Vista, The 3rd Largest Building In Chicago, Is Officially Under Construction

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 7, 2016 6:50PM

The impossibly posh and pricey units that will make up Vista Tower are still a way's off, but the project itself—what will be Chicago's third largest building—is officially out of the preliminary stages. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others broke ground on the Jeanne Gang-designed riverside skyscraper on Wednesday. He was joined by Gang, along with Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) and representatives from the Vista development firm, the heavily Rahm-contributing Magellan Development.

"The Vista Tower will not only enhance our city’s great skyline, but it will stand strong as a testament to Chicago’s status as a global destination for investment, commerce and tourism,” Emanuel said in a statement. “This multi-year project will create thousands of jobs and bring many opportunities for Chicagoans everywhere. And breaking ground on this project today shows our commitment to collaboration, and doubling down on every investment to benefit every neighborhood in the City of Chicago."

Construction for the project was announced in July. The tower structure is expected to be completed by Jan. 2019; and the condos—jaw-droppingly luxe and getting gobbled up faster than you can say "international moneyed class"—are projected to be ready by April 2020.

“I believe that Vista will be a powerful beacon in Chicago, changing the way people view and think about skyscrapers and their relationship to the waterfront,” Gang said in a statement. “While Vista is unique in Chicago’s skyline, this building will create a powerful dialogue with the city and the lake, providing a much-needed connection between Lakeshore East and downtown Chicago.”

Notable past Gang designs include Aqua and the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.