Marina City, River North, Chicago

Marina City was built in 1962 on just 3 acres of land and has become a favorite Chicago landmark because of it’s “corn cob” towers. From 1962 – 1964 these 60 foot story towers were the tallest concrete structures in the world. Each tower consists of 450 condos on the top 2/3rds and 450 parking spots on the bottom 1/3rd. Each condo in the towers is pie shaped to allow for a magnificent balcony view of the city from each unit.

Bertram Goldberg designed and built the towers. Goldberg, who passed away in 1997, was an advocate for circular structures as a way to better serve activity and to create community. He also believed that a circular shape provides more efficient wind resistance, more direct mechanical distribution and more usable interior square footage.

Marina City is a “city within the city”. It includes apartments, parking ramps, an office building, a theater, the House of Blues nightclub, a grocery store, restaurants, a bowling alley, a gym, a swimming pool, a skating rink and a 700 slip marina. These amenities, along with a sculpture garden at the foot of each tower, all overlook the Chicago River.

I walk past Marina City every day on my commute and every day I smile at their Jetsonesque design. I fully expect to one day walk by and see a Jetsons car flying out of an apartment on the 53rd floor.

See Also:
» Marina Towers as Sun Sets, by Rion

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