Skybridge

Skybridge was the winner of the American Institute of Architects’ 2003 Distinguished Building Award. The principal designer of this 39-story modernist high-rise was Ralph Johnson of Perkins and Will. You may recognize Johnson’s work in notable Chicago landmarks such as the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park and the International Terminal of O’Hare Airport. His ingenuity and vision for Skybridge is outwardly impressive and internally luxurious.

Skybridge is located at 737 W. Washington in the West Loop. Unlike many of its neighbors, Skybridge soars tall, presenting a new edge on the usual architecture found west of downtown. Huge see-through openings and a notch design at the 25th floor make this massive structure seem slimmer than it actually is. Instead of a wide, bulky building it looks like two narrow towers. This twin-structure effect increases the amount of light residences within Skybridge receive and essentially creates 8 exposures per floor, instead of the traditional four. A giant cantilever trellis tops off the Skybridge, accenting the building’s modernist style and interrupting its verticality to keep the eye stationed appropriately on the glass-windowed structure.

Construction of the Skybridge was completed in late 2002. It has 237 residential units with a number of different floor plans to choose from. The condos have one to three bedrooms and range between 929 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. These homes enjoy amazing wraparound views and an assortment of upgrades for various tiers.

The standard unit features either a black or white kitchen appliance package (GE 24.6 cubic-foot, side-by-side refrigerator with filtered water and ice dispenser in the door, 30” electric oven, Profile series 30” 4-burner electric cooktop, Triton Profile dishwasher, Profile microwave, ½ HP garbage disposal, and a full-size or side-by-size washer and dryer). The cabinetry is maple, oak, laminate or Thermofoil with 41” upper cabinets in the kitchen and 36” vanities in the bathrooms. The typical condo at Skybridge is outfitted with polished chrome Grohe faucets, Americast 33” double-bowl kitchen sink, American Standard toilets and sinks, 5.5’ acrylic guest tub and 6’ acrylic master Whirlpool. The doors are solidcore with polished chrome hardware. Some plans also have vent-less gas fireplaces.

Several of the residences at Skybridge have 9.5’ ceiling heights (with loft-style partial interior walls in certain units) and finished 8’ drywall in the bathrooms. Upgraded layouts are furnished with white Corian countertops in the kitchen, cultured marble counters in the bathrooms, 12x12 ceramic tile flooring in both the kitchen and baths, and 6x6 ceramic tile surrounds for showers and baths. There is track lighting in the living rooms, dining rooms and master bedrooms, plus designer sconces in the bathrooms.

High-end units at Skybridge offer amazing views from floor-to-ceiling windows and ultra-luxurious master suites and upgraded finishes throughout. A number of these condos have pre-finished, engineered natural oak wood flooring, marble floors and countertops in the master bathrooms, and granite counters in the kitchen.

Skybridge is equipped with high-speed Internet access, digital television (including sports channels and foreign programming), and multi-line telephone systems are available. There is an exercise room in the building, which enjoys 24-hour doorman service, and a parking garage makes for convenient vehicle storage. The condo tower has a great West Loop location just a three blocks from the heart of Greektown with easy access to I-90/94.