On July 18th, construction began on a 48-story luxury residential tower in Chicago. Part of a larger master plan designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the tower is being developed by Hines and Magellan Development Group. All told, three towers will be built as part of the larger project, called Wolf Point.
The three buildings are:
- West Tower (under construction) - a 50-story, 500-foot-tall apartment building with 500 luxury rental units
- South Tower - a 950-foot-tall mixed-use building that will be the city's eighth-tallest tower
- East Tower - a 750-foot-tall mixed-use building.
The development is located at the Y-shaped intersection of the Chicago River's northern, southern, and western branches. As a whole, the project has been contentious for local residents. It was strongly opposed when the developers first introduced it, and the current plan is a revised version of the original. Residents were worried that the original plan would block views of the skyline and increase traffic in the area.
Pedestrian areas, 100,000 sf of park space, and a river walk will be part of Wolf Point. The developers plan to pursue LEED Silver Certification for the development.
A view of Wolf Point from the west. Renderings courtesy of Hines.
A view of Wolf Point from the north. Renderings courtesy of Hines.
A view of the west garden at Wolf Point. Renderings courtesy of Hines.
Related Stories
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: NEXT Living EcoSuite showcased
Tridel teams up with Cisco and Control4 to unveil the future of green condo living in Canada.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Johnson Controls announces Panoptix, a new approach to building efficiency
Panoptix combines latest technology, new business model and industry-leading expertise to make building efficiency easier and more accessible to a broader market.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Sustainable construction should stress durability as well as energy efficiency
There is now a call for making enhanced resilience of a building’s structure to natural and man-made disasters the first consideration of a green building.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Methods, impacts, and opportunities in the concrete building life cycle
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub conducted a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study to evaluate and improve the environmental impact and study how the “dual use” aspect of concrete.
| Sep 20, 2011
Jeanne Gang wins MacArthur Fellowship
Jeanne Gang, a 2011 MacArthur Fellowship winner described by the foundation as "an architect challenging the aesthetic and technical possibilities of the art form in a wide range of structures."
| Sep 14, 2011
Lend Lease’s role in 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Lend Lease is honored to be the general contractor for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum project at the World Trade Center site in New York City.
| Sep 14, 2011
Thornton Tomasetti’s Poon named to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s Board of Trustees
During his 30-plus years of experience, Poon has been responsible for the design and construction of super high-rise structures, mixed-used buildings, hotels, airports, arenas and residential buildings worldwide.
| Sep 6, 2011
Construction on Beijing's tallest building starts next week
The 108 floor mixed-use skyscraper consists of offices, apartments, hotels and shopping malls on the lower floors.
| May 25, 2011
World’s tallest building now available in smaller size
Emaar Properties teamed up with LEGO to create a miniature version of the Burj Khalifa as part of the LEGO Architecture series. Currently, the LEGO Burj Khalifa is available only in Dubai, but come June 1, 2011, it will be available worldwide.
| May 17, 2011
Should Washington, D.C., allow taller buildings?
Suggestions are being made that Washington revise its restrictions on building heights. Architect Roger Lewis, who raised the topic in the Washington Post a few weeks ago, argues for a modest relaxation of the height limits, and thinks that concerns about ruining the city’s aesthetics are unfounded.