Chicago’s skyline is one of the most impressive in the United States—skyscrapers and residential towers make a glittering backdrop to parkland and museum complexes reaching to the shores of Lake Michigan. Although it seems as if there could not be room for one more structure, a new condominium complex will soon be part of Chicago’s skyline.

The Legacy at Millennium Park will feature 355 luxury condominium residences, along with parking, retail facilities, and space for the School of the Art Institute. The 72-story tower contains one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units, and penthouses, with prices ranging from the low $400s to more than $4 million.

One of the most striking features of the building is the glass-wall architecture providing floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the skyline. Occupants will be just steps away from Chicago’s theaters, shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions, making The Legacy one of the prime residential complexes in the area.

Given Chicago’s harsh weather environment and the close proximity of other structures, including elevated train tracks, constructing The Legacy presented its own set of challenges. The contractor, Walsh Construction, wanted to create a closed working environment that would not only increase production, but would also ensure worker safety.

The contractor was especially interested in having a protection screen installed on the tower to protect workers from Chicago’s windy conditions, and to help contain heat in the cold, winter months. Since the Legacy’s design is curved on one side, configuring and anchoring the protection screen posed another challenge. The protection screen would also have to be reconfigured as the building progressed higher and the perimeter got smaller.

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