7 South Dearborn
Encyclopedia
7 South Dearborn was a planned skyscraper in Chicago
, United States
. It would have been 2000 feet (609.6 m) high and at the intersection of Madison and Dearborn.
. This building housed the offices of the Chicago Tribune
until 1925, when the Tribune Tower
was built. The building remained until 1999, when European-American Realty acquired the property and demolished it in preparations for 7 South Dearborn.
s bring the total to 112 floors.
In October 1999, Donald Trump
offered to join European-American Realty in the project. They declined, so Trump began looking for other sites to invest in Chicago. Later, his efforts would culminate in the construction of Trump Tower Chicago
, which used a design that borrowed much from 7 South Dearborn.
After being approved, Scott Toberman, CEO of European-American, faced difficulties in obtaining financing for the construction. In April 2000, after several failed financing attempts, the media companies backing the antenna aspect of the proposal backed out. European-American then defaulted on payment of a $22 million mortgage on the land, forcing Toberman to return the land deed to Banque Worms Capital Corp, a representative of his lender.
. This building was completed in 2005.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It would have been 2000 feet (609.6 m) high and at the intersection of Madison and Dearborn.
Initial Plans
Plans for the 112-story building were announced in 1999 by Scott Toberman of European-American Realty. This would have been the tallest in Chicago at 1,567 feet (478m), surpassing the Willis Tower by 116 feet (35.4 m). It would also have taken the title for world's tallest building, being 84 feet (25.6 m) taller than the Petronas Towers. A set of three 433 feet (132 m) broadcast antennas (not included in the official height) would have brought the total height of the structure to 2000 feet (609.6 m).The Site
The building took the site of the First Federal Building, a 240 feet (73.2 m), 18-story Classical office building designed in 1902 by Holabird & RocheHolabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
. This building housed the offices of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
until 1925, when the Tribune Tower
Tribune Tower
The Tribune Tower is a neo-Gothic building located at 435 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Company. WGN Radio also broadcasts from the building, with ground-level studios overlooking nearby Pioneer Court and Michigan Avenue. CNN's...
was built. The building remained until 1999, when European-American Realty acquired the property and demolished it in preparations for 7 South Dearborn.
Uses and Size
7 South Dearborn would have been mixed-use, with 11 stories of retail and parking at the base, providing 800 spaces of parking, followed by 765000 sq ft (71,070.8 m²). of office space on 32 floors, then 360 residential units on 43 floors, topping out with 90600 feet (27,614.9 m) of communications facilities on 13 floors. 4 floors of basement and 9 mechanical floorMechanical floor
A mechanical floor, mechanical penthouse, or mechanical level is a storey of a high-rise building that is dedicated to mechanical and electronics equipment. "Mechanical" is the most commonly used term, but words such as utility, technical, service, and plant are also used...
s bring the total to 112 floors.
Engineering
This building represented a major departure from convention by having a big height with small floorplates. This was made possible by a stayed-mast structural system in which columns around the perimeter ("stays") are linked radially to the core by multi-story trusses ("spreaders") at two points along the tower's shaft. The residential and communications floors would have been cantilevered out from the central core, to avoid perimeter columns and maximize views.History
In September 1999, the Chicago City Council approved the project.In October 1999, Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
offered to join European-American Realty in the project. They declined, so Trump began looking for other sites to invest in Chicago. Later, his efforts would culminate in the construction of Trump Tower Chicago
Trump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)
The Trump International Hotel and Tower, also known as Trump Tower Chicago and locally as the Trump Tower, is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building, named after real estate developer Donald Trump, was designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill...
, which used a design that borrowed much from 7 South Dearborn.
After being approved, Scott Toberman, CEO of European-American, faced difficulties in obtaining financing for the construction. In April 2000, after several failed financing attempts, the media companies backing the antenna aspect of the proposal backed out. European-American then defaulted on payment of a $22 million mortgage on the land, forcing Toberman to return the land deed to Banque Worms Capital Corp, a representative of his lender.
Today
Later in 2000, several rumors circulated that the project would be revived, due to activity on the project site and several developers showing interest. Nothing ever came of it, and several years later, Hines Interests Ltd announced plans for a much more modest, 571 feet (174 m) building on the site called One South DearbornOne South Dearborn
One South Dearborn is a 571 ft tall skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed from 2003 to 2005 and has 39 floors. DeStefano Keating Partners designed the building, which is the 47th tallest in Chicago. The current anchor tenant is Sidley Austin LLP, which moved into One South...
. This building was completed in 2005.