Chicago's "Spire hole" finally filled

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.

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