The 1901 Project Advances With Tower Crane Permit At United Center

• The 1901 Project secured a tower crane permit as caisson work continues
• Phase One includes a mixed-use parking and retail structure with a rooftop park
• Development around the United Center is expected to continue through 2040

What Construction Activity Is Happening Now

Construction activity is ramping up at The 1901 Project surrounding Chicago’s United Center as crews continue foundation work for the massive long-term redevelopment initiative. McHugh Construction, McHugh Concrete, and Stalworth Underground are currently performing caisson work for the first major structure in Phase One, a three-story mixed-use commercial building planned for the west side of the arena campus. The latest milestone came with approval of a tower crane permit issued on May 7, following earlier permits for caissons and shallow foundations. The only major approval still pending is the project’s full building permit, which has remained in the Chicago Data Portal since January.

What The First Phase Will Include

The first building under construction will combine structured parking, retail space, and a new loading area beneath an occupiable rooftop deck. The rooftop component is expected to function as an activated public park and gathering space rather than simply serving as parking infrastructure. The project was designed by RIOS and reflects a broader shift in sports district development where parking structures are increasingly integrated into mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented environments. Rather than isolated event parking, the goal is to create year-round activity surrounding the United Center campus.

What Else Is Planned Around The Site

Additional work is also beginning southwest of the arena near West Adams Street and South Damen Avenue, where a future 6,000-seat music hall is planned. That portion of the development site is already fenced off, with early preparation work underway. Separate permits for caissons and structural work remain pending for the music venue. The entertainment venue is expected to become another anchor component of the larger district redevelopment surrounding the arena.

What The Long-Term Vision Looks Like

The 1901 Project is envisioned as a multi-phase mixed-use transformation surrounding the United Center that will unfold over roughly the next 15 years. Plans include residential buildings, entertainment venues, hospitality uses, public open space, retail, and pedestrian-oriented infrastructure intended to create a more active urban district around the arena. The redevelopment mirrors similar sports-centered district projects emerging across major U.S. cities where teams and ownership groups are repositioning stadium campuses into full-scale mixed-use neighborhoods.

What This Means For Chicago Development

The scale and timeline of The 1901 Project make it one of Chicago’s largest long-term redevelopment initiatives currently underway. The project also represents continued investment in the Near West Side and Fulton Market-adjacent areas as development pressure expands outward from downtown and the West Loop. As construction continues, the district surrounding the United Center is expected to evolve from a largely event-focused campus into a year-round entertainment and mixed-use destination. Work on the broader project is currently expected to continue through 2040.