Real estate magnate Donald Trump’s original plans for Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N Wabash Ave, called for a 150-story highrise that would have been the tallest building in the world. An economic downturn and jitters about building prominent highrises after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 resulted in scaled back plans, and as Trump reflected, that was probably a good thing.

“What we end up with is a better, more practical building,” Trump said. The revised design brought the building more in line with its context – a prominent one on the river, with two of the city’s most iconic buildings, the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, next door. And at 92 stories, even the revamped tower, which is replacing the old Chicago Sun-Times building, will be one of the tallest in the city.

Versatility has been key to the project’s success. For instance, early in 2004, Trump announced plans to drop an office component that was to have totaled around 350,000 square feet in favor of about 200 additional condominium and hotel units. A smart move given the quick condo sales and sluggish office market in 2004.

Another key to Trump Tower’s success has been the Trump name and the antics of its bearer, who raised the project’s profile with his TV show, “The Apprentice.” When Chicagoan Bill Rancic won on the reality-based show, he informed a national audience that he was heading home to work on Trump Tower.

Ultra-luxury units

The building, of course, is loaded. Some of the amenities include a 60,000-square-foot health club and spa, two ballrooms, maid service, 24-hour room service, 24-hour door staff and retail shops as well as valet, dry cleaning, catering, concierge and other services.

The homes have Brazilian hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling glass, walk-in closets, fireplaces per plan, high-end fixtures and ceiling heights ranging from 10 to 16 feet.

The muscular design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill recalls an earlier Skidmore design – the Sears Tower – though architect Adrian Smith’s glass and stainless steel design for Trump is much more graceful and visually interesting.

The tower will rise 92 stories and include 825 units. Prices ranged from the $500s to $9.6 million. The unit mix ranges from studios to five-bedroom condos, and includes both residential condominiums and “hotel condos.” The hotel condos allow buyers to own a particular hotel suite in fee simple. Like any condo, the unit is deeded and can be bought and sold at any time. When owners are not in residence, they can put their units into a rental pool, splitting a suite’s income with the hotel.

Unlike at many condo hotels, buyers at Trump can use their hotel condominiums as much or as little as they please, and all of the hotel units are being sold to individual buyers. This avoids even the possibility that buyers could be in competition with the developer when it comes to renting out rooms. The building was about 70 percent sold in July 2004, according to Tere Proctor, a Koenig & Strey sales agent and director of sales at Trump Tower. In October 2005, a sales center had relocated to 330 N Wabash Ave Ste 2000.

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