River North in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Marina City

Bertrand Goldberg Associates, architect; Severud-Elstad-Krueger, engineer; 1960-1967

— Chicago Landmark —

Marina City Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn

1. Marina City Marker

Inscription. This "city within a city" was the first real estate development in Chicago to mix residential, commercial, and entertainment uses in a dense high-rise complex in the city's central area. It was designed by innovative architect Bertrand Goldberg as an impressive example of Expressionism, a significant style within the larger post-World War II Modern Movement. Commissioned by the Building Service Employees International Union, which wanted to encourage the revitalization of downtown Chicago, it exemplifies the complexity of post-war urban renewal.

Designated on February 10, 2016
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 41° 53.293′ N, 87° 37.697′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in River North. Marker is on State Street, 0.1 miles south of Kinzie Street. The marker is affixed to a post facing State Street on the eastern of Marina City's two "corn-cob" towers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 North State Street, Chicago IL 60654, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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walking distance of this marker. Trail Blazer (within shouting distance of this marker); Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); IBM Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago's First Movable Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bataan- Corregidor Memorial Bridge (about 400 feet away); South Water Street (about 400 feet away); Chicago Varnish Company Building (about 500 feet away); Viet Nam Memorial (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The building received landmark status in 2016, but photos of the area show that this marker was not added to the building until 2022 or 2023.

Regarding Marina City. Marina City was the tallest reinforced concrete structure in the world at the time of its completion. While the towers are the most prominent feature of the "city within a city," the office building and theater were part of Bertrand Goldberg's design; that building is now the Hotel Chicago and the theater is the House of Blues.

The curved towers are reflective of Goldberg's style, which was evident in many of his other buildings, including Prentice Hospital (on the Northwestern University Medical Center campus in the Streeterville

Photographed By Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

2. Marina City Marker

The House of Blues occupies a theater that was part of the original Marina City complex; behind it the Hotel Chicago was originally an office building when the complex opened in the 1960s.

neighborhood, about a mile from here; it was demolished in 2013); River City, an apartment complex along the Chicago River on the southern edge of downtown; and Hilliard Towers, on Chicago's south side.

Also see . . .
1. Chicago Architecture Center: Marina City.

Excerpt: "Forward-thinking architect Bertrand Goldberg was a student of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the influence of Mies’ Modernist principles can be seen in his work. But his own ideas of modular, prefabricated, curved forms are also highlighted in the design of Marina City. Goldberg believed that since no right angles exist in nature, none should exist in architecture. That belief is clearly at work in the 65-story residential towers’ design."

(Submitted on February 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Art Institute of Chicago: An Interview with Bertrand Goldberg. (Submitted on February 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed By Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

3. Marina City

Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023

4. Marina City

A view of the Marina City towers from the northwest, 25 stories up; 35 East Wacker Drive (also known as the Jewelers Building) is in the distance between the two towers.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, January 31, 2024

5. Marina City

From across the Chicago River to the south.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on October 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on February 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.