NEMA (Chicago): High-rise Residential Tower in the Central Station Neighborhood

NEMA (formerly 113 East Roosevelt) is a tall residential skyscraper in Chicago's Central Station neighborhood, designed by Rafael Viñoly. It contains hundreds of apartments and is the first phase of a multi-building development.

Overview

NEMA, also known by addresses and project names such as 1200 South Indiana and One Grant Park and formerly 113 East Roosevelt, is a high-rise residential skyscraper in Chicago. Located in the Central Station neighborhood of the Near South Side community area, the tower rises to 892 feet (271.9 m) and contains 792 residential units. The building is primarily residential and was conceived as the first phase of a larger, mixed residential development.

Design and features

The tower was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. Its massing and façade treatments reflect contemporary high-rise residential practice, with an emphasis on verticality, daylight access and city views. The project includes a range of residential unit types intended for urban renters, and the building provides shared amenity spaces typical of large rental developments.

Mixed-unit residential program supporting hundreds of apartments.
Shared amenities and service areas for residents (lobby, fitness, common spaces).
Street-level components oriented to the neighborhood context, including potential retail and public access elements.

Development and phased master plan

NEMA was conceived as the first element of a three-phase development. The master plan calls for a second, taller residential structure containing approximately 648 units, and a third phase of about 100 townhouses arranged around a landscaped public park. Together the phases are intended to introduce a mix of high-rise and low-rise housing and add open space to the Central Station area.

History and urban context

The site sits within Central Station, a district that has seen sustained redevelopment since the late 20th century as Chicago expanded residential construction south of the Loop. NEMA contributes to this transformation by increasing the local housing supply and altering the skyline on the city’s lakefront approach. Its various project names reflect marketing and planning stages common to major urban developments.

Importance and notable facts

NEMA is notable for its scale and for being one of the larger rental towers added to Chicago in recent decades. As a high-rise residential building designed by a prominent architect, it illustrates contemporary trends in urban living: dense vertical housing, amenity-driven design, and master-planned mixed phases that combine towers with townhouse and park components. The development is often discussed in relation to downtown housing, public open space, and neighborhood change in the Near South Side.