Chicago’s high-rise architecture is undergoing notable shifts in both location and design, reflecting broader changes in the city’s urban development over the past two decades. Traditionally, tall buildings were largely concentrated within the downtown Loop area or along the lakefront, with few exceptions beyond these zones. However, recent projects now span diverse neighborhoods such as Fulton Market, Lincoln Park, Woodlawn, and the West Loop, illustrating a geographic expansion of high-rise construction.
One significant project underway is Phase 1 of the Woodlawn Central development near Jackson Park and the Obama Presidential Center. This phase includes two 14-story towers—a 104-unit apartment building and a 160-key hotel—sharing a three-story base on the west side of the Metra tracks between 63rd and 64th streets. Designed by Gensler, the towers feature glass and metal facades with faceted panels adding visual texture. The Chicago City Council approved the project in July 2023, with groundbreaking following shortly thereafter.
In Fulton Market, the firm Park Fowler Plus—successor to Brininstool + Lynch—has taken on the 18-story, 268-unit residential building at 214 N. Morgan. The design incorporates a vertically oriented C-shaped element wrapping the tower’s top, distinguishing it from neighboring structures, while adhering mostly to conventional layouts. This project received City Council approval late last year.
Further north, the 28-story 2800 N. Sheridan project in Lakeview is preparing to commence construction pending the demolition of a low-rise medical office building. Designed by Antunovich Associates, the 355-unit tower presents a faceted facade segmented into three parts facing Lincoln Park. It stands adjacent to architecturally significant landmarks including the Elks National Memorial Building and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Commonwealth Apartments, offering a contemporary interpretation with balconies along each segment’s west end.
In the area west of the old Cabrini-Green site and near Goose Island, bKL Architecture is developing 1415 N. Dayton, a 28-story residential tower with 340 units. The design follows the firm’s established motif of a tower elevated above a roof deck atop a lower podium. This iteration is relatively restrained compared to the firm’s previous projects, reflecting contextual considerations for the neighborhood. City Council approval was granted in May 2023.
The 7 W. Elm building in the Near North Side is under construction by Goettsch Partners. The L-shaped tower rises above a four-story base aligned with State Street, featuring a distinctive zigzagging glass facade and a base composed of oversized brick-like elements. The design aims to create an engaging streetscape with retail and restaurant spaces at ground levels. A tower crane permit was issued last month.
In the West Loop’s Fulton Market district, Archeo Design Studio is leading construction of the 33-story 410 N. Elizabeth, sited between Union Pacific and Metra rail tracks. The two-faced tower combines a bold metal grid with corner balconies on its south elevation and a glass-clad, subtly patterned north elevation. The Phase 1 tower includes 383 residential units, 77 designated as affordable. Groundbreaking took place in August 2023, and a tower crane is now operational. Plans for a second similar tower adjacent on the same block are being prepared.
Chicago’s historic relationship with tall buildings dates back to the late 19th century, when early commercial skyscrapers such as the Monadnock and Reliance established the city’s architectural reputation. Residential high-rises emerged more prominently in the early to mid-20th century, initially with conservative designs exemplified by Lake Shore Drive’s Gold Coast. The transformative impact of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s 860-880 North Lake Shore Drive, completed in 1952, blurred distinctions between residential and commercial towers.
Since Mies’ death in 1969, no single design philosophy has dominated Chicago’s skyline. While concrete structural systems remain prevalent in many new towers, facades now frequently incorporate glass, metal, and masonry to create more varied and visually engaging forms. Unlike the uniformity of earlier decades, the current generation of high-rises displays diverse architectural expressions without a clear unifying trend shaping the city’s vertical profile.