| Marina City is a $36 million project built completed in 1967 on 3 acres of land adjacent to the Chicago River. The twin 'corn cob' structures were designed and built by Bertram Goldberg. Each of the round towers has an office building, about 450 condos, and a parking ramp that spirals upwards, holding 450 cars. Each apartment is pie shaped, giving every tenant a spectacular balcony-view of the city.Marina City is referred to as 'the city within a city,' as there is a 16-story office building inside; a grocery store, restaurants, gymnasium, swimming pool; a marina for 700 small craft, and a sculpture garden at the base of the towers, all of which overlook the Chicago River. The structure was built for 10 to 12 dollars per square foot.When the buildings were built, the 60-story pedal-ringed towers were the tallest concrete structures in the world. Now, though no longer claiming that distinction, Marina City is still an impressive place to live and to visit. As of November 1996, Marina City tenants have their very own restaurant/Night Club - The House of Blues. The House of Blues is one of Chicago's premier concert venues, hosting some of the worlds most famous blues, jazz, funk, rap, swing and rock musicians in the world. The upstairs music hall has a capacity of approximately 1,300 and has seen such acts as Aretha Franklin, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 10,000 Maniacs and the Insane Clown Posse. Adjacent to the HOB, which sits directly between the two corn cob towers, is the House of Blues Hotel.Marina City is easily seen from anywhere along the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. The attraction is also a destination on city Trolley tours. |
