Helmut Jahn skyscraper reshapes South Michigan Avenue

Forget about the Bears stadium ; a new luxury apartment tower designed by Helmut Jahn is already redefining the South Loop.

Driving the news: The 73-story 1000M building, at 1000 S. Michigan Ave., hosted its grand opening last week to celebrate the first residents moving in.

The intrigue: Jahn died in 2021 in a bicycle/automobile collision , but he had already started work on 1000M.

• The esteemed architect designed several notable Chicago projects, including the Thompson Center and the neon-lighted walkway in Terminal 1 at O'Hare Airport.

The vibe: The tower features 738 apartments.

• Studios are going for $2,080 a month, while one bedrooms top out at $3,100. It will cost you $16,000 for a four-bedroom penthouse.
• 1000M's biggest selling point is over 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, which the developer says is the most of any building in Chicago.
• Amenities include a health club, a basketball court, an indoor and outdoor pool, a cocktail lounge, and several floors of social spaces and outdoor terraces.

What they're saying: "The curving facade and building height optimize views of the city, park, and Museum Campus," Philip Castillo, the managing director of Jahn's architecture firm, said in a press release.

• "1000M really is designed to celebrate Chicago's distinct beauty and contribute to the city's architectural legacy."

The bottom line: As the debate over a new Bears stadium rages on, plus the possibility of two mega-developments in the area, this sleek tower is just the beginning of what could be a massive reshaping of the South Michigan Avenue corridor.

What's next: The city's highest residential observation deck. This fall, the building will finish work on an open-air terrace on the 73rd floor, complete with a lounge and views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline.