From Vista Tower’s opening to the sale of the Thompson Center, these storylines will define Chicago in the new year

The new year is here and promises to be a big one for the future of Chicago’s built environment. In 2020, a number of major projects are on the horizon. Expect grand unveilings, significant groundbreakings, and long-awaited openings.

For starters, Vista Tower, the city’s new third-tallest building opens for business, and work on the $8.5 billion makeover of O’Hare International Airport will really ramp up. The year promises to a period of uncertainty too: Will the Thompson Center sell to a private developer, or will the Obama Presidential Center finally break ground?

From shiny skyscrapers to transformative infrastructure improvements, here are 15 Chicago development stories that deserve your attention.