flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Supertall buildings vie for dominance along Chicago’s skyline

Architects

Supertall buildings vie for dominance along Chicago’s skyline

The latest proposals pit designs by Rafael Viñoly, Jeanne Gang, and Helmut Jahn.


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | September 24, 2015

Developer Crescent Heights and architect Rafael Viñoly could possibly build twin skyscrapers for the south end of Grant Park in Chicago. Rendering courtesy Crescent Heights (via Curbed Chicago).

When Miami-based developer Crescent Heights unveiled plans for a 76-story, 829-foot-tall skyscraper with 792 apartments, that building could lay claim to be the tallest in Chicago’s South Loop. This Rafael Viñoly-designed tower is the first of three that Crescent Heights is planning just south of Grant Park, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

But only few days after Crescent’s plans became public, details surfaced about an even taller 86-story glass residential tower on 1000 S. Michigan Avenue, about a block from Crescent Heights’ proposed skyscrapers.

Last April that high rise’s developer, a joint venture between New York real estate firms JK Equities and Time Equities, paid $10.5 million for the 111-year-old eight-story Lighter Building, which is adjacent to their proposed tower. According to the JV’s application, the Lighter Building will continue to serve as office space. If the city approves 1000 S. Michigan, the joint venture intends to purchase a portion of the site for their tower from its current owner, First American Bank, according to Crain’s.

Architect Helmut Jahn designed this 506-unit tower, to be situated on a little more than an acre, to resemble four stacked boxes on its South façade. The 75-year-old Jahn has used this multi-step design approach before on a 41-story residential high rise in Chicago that was completed in 2008. The new tower proposal calls for condos on its top 60 floors and apartments on 21 floors. A parking garage with 598 slots would be in an 11-story rear extension to the tower.

Including its rooftop terrace, this tower would soar 1,030 feet, making it the Windy City’s fifth-tallest building. However, such claims are always transitory: Studio Gang’s architect Jeanne Gang has proposed a 1,140-foot-tall Vista Residences in Chicago, which would feature a trio of glass towers arranged in a row, with heights of 47, 71, and 93 stories. Gang told Dezeen magazine that she was inspired to mass the buildings by a formation called “frustum,” which resembles a pyramid without a pointy peak.

Helmut Jahn's proposed 506-unit tower. Rendering courtesy Hahn (via Chicagoist)

Jeanne Gang has proposed a 1,140-foot-tall Vista Residences. Rendering courtesy Jeanne Gang

Related Stories

| Jun 15, 2012

Baldwin joins Charlotte office of Perkins Eastman as principal

Experience in healthcare planning and design to expand national healthcare practice in South and Mid-Atlantic.

| Jun 15, 2012

InPro’s bio-content becomes Cradle-to-Cradle CertifiedCM Silver

Two main components of G2 Blend formula now C2C Certified Silver.

| Jun 14, 2012

A. Eugene Kohn Watercolor Exhibition a showcase of KPF artwork in NYC

Kohn's watercolors have previously been displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in a show for the works of well-known architects.

| Jun 14, 2012

Gilbane names two new executive vice presidents

Dennis Cornick and Thomas Laird join Gilbane's executive team, expanding the company's leadership to drive business goals.

| Jun 14, 2012

Viscardi joins LEO A DALY as VP, corporate director of aviation programs

Viscardi will be responsible for providing the vision and strategy for growing the firm’s aviation practice, identifying and establishing new clients, as well as maintaining existing client relationships.

| Jun 14, 2012

Sustainability consultant’s keynote highlights the evolution of LEED green building in Spain

Sustainability planning, green building and water efficiency consultant, Jerry Yudelson keynoted the celebration of Spain’s first LEED Platinum Municipal Green Building.

| Jun 13, 2012

Thornton Tomasetti founding principals receive CTBUH Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal

This is the first time the CTBUH Board of Trustees has awarded the prize to two individuals jointly.

| Jun 13, 2012

Free webinar on Designing and Building Green Schools scheduled for June 20

USGBC Center for Green Schools and other experts to present practical tips.

| Jun 13, 2012

GAF’s Roving Truck promotion coming to your town soon

Professional roofing contractors or builders/remodelers in the U.S. can enter to win a Ford F-150 truck.

| Jun 13, 2012

Is it time to stop building convention centers?

Over the last 20 years, convention space in the United States has increased by 50%; since 2005, 44 new convention spaces have been planned or constructed in this country alone.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.



Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021