The wolves tower over the Chicago River in a sustainable mega-development.
Wolf Point is a mega-development in the modern Near North Side, Loop, and Near West Side community districts of Chicago.
In this article, I will show everything about the 3 Wolf Point towers.
But first, here's the history of this place:
History of Wolf Point
Early traders and explorers would leave here to travel south toward the Chicago portage. A Potawatomi Indian who used to reside at the original Wolf Point on the west bank of the confluence gave the location its name. His name, Mo-ah-way, means "wolf" in the native language. These days, any of the three banks can be referred to as "Wolf Point."
It is historically significant - located about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Lake Michigan - as the location of Chicago's first three taverns, its first hotel, Sauganash Hotel, its first ferry, its first drug store, its first church, its first theater company, and the first bridges across the Chicago River.
The Wolf Point property was owned by businessman Marshall Field until it was sold to Democratic Party figure and Kennedy family patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy in the 1940s.
In 1998, the Kennedys sold most of the lot to Vornado Realty Trust in 1998 as part of a larger $625 million transaction, the family retained their interest in the 4 acres of Wolf Point land.
And in 2007, the Kennedys started planning the Wolf Point megadevelopment together with investment firms and union construction labor.
The Wolf Point mega-development consists of two luxury residential towers and the Salesforce Tower Chicago.
This is at the heart of the Chicago Riverwalk, a scenic waterfront path that extends from Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan to Lake Street.
Now let's proceed to the 3 Wolf Point towers:
3 Wolf Point Towers
Wolf Point West
The Chicago River's edge now has the pinnacle of luxury apartment living thanks to Wolf Point West.
There are 509 apartments in the 51-story skyscraper, with a variety of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units.
It also has 19,949 square feet of retail space.
The building offers unmatched amenities including an outdoor pool and sundeck, direct access to the river walk, a state-of-the-art top-floor fitness center, and game room, a top-floor outdoor terrace with fire pits, an indoor-outdoor dog lounge, and unparalleled views of the city, river, and lakefront in all directions.
It is situated in River North's busy entertainment district and is only a few steps from the central business district.
The amenity spaces feature an eclectic blend of mid-century design, signature works of art, and classic furnishings.
From the outside, the architecture is also superb. A series of layered planes form the building’s massing. Its slender, elegant profile is anchored on the riverbank by lush landscaping; its parking garage is concealed below grade. Inset balconies and careful composition of vision and opaque glass—as well as three-dimensional, horizontal bands of aluminum tubes—lend the façade texture and interest.
Completed in 2016, this tower is LEED Silver certified - committed to reduced use of natural resources.
Wolf Point East
Above a four-acre riverfront park, Wolf Point East is situated at the junction of River North, Fulton Market, and the Loop.
Here residents enjoy a refined lifestyle. Each of its 700 luxury residential units has spacious floor plans and modern amenities.
It also provides 3,500 square feet of retail space. It was completed in 2020 with LEED Silver Certification.
Its architecture features a series of offset planes that gently meet the ground, opening to a lush green public park and the Riverwalk.
Its amenities include an indoor pool with a south-facing outdoor terrace, an expansive fitness studio, a coworking lounge, light-filled gathering spaces, a café, pet exercise, and grooming facilities, and an underground, four-level private car park.
The tower is surrounded by an expansive public park with over two acres of native trees, flowers, and grasses. It includes a 1,000-foot extension of the Chicago Riverwalk.
Salesforce Tower (Wolf Point South)
The last phase of the Wolf Point mega-development is Salesforce Tower (Wolf Point South), completed in April 2022.
The 60-story, 1.2 million-square-foot office tower acts as the center of Chicago's most prestigious urban mixed-use setting.
Its carefully planned 25,000-square-foot floor plates with floor-to-ceiling glass and column-free corners offer smart workspaces.
Just above the river, amenities include a club-quality fitness center with locker rooms and showers, a conference center with multiple configurations and capacity sizes, and a tenant lounge.
There’s also approximately 25,000 square feet of commercial retail space, including a variety of food and beverage concepts.
Salesforce Tower Chicago will reflect all of Hines’ global best practices resulting in the most advanced office building in Chicago.
Conclusion
Wolf Point offers optimum convenience and connectivity for people living in Chicago. Residents can enjoy easy access to Chicago’s popular neighborhoods, major transit routes, and river-related activities. The two luxury residential towers and Salesforce Tower Chicago are surrounded by a four-acre urban park and 1,000 feet of riverwalk cantilevered over the Chicago River. It is a modern landmark that celebrates the best of the Windy City.
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