Rising to a final height of 39 stories, the design has been considerably shortened and widened since original plans called for a 51-story skyscraper. The nearby old American Book Co. building is also being gutted and renovated as part of the greater redevelopment plan which will also see new retail and dining plus a new data center come to the area.

McCormick Place Event Center

↑ The architectural crown jewel of the emerging entertainment district is the $164 million ravioli-shaped arena from architects Pelli Clarke Pelli. The modern facility will be the new home of DePaul basketball and is expected to host numerous of events and conventions.

• Major Construction Effort Continues Around McCormick Place [Curbed Chicago]
• Construction Coming Along on Three New South Loop Towers [Curbed Chicago]
• South Loop archives [Curbed Chicago]