SOM-designed office tower planned near Fulton Market gateway

Another large office building is looking to take root in Chicago’s red-hot Fulton Market District, just north of the neighborhood’s gateway signage at the corner of Halsted and Fulton. Designed by Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and developed by New York’s Thor Equities, the glass-and-steel building will rise 18 stories, according to a zoning application recently filed with the City of Chicago.

In addition to office space, the 326-foot-tall building will contain 50 parking spaces and ground floor retail including a Rascal Flatts-affiliated country music restaurant that was part of an earlier adaptive reuse project Thor had planned at neighboring 820 W. Fulton Market.

With its acquisition of the former Isaacson & Stein Fish Company at 800 W. Fulton Market and the Mid nightclub at 306 N. Halsted Street, the East Coast developer was able to increase its plans to occupy the entire block bounded by Fulton, Halsted, Wayman, and Green streets.

According to architectural drawings uploaded by the Chicago City Clerk, the proposal will “step up” from Fulton Market Street as it rises via a series of southern setbacks. Meanwhile, the building’s east and west elevations are crisscrossed by metal bracing reminiscent of SOM’s iconic John Hancock Center.

Chicago City Clerk

Chicago City Clerk

Thor Equities has become increasingly active in Chicago’s Fulton Market District neighborhood. The New York-based firm is involved in the redevelopment of the nearby Columbus Meats building at 942 W. Fulton as well as a five-story office project under construction at 905 W. Fulton. The company also owns downtown’s historic Palmer House Hilton hotel.

The tower will join a growing number of large office proposals along Green Street including Shapack Partners’ project at 167 N. Green and Sterling Bay’s trio of buildings at 330, 333, and 360 N. Green. Thor’s newly filed plan will require a zoning change (C2-5 to DX-7) to move forward. A company representative declined to comment on the proposal.

• Big office building planned for Fulton Market District gateway [Crain’s]
• New York developer to transform West Loop meatpackers into new office [Curbed Chicago]
• Previous Fulton Market coverage [Curbed Chicago]