About Marina City
Architect Bertrand Goldberg’s revolutionary “city within a city” along the main branch of the Chicago River.
Pioneering Modern Downtown Living
Commissioned in 1959 and completed in the 1960s, Marina City was conceived to reverse suburban flight and revitalize downtown Chicago. Goldberg designed a fully integrated mixed-use complex where city dwellers could live, park, shop, work, and play without leaving home.
At its completion, Marina City stood as both the tallest residential building in the world and the tallest reinforced concrete structure on the planet. Its organic, scalloped silhouette and open-air helical parking decks remain among the most recognizable forms in 20th-century American architecture.
Architectural Anatomy
The complex is anchored by two cylindrical 65-story towers rising above a two-story, 300,000-square-foot commercial platform:
- Floors 1–19: Continuous spiraling parking ramps with open-air panoramic views.
- Floor 20: Laundry, tenant storage, and maintenance infrastructure.
- Floors 21–60: 40 stories of pie-shaped condominium residences with private cantilevered balconies.
- Rooftop: Observation deck and a three-story mechanical penthouse.
Visiting & Exploring
While residential floors are strictly private, the complex remains an energetic public destination. Visitors can explore a vibrant mix of dining, entertainment, hospitality, and riverfront leisure: