You see them from the river. Two concrete cylinders rising up like giant, mid-century husks of corn right in the middle of the Loop. Most people just call them the corn cob buildings in chicago, but if you want to be technical, it’s Marina City. It’s arguably the most photographed spot in the city, maybe second only to the Bean. But there’s a weird tension there. Half the people who walk by think they’re a masterpiece of urban planning, while the other half wonder why anyone would want to live in a concrete vegetable.
Honestly? They almost didn't happen.
Back in the late 1950s, Chicago was bleeding people. The suburbs were the "new thing," and the downtown core was becoming a ghost town after 5:00 PM. William McFetridge, the president of the Building Service Employees International Union, decided to gamble. He wanted to keep his union members working and living in the city. He hired Bertrand Goldberg, a student of Mies van der Rohe who had a serious beef with right angles. Goldberg basically looked at the rectangular skyline and decided that humans weren't meant to live in boxes. He wanted something organic.
The Engineering Behind the Corn Cob Buildings in Chicago
If you look closely at the "kernels," those are actually balconies. Every single apartment in those towers has one. They’re wedge-shaped, like slices of a pie. Goldberg’s logic was that in a circle, you get more exterior surface area and better views than you would in a standard square building. It’s math, but it feels like art.
The core of each tower is a massive concrete tube. This central spine houses the elevators and the utilities. Everything radiates out from there. It was actually the first time "slip-form" construction was used on a residential project of this scale in the United States. They poured the concrete for the core and just kept moving up, day after day. It was incredibly fast for 1962.
But let's talk about the parking.
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The first 19 floors are a spiral parking ramp. No walls. Just a low cable railing. It’s terrifying to look at from the street, and even more terrifying to drive. There’s a famous scene in the 1980 movie The Hunter where a car flies off the side and into the Chicago River. People still talk about it. It’s the visual that defines the corn cob buildings in chicago for a lot of movie buffs.
The logistics of living there today are... unique. Because of the circular design, your furniture basically has to be custom or very strategically placed. You can’t just shove a standard IKEA dresser against a curved wall and expect it to look right. It’s a lifestyle choice. You’re choosing history and a 360-degree view of the skyline over having a walk-in closet with 90-degree corners.
Why Concrete Was the Hero (and the Villain)
Goldberg loved concrete. He called it "liquid stone." In the sixties, this was the peak of Brutalism, though Marina City is often categorized as Mid-Century Modern or Expressionist. It wasn't meant to be cold or depressing. It was meant to be affordable and indestructible.
The problem with concrete is that it’s a pain to maintain. Over the decades, the "corn cobs" have dealt with spalling—that’s when water gets into the concrete, freezes, and causes chunks to flake off. It’s an expensive fix. In 2016, the complex was finally designated a Chicago Landmark, which was a huge deal. It means the city recognizes its value, but it also means any renovations have to follow strict rules to keep the original look intact.
A "City Within a City" Concept
Goldberg didn't just build two apartment towers. He built a "city within a city." This is the part that most tourists miss. The site includes:
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- A theater (now the House of Blues).
- A hotel (now the Hotel Chicago).
- A bowling alley (which sadly closed years ago).
- A marina for boats.
- Ice skating rink (long gone).
- Office space.
The idea was that you’d never have to leave the block. You could work, sleep, eat, and park your boat all in the same spot. It was a radical concept for 1962. Before Marina City, downtown Chicago was purely business. This project proved that people would actually pay to live in the hustle and bustle of the Loop if you gave them enough amenities.
It changed the trajectory of the city. Without the corn cob buildings in chicago, we probably wouldn't have the massive residential boom in the West Loop or the South Loop that we see today. It was the proof of concept for modern urban living.
Living the Circular Life: The Inside Reality
What’s it actually like inside? I’ve talked to residents who have lived there for thirty years. They’ll tell you that the balconies are the best part. They’re huge—way bigger than what you get in new luxury high-rises. In the summer, the towers look like they’re blooming because everyone has plants and patio furniture out there.
There are some quirks, though.
The kitchens are tiny. Like, "European tiny." Goldberg thought people living in a city within a city would mostly eat out at the restaurants downstairs, so he didn't prioritize big cooking spaces. And the laundry? It’s on the 20th floor. Both towers have a massive laundry room with some of the best views in the entire city. It’s probably the only place in the world where people actually enjoy folding their socks because they’re looking out over the Willis Tower.
The elevators are also a frequent topic of conversation in the building. They’re old. They’re small. But they’re part of the charm. Living in Marina City isn't about luxury in the way a glass-and-steel building on Wacker Drive is; it's about being part of a specific moment in architectural history.
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The Wilco Connection
You can't talk about these buildings without mentioning the band Wilco. Their 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot features the towers on the cover. That one image cemented the corn cob buildings in chicago as a global icon for a whole new generation. It’s why you see guys in flannel shirts taking selfies in front of the parking ramp every weekend. It turned a piece of architecture into a piece of pop culture.
What People Get Wrong About Marina City
A lot of people think they’re public housing. They aren't. They were built with union money, but they’ve always been a mix of rentals and condos (they went "condo" in the 70s). Others think they’re ugly. "Ugly" is subjective, but "significant" isn't. You don't have to like the way they look to respect the fact that they are engineering marvels.
There’s also a myth that the cars fall off the ramps all the time. They don't. That movie stunt was a one-time thing involving a professional driver and a lot of safety cables. In reality, the valet drivers who work those ramps are some of the most skilled drivers in the city. They zip up and down those spirals with inches to spare. It’s a choreographed dance of Toyotas and Audis.
How to Experience the Towers Today
If you're visiting or even if you're a local who has just walked past a thousand times, you should actually engage with the space. Don't just look at it from across the street.
- Walk the Plaza: The plaza level is open to the public. You can walk right up to the base of the towers and look up. It’s dizzying in a good way.
- Eat at the House of Blues: It’s located in the old theater building of the complex. The interior doesn't look like the towers, but it’s part of the original footprint.
- Take a River Cruise: The Chicago Architecture Center's boat tour gives the best technical breakdown of how the towers were built. Seeing them from the water level really emphasizes the "corn cob" scale.
- Stay at the Hotel Chicago: If you want to see the interior without buying a condo, the hotel is part of the complex. While the rooms are more "standard" than the pie-shaped apartments, you get the vibe of the architecture.
The corn cob buildings in chicago are more than just a weird shape on the skyline. They represent a time when Chicago was brave enough to experiment. They are the physical manifestation of the idea that a city should be lived in, not just worked in.
Next time you’re stuck in traffic on Dearborn Street, look up at those concrete petals. Think about the fact that they’ve been there for over sixty years, watching the city change around them, while they stay exactly the same—curved, concrete, and completely unapologetic.
Actionable Steps for Architecture Lovers:
If you want to dig deeper into the legacy of Bertrand Goldberg, check out the Bertrand Goldberg Archive at the Art Institute of Chicago. They have the original sketches and blueprints for Marina City. Also, keep an eye on the Open House Chicago event held every October; occasionally, private units in the towers are opened to the public for tours, giving you a rare chance to see how those curved walls actually work in a real home.