North Pier Apartments

North Pier Apartments is a residential skyscraper in Chicago standing 581 feet tall with 61 floors throughout its structure. Its exterior features abstract patterns created by dark gray, maroon, and pink precast concrete panels arranged across the entire facade.

The structure was completed in 1990 by architectural firm Dubin, Dubin, Black & Moutoussamy and was the tallest precast concrete panel building at that time. This completion demonstrated the viability of using prefabrication technology for large-scale residential towers.

The building marks an important moment in Chicago's waterfront residential development during the 1990s, showing how the city embraced contemporary design for housing. Its colorful exterior panels remain a visible reminder of that era's architectural approach to urban living.

The building sits close to Lake Michigan and offers residents access to waterfront areas and several transportation options throughout downtown Chicago. Visitors can best explore the surroundings on foot and benefit from its central location with convenient access.

The building was designed as a visual counterpart to the curved Lake Point Tower, creating an intentional dialogue between the two neighboring structures. This deliberate pairing shows how nearby towers can respond to and complement each other in the urban skyline.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1990

Floors above the ground: 61

GPS coordinates: 41.89080,-87.61460

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:07