That was after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US forced a redesign of the project (See: Hyatt Center Design Makes for Happy Campers.) , as well as some second thoughts on proceeding at all. "Penny came back and said, 'I'm not willing to abandon this'," Pritzker says.

As Bovis Lend Lease crews worked in the background, the $427-million project moved ahead Thursday with a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site before developers and anchor tenants moved indoors to UBS Tower, ironically co-developed by The John Buck Co., which is building a similar-sized structure across Monroe Street at 111 S. Wacker Dr.

Signatures from Goldman Sachs officials did heavy lifting in their own right, as it gave the 1.7-million-sf project three office tenants committed to 945,000 sf. Law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw has signed on for 450,000 sf, Hyatt Corp. and affiliated companies staked out 315,000 sf while Goldman, Sachs & Co. is leasing 180,000 sf in a building expected to be ready for occupancy in late 2004. Leasing broker JF McKinney & Associates, Ltd. is shopping the remaining 400,000 sf of office space.