WALSH 9/14/07 9:59 AM Page 161
THE LEGACY AT MILLENNIUM PARK
General contractor Walsh Construction is
building the 72-story Legacy at Millennium
Park, which will combine luxury condomini-
ums with retail and academic spaces.
Building a ‘Green’ Legacy
Despite a small and challenging site, Walsh Construction is on schedule to deliver a new condominium
tower in downtown Chicago – The Legacy at Millennium Park – which includes green features.
By Joanna Miller
T he Legacy at Millennium Park, a $225 million proj-
ect in Chicago, will combine luxury condominiums
with retail and academic spaces. General contractor
Walsh Construction is building the 72-story tower, which is
scheduled to be completed in summer 2010. The first resi-
dents will take occupancy in September 2009.
Located in the city’s Jewelers Row district, the facades of
three existing buildings will be preserved. The site – which
faces Wabash Street, one block west of Michigan Avenue –
itself presents some challenges, says Senior Project Man-
ager Jay Butler. Immediately to the south is the School of
the Art Institute and immediately to the north is a land-
mark building designed by Louis Sullivan.
To the east is a small alley, which also serves office build-
ings on Michigan Avenue, and to the west are the Chicago
Transit Authority’s (CTA) elevated train tracks, as well as
the existing building facades, which are being retained in
place by means of a temporary support structure located
outside the building footprint
“That is the main challenge to this building - construct-
ing the building inside of that small area surrounded by
the existing buildings,” Butler says.
This has required extensive planning, he says. “We have
to make sure our tower crane doesn’t go over the CTA
tracks and doesn’t interfere with other buildings,” he
explains. “We’ve planned carefully to take as much materi-
al as possible in on Wabash Street through the first level of
the existing façade. We relocated a column on that façade
to give us more room.
“Concrete will be delivered to a concrete pump placed
behind that opening,” he adds. “Almost all other materials
will enter the project through a second opening farther
south on the same existing façade. The
The Legacy at Millennium
personnel hoist will be located there” Park – Walsh Construction
Butler says the company has worked with www.walshgroup.com
the city of Chicago to get the proper lane Project cost: $225 million
Location: Chicago
and sidewalk closures to allow for these Project employees: 95
deliveries. It is also working with neigh- Services: General contractor
boring buildings to use the alley as much Jay Butler, senior project
manager: “This is the way
as possible without blocking access to high-rise residential buildings
other businesses. will be built in the future.”
OCTOBER 2007 ■ CONSTRUCTION TODAY ■ 161