Although not completely ready, the southwest corner of the concourse level at Marina City is starting to take the form of a restaurant and bar. The design by Kurtz Associates, an architectural firm based in Des Plaines, Illinois, puts the kitchen in the northeast corner of the space, dining along the south edge, and the bar in the southwest corner.

Offices, storage, and employee restrooms will encircle the core of the west residential tower that contains elevators and a stairwell. Building around this circular surface has been the most interesting challenge, according to company CFO Christy Zirnheld, who was in Chicago on Tuesday along with CEO Steve Schiff.

Near the kitchen, a service elevator, which has always been there, was renovated for use by DLR. A second entrance will welcome customers taking the elevator from the plaza level. The door closer to the escalators will be exit-only from the kitchen.

(Click on any image to view a larger version.)

(Above) Viewed from the north side, looking south, the bar at Dick’s Last Resort is seen here under construction. The floor plan at right calls for 20 bar stools and 19 tables in the bar area.

(Left) Described by many as “garage doors,” the three eight-foot-wide retractable aluminum and glass doors now lead to an eight-foot-deep outdoor patio that will accommodate nine tables. A portion of the south wall was moved back to create the exterior space.

On the new patio overlooking the Chicago River, Steve Schiff (right), CEO of Dick’s Last Resort, discusses construction details with MCO’s Michael Michalak. (Below left) A view from further east showing more of the outdoor area. (Below right) What this area looked like in December 2007.

A floor plan of the west residential tower is draped over construction materials in the kitchen area.

Schiff (far right) describes to Michalak (center) soundproofing panels installed in the ceiling. At far left, Christy Zirnheld of the Dallas-based Dick’s Last Resort.

(Left) In front of one of the overhead doors, Schiff stands in what will be the dining area. Diners will have unobstructed views of the Chicago River, from the State Street bridge to the Dearborn Street bridge.

More views of the dining area under construction in images at left and below left, and specified in the floor plan at below right.

Photographs and text by Steven Dahlman