Chicago's infamous Spire hole gets filled
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Drone footage of the 400 Lake Shore construction site. Photo: Courtesy of Related Midwest
The second most infamous hole in Chicago is being filled.
The big picture: Construction on the foundation of the new 400 Lake Shore skyscraper has begun and 470,000 gallons of concrete have been poured into the old Spire hole.
Context: In 2007, construction started on The Spire, a thrilling new 150-floor skyscraper poised to join Chicago's world-renowned skyline.
Yes, but: Funding dried up and the building never materialized, leaving a 76-foot-deep hole that sat dormant for 15 years.
- It was announced last year that two new towers would finally be built on that location.
By the numbers: Last Thursday, 250 trucks delivered 9 million pounds of concrete to the site to begin setting the foundation of the new building.
- That's the same amount of concrete needed to fill a 9-mile-long sidewalk.
- Approximately 622,000 pounds of steel was also used in preparation for the concrete pour, which is the equivalent of about 150 automobiles.
What's next: The first 72-story tower should be finished in early 2027.
