Marina City, in 1959, is a thirty-six-million- dollar project built on only three acres of land in the heart of Chicago's Loop. A dramatic landmark in the Chicago skyline, it culminated thirty years of thought and development for Goldberg. Each of the twin, sixty-story towers had four hundred and fifty apartments in its upper two-thirds, with the lower third a continuous parking ramp that spirals upwards, accommodating four hundred and fifty automobiles. Since the residential level starts at the twenty-first story, magnificent views of the city are enjoyed from every apartment. The towers are as popular with Chicagoans as the 'corn on the cob' they are caricatured as in Goldberg's office.

"For many years Goldberg had felt there were advantages in the use of circular forms: the aerodynamic properties in a cylindrical high-rise structure; the structural equidistance from the center, and therefore uniform function of all parts; the absence of special corner conditions; and the creation of centrifugal or 'kinetic' spaces resulting from non-parallel walls. The towers derive much of their rigidity from the 35-foot-diameter cylindrical core that houses each building's services and utilities like a vertical street. Service spaces in apartments were grouped toward this core, giving living areas the light and view. The construction of the core preceded that of the floors, providing a rising foundation for the erection crane, thereby saving many working days. The project is all-electric, with heat and hot water individually produced in each apartment.

"The other elements of the 'city within a city' are a sixteen-story (House of Blues Hotel); a one-thousand-seven-hundred-and-fifty-seat theater and a seven-hundred-seat auditorium; stores, restaurants, bowling alleys; a marina for seven hundred small craft; and a sculpture garden at the base of the towers—all overlooking the Chicago River. Built for an economical ten to twelve dollars a square foot, Marina City is Goldberg's response to the urgencies of urban redevelopment...."

"When built, this development's two audacious, 60-story, petal-ringed towers were the tallest residential buildings and tallest concrete structures in the world. Twenty stories of parking space are provided on the lower levels of the towers, while space for offices, shops, and a marina are supplied in a complex of facilities nearby."

Directions

Coming from the north on I-90 (Kennedy) Take I-90 east and exit Ohio Street which is one-way going east. Drive seven blocks to State Street, turn right and drive four blocks south. Marina Towers is on the right just past Kinzie Street.

Coming from the west on I-290 (Eisenhower) Take I-290 east into the city. I-290 becomes Congress Parkway, turn left on State Street and drive nine blocks north, crossing the bridge. Marina Towers is on the left.

Coming from the south on I-55 (Stevenson) Take I-55 north to Lake Shore Drive. Take Lake Shore Drive north and exit Randolph Street going west. Drive four blocks to State Street, turn right and drive three blocks north, crossing the bridge. Marina Towers is on the left immediately over the bridge.

Coming from the south on I-94 (Dan Ryan) Take I-94 west and exit Ohio Street which is one-way going east. Drive seven blocks to State Street, turn right and drive four blocks south. Marina Towers is on the right just past Kinzie Street.

Coming from the north on Lake Shore Drive Take Lake Shore Drive south and exit Grand Avenue going west. Drive seven blocks to State Street, turn left and drive four blocks south. Marina Towers is on the right just past Kinzie Street.

Coming from the south on Lake Shore Drive Take Lake Shore Drive north and exit Randolph Street going west. Drive four blocks to State Street, turn right and drive three blocks north, crossing the bridge. Marina Towers is on the left immediately over the bridge.