Downtown tower rising along South Canal almost complete

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot signs a beam during the topping off ceremony at BMO Tower, located at 320 S. Canal St. in the West Loop Gate, Thursday morning, April 8, 2021. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Mayor Lori Lightfoot was among the dignitaries on hand Thursday as crews hoisted the final beam into place atop the soon-to-be-completed BMO Tower.

The 700-foot-tall building at 320 S. Canal St. is expected to be finished in spring 2022, BMO Harris Bank officials said. BMO is expected to be the single largest tenant, with 3,000 of the company’s 7,000 Chicago-area employees moving into the new building.

Construction of the tower began about 18 months ago and has continued during the pandemic, BMO officials said.

BMO, which is part of Toronto-based BMO Financial Group, has branches in Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida and Wisconsin.

BMO Tower is expected to be finished in spring 2022.