If you’ve spent any time in Chicago, you know the skyline never sits still. Cranes are as common as coffee shops, and every few months, another shiny tower muscles its way into the view. But 2025? It’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting years yet for new construction in the city—where design, sustainability, and smart living are finally sharing the same foundation.
Whether you’re renting, buying, or just rubbernecking from Lake Shore Drive, these are the Chicago new construction buildings worth keeping your eye on this year.
The Year of the Glass Giants: What’s Rising in 2025
Let’s start with the obvious: 2025 is about big statements. Developers aren’t just building apartments—they’re building experiences.
1. 1000M: The Comeback Kid
- Location: 1000 S. Michigan Ave, South Loop
- Type: Luxury condos and apartments
- Expected Completion: Early 2025
- Price Range: From $700K to over $3 million
After a few pandemic pauses, 1000M is finally nearing completion—and it’s living up to the hype. Designed by Helmut Jahn (a name Chicago architecture nerds practically worship), this glassy, wave-like tower will feature wellness-centered amenities, a sky terrace with lake views, and interior finishes that could make even Gold Coast buyers reconsider their ZIP code.
Why It Matters:
1000M is redefining South Loop living—mixing high-end design with the walkability and culture of Grant Park.
2. The Reed at Southbank
- Location: 234 W. Polk St.
- Type: Mixed-use condo and rental building
- Expected Completion: Late 2025
- Price Range: Condos from $400K
If you haven’t explored Southbank Park yet, picture it as the South Loop’s answer to Riverwalk—green, scenic, and quickly becoming the new “it” address. The Reed brings industrial-style interiors, river views, and a focus on outdoor connection—think open terraces and a private riverwalk.
Insider’s Note:
Developers are betting that riverfront living south of Congress is the next big thing—and they’re probably right.
3. The Row Fulton Market
- Location: 164 N. Peoria St.
- Type: Luxury rental
- Expected Completion: Spring 2025
- Starting Rent: Around $3,200 for a one-bedroom
If you’ve ever tried to get a dinner reservation in Fulton Market, you know it’s not for the budget-conscious. The Row follows suit with dramatic interiors, a rooftop pool overlooking the skyline, and interiors by Morris Adjmi Architects (the same team behind some of New York’s hottest residences).
What Makes It Special:
It’s the first fully electric high-rise rental in the neighborhood—yes, even your stovetop runs on sustainability.
4. One Chicago (Phase II)
- Location: 1 W. Chicago Ave
- Type: Mixed-use luxury tower
- Expected Completion: Mid-2025
The first phase set new records for luxury apartment living—Whole Foods downstairs, sky-level pool upstairs. The second phase adds more residential units, a members-only wellness club, and new retail curated for the Gold Coast crowd.
Why You’ll Hear About It:
Because One Chicago has become shorthand for “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
5. The Obama Presidential Center Area Developments
- Location: Jackson Park, Woodlawn
- Type: Residential + Community Revitalization
- Expected Completion: Ongoing through 2025
Even if you can’t score a spot inside the Center itself, the surrounding neighborhood is seeing major investment—from mid-rise apartment projects to local business renovations. Expect rents to climb but also community-focused growth, with new affordable housing projects blending into the mix.
Local Angle:
Developers are talking “equity in expansion,” but time will tell how balanced it really becomes.
Emerging Trends: What’s Defining Chicago’s 2025 Construction Boom
Smart Design Meets Smart Tech
New buildings are embracing app-controlled everything—from thermostats to package lockers. Expect “tech-first leasing” and touchless amenities to become the standard.
The Green Building Wave
LEED Platinum certifications are the new brag. Many 2025 projects integrate solar energy, green rooftops, and EV-ready parking as non-negotiables.
Renters Want More Than a Roof
Developers are shifting focus from square footage to lifestyle. Think:
- Pet spas
- Work-from-home lounges
- Soundproof content rooms (yes, for TikTok creators)
- Private chef kitchens for hosting
Chicago’s renters aren’t just leasing apartments—they’re leasing community.
Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025
Fulton Market
Still the golden child of development. Expect more glass, higher prices, and even more rooftop pools per square mile than anywhere in the Midwest.
South Loop
Affordable luxury meets accessibility. The area continues to evolve from “transitional” to “destination.”
River West & West Loop Gate
Smaller boutique projects are popping up, appealing to digital nomads and hybrid workers who don’t need 2,000 square feet but crave design and location.
Pricing Outlook: What Renters and Buyers Can Expect
- Luxury Rentals: $3,000–$5,500/month
- Mid-Tier Rentals: $2,000–$3,000/month
- Condos: $400K–$1.2M (median new-build pricing)
Yes, it’s pricey—but with construction costs and interest rates stabilizing, 2025 might actually be the moment to jump in before the next wave of price surges.
Summary: Chicago’s Future is Under Construction
By the time we hit summer 2025, you’ll see a transformed skyline and more residential diversity than ever before. From high-design luxury in Fulton Market to community revitalization in Woodlawn, Chicago’s growth isn’t slowing—it’s simply evolving.
The city’s strength has always been in its layers. Steel, glass, grit, and ambition—and 2025 will add another shiny chapter to that story.
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