Spire hole fades into Chicago history

The official groundbreaking for the 400 N. Lake Shore skyscrapers took place Monday, but it's hardly the start of the project.

The big picture: Construction crews have been underground for six months, filling the biggest human-made hole in Chicago history.

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Flashback: The Spire is one of the most famous Chicago buildings that never was. In 2007, construction started on architect Santiago Calatrava's 150-floor skyscraper. The plan called for a sleek, twisting, modernist design.

Yes, but: Funding dried up due to the 2008 recession, and the building was scrapped, leaving a 76-foot-deep hole just north of the Chicago River and just west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Driving the news: In 2016, developer Related Midwest took control of the property. Last year, it announced plans for two residential towers, both over 70 stories, on the site.

• The towers will feature 1,100-plus condos and more than 600 rental units.

The elevator shafts for the first tower. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios

The intrigue: You'd think having an existing hole for the foundation of a skyscraper would be a leg up, but according to Related Midwest, the Spire hole is a huge challenge.

• The ongoing construction was preceded by at least nine months of design and engineering, which took into account whether to build in the existing hole or around it.
• The hole is expected to be filled by August.

What they're saying: "It's the chance of a lifetime," Related Midwest's vice president of development Nick Millot tells Axios.

• "It's a chance to take something that was a bit of a blemish during the Great Recession and turn it around and pronounce our skyline to the rest of the world."

Zoom in: The development will refurbish the riverfront land, which has been vacant up to this date.

• The Park District will continue to develop nearby DuSable Park.

Rendering of the 400 Lake Shore towers. Courtesy of Related Midwest

What's next: The first tower should be finished in early 2027. Upon completion, it will be the 13th-tallest building in Chicago. The entire project is expected to cost around $1 billion.