Dublin headquartered Shelbourne Development Group, has unveiled its plans for what will become the tallest building in North America, overtaking Chicago's Sears Tower.

The Chicago Spire, when completed in 2011, will stand at just over 600 meters and is designed by world renowned Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.

It will be located on a site at the junction of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.

“The city of Chicago has enthusiastically embraced Mr. Calatrava’s vision, and we are both thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to add another architectural icon to the city’s skyline,” said Garrett Kelleher, executive chairman of Shelbourne Development Ltd. & the Shelbourne Development Group, Inc.  “The Chicago Spire will be the world’s most celebrated address.” 

The Spire will contain almost 2,000 apartments ranging from 50 square meters to 950 square meters. The price range will go from $750,000 to $40m.

Work has already commenced on the extensive foundations at the site which involves drilling over 30 meters down into bedrock.

The Chicago Spire, designed by a development team with experience in constructing some of the most prominent properties in the world, will provide a lifestyle, according to Shelbourne "unsurpassed by any other distinguished residence in the United States or abroad."  Located at 400 North Lake Shore Drive, where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan, the 2,000-foot tall elegantly twisting tower will house 1,200 unique residences with the finest amenities available anywhere in the world. 

The Chicago Spire extends Santiago Calatrava’s artistic vision to create a modern and technologically advanced residential experience.  Among its many features, The Chicago Spire will include a spectacular four-story transparent glass lobby, "unparalleled" views from all residences, a six-story underground resident parking garage for 1,350 cars, and a one-acre landscaped public plaza.

The building will feature several innovations in engineering, including the world’s longest elevator run, a steel perimeter and concrete core.  Also, The Chicago Spire will be engineered to meet the "gold standard" of LEED certification, which dictates among other things that rainwater be recycled for landscaping treatments, river water be used for cooling and special glass be included to protect migratory birds. Shelbourne is currently receiving bids for the caissons, which are part of The Chicago Spire’s support structure.

The Chicago sales center will be located in the NBC Tower, which overlooks The Chicago Spire site.  The sales effort is being led by United Kingdom-based Savills, Plc. and is launching with a global marketing campaign. 

Garrett Kelleher has worked in property development both in the US and Ireland / Europe for over 20 years.
 
Kelleher set up Shelbourne Development Group in 1987s and focused on loft conversions in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, he has completed significant re-development projects across the globe. He continues to source unique real estate opportunities and deliver distinctive properties in established and emerging markets. He holds extensive personal real estate and business interests in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, France and the US. He is also a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Organizing Committee, a group dedicated to bringing the 2016 Olympic Summer Games to Chicago.