About Block 37

About

Bordered by State, Randolph, Dearborn and Washington streets, Block 37 encompasses an entire city block in the heart of Chicago’s downtown Loop. Block 37 features an eclectic mix of shopping, dining and entertainment within a five-story atrium.

The center has direct access to Chicago’s Pedway as well as the CTA Red Line and Blue Line. A luxury residential component and hotel are also in the early planning stages.

History

Taking its name from one of the original 58 city blocks established in 1830, Block 37 was there at Chicago's birth. Today it stands as an iconic symbol of Chicago's exciting future.

Located at State, Randolph, Dearborn and Washington streets in the center of downtown, Block 37 is a magnificent reflection of the city's rich architectural heritage and features an unparalleled fusion of contemporary experiences.

For nearly a century, Block 37 was at the forefront of every major historic market trend. Following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the city's early office buildings, the first skyscrapers of the 1890s, and the supermarkets of the 1930s were all built on this site.

Over the years Block 37 has weathered its share of ups and downs, suffering deterioration and neglect during World War II, and finally succumbing to Chicagoans' migration to the suburbs in the 50s, and the redevelopment of North Michigan Avenue in the 70s. Consequently, the city decided to totally level the buildings on the block in 1989.

Numerous redevelopment plans stalled and the site remained vacant for the next 20 years. It was during this time the abandoned city block was put to temporary use as a summer outdoor art studio for Chicago Public School students. The nationally-recognized and award-winning initiative, under the direction of Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley, was named gallery37 in honor of the original Block 37.

Today, this once-blighted site shines again as it did years ago. Featuring signature shopping, dining and entertainment in a five-story atrium setting with direct access to the Pedway and CTA subway system, Block 37 proudly takes its place as Chicago's newest downtown landmark.

Follow our LEED™

To follow Mayor Richard M. Daley’s vision of making Chicago “America’s Greenest City”, Block 37 has submitted an approved plan as part of the pilot program for the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) for Neighborhood Development.

The LEED™ for Neighborhood Development Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.

Block 37 reclaimed a long-vacant site for urban renewal. The center stacks all parking below ground and was built with a number of local materials. The steel and concrete were both sourced within 500 miles of the site. The steel came from sources in Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The majority of the concrete was manufactured in Chicago, less than 5 miles from the site. A unique construction method, top/down construction, allowed the project to be built up and down from the ground floor simultaneously, reducing sedimentation from the site. And, once complete, the center will have a green roof.

About CB Richard Ellis  

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2008 revenue). The Company has more than 30,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CB Richard Ellis offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. CB Richard Ellis has been named a BusinessWeek 50 “best in class” company three years in a row and a Fortune 100 fastest growing company two years in a row. Please visit our Web site at www.CBRE.com.