(Above) The plaza level near Marina City’s west tower, between House of Blues and the Chicago River. (Click on image to view larger version.)

April 24, 2014 – A plummeting fire iron did $20,000 worth of damage late last year, residents of Marina City have recently been told.

On November 9, 2013, at about 8:15 p.m., an object described as a poker used to push logs in a fireplace crashed into the large glass dome that covers an escalator, elevator, revolving door, and cashier’s station at ABM Parking Services. Residents and employees of Marina City as well as visitors to House of Blues, Hotel Chicago, and other nearby businesses use the parking structure.

(Left) A fireplace poker, often part of a set of iron or brass tools for tending a fire.

No one was injured and a police report was not filed. The glass contractor had to set up scaffolds on both the top of the dome and over the escalator inside, making the repair especially expensive.

Property managers at Marina City do not know where exactly the object came from. As arguably one of the world’s most famous all-electric buildings, Marina City residences do not have fireplaces, although outdoor grills are allowed. All that is known is that the object fell from a balcony on the east side of the west tower.

On March 12, the condominium association at Marina City notified residents the incident caused approximately $20,000 in damage, for which the owner or resident, if known, would be responsible.