Shortened Streeterville hotel project cleared for takeoff

With Chicago’s former Museum of Contemporary Art building at 237 E. Ontario completely demolished and out of the picture, the city has granted a new construction permit for its replacement: an 18-story limited-service hotel. Dubbed the “Aloft Mag Mile,” the Streeterville project comes from developer Tishman Realty Corporation and features an alley-accessed porte-cochere that has proved controversial among some of the project’s immediate neighbors.

Tishman and architect Valerio Dewalt Train Associates first presented plans for a taller, 24-story project at this site back in December of 2015. Since that time, the proposed hotel’s height was chopped down to the aforementioned 18 stories with room count falling from 395 to 336.

Valerio Dewalt Train Associates/Skyscraperpage user Spyguy

Several months ago, Skyscraperpage.com user Spyguy shared what were believed to be updated—albeit roughly drawn—renderings showing a revised Aloft Mag Mile. Consistent with the project’s downsized 18-story height, the tweaked design trades its black grid facade treatment and considerable amount of glass for what appears to be a whole lot of gray panelling.

Tishman had anticipated an 18-month construction timeline for the 24-story iteration of the project, so it’s probably safe to assume that the downsized version will move along quicker. The Aloft Mag Mile will join the narrow 21-story Hotel EMC2 which is slated to open directly across the street later this month.

• New construction permit at 243 E. Ontario Street [Chicago Cityscape]
• Chicago’s old Museum of Contemporary Art building is nearly gone [Curbed Chicago]
• Glassy Hotel Looking to Join Streeterville Streetscape [Curbed Chicago]