Driving in circles

On February 11, 1963, the first passenger car made it to the 19th floor of the spiral parking ramp “without incident,” mused Chicago Daily Tribune reporter James M. Gavin.

“The ramp grade is a bit steeper through the first four floor levels,” Gavin noted. “From the fifth floor level the grade is five percent and a driver feels a little safer accelerating in low gear at 10 to 15 miles an hour. However, as the higher floors are reached and the city’s skyline begins to flash into view, the driver has a tendency to hug the core of the building.”

The monthly rate to park there would be $30 when the garage officially opened a month later.

Views of the parking ramps today. (Above left) Looking west from south edge of Marina City property toward west residential tower. Chicago River and Dearborn Street bridge at left. Smith & Wollensky restaurant at right. (Above right) Close outer view of steel cables and barrier to keep cars from falling off ramp at Marina City. (Bottom left) First three levels of east tower parking ramp. (Bottom right) Marina City complex at noon from fifth floor terrace of office block. House of Blues at lower right, parking ramp of east residential tower at left, and west residential tower in background.

(Left) Parking deck plan for ramp at Marina City. Each tower has a tubular core and a ring of 16 columns at the perimeter. 32 cars can be parked on each parking deck. Between the two towers, 450 vehicles can be accommodated.