Chicago Buildings

[Xander]

A spin off of the Chicago Meetup (http://quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24849) thread.

Buildings of Chicago! Just within my 5-block walk to work, I count 9 construction projects. The town is definitely booming--I hope it lasts!

Here's a preview of some of the cooler projects. Most, if not all, are under way.

Waterview Tower (Shangri La), 1047' (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/WaterviewTowerontheChicagoRiver.jpg)
Mandarin Oriental, 930' (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/MandarinOrientalTowerChicago-Large.jpg)
300 N. LaSalle (I love art deco roof) (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/300NorthLasalee.jpg) 2nd (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/300NorthLaSalle-Daytime.jpg)
Cityfront Plaza III (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/CityfrontPlaza.jpg) I walk by this every day, but they've done no work with the middle structure. I wonder if they're abandoning it for the other two...
680 N. Rush (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/71EastHuron.jpg)
One Museum Park (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/OneMuseumPark.jpg) I like the bold design. Good neighborhood too.
The Elysian (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/TheElysian.jpg) Only 60 stories at ~700'. Gorgeous. It's my favorite of the new constructions, and only took 14 years to break ground.
340 On The Park (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/340OnThePark.jpg) I live a couple of blocks north, so I've been curiously watching this get finished. It has a unique texture not captured in the picture.
Aqua (http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/TheLoop/Aqua-006.jpg) and a must-see view up close (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/Hi-resAquaRendering.jpg). Definitely the most striking, next to the Aon building and On The Park above. The picture explains it better than I can.

And the infamous Chicago Spire (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/delta2094/D-design-edit.jpg) (2000'+), a giant penis. which has seen more design changes than Michael Jackson's face.
The old version when it was the Fordham Spire (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/FordhamSpire-Revised.jpg). And if you didn't think it could look more phallic, check out the latest version (http://www.neweastside.org/SpireModels_op_495x600.jpg). If you go into the parking structure at the base of the building, you might find a giant switch labeled "vibrate" :rolleyes:

But the Spire is my most-watched project as it'll block a good portion of my south lake view. The land has been cleared for a few years now, but there's still no construction.

[PenforPrez]

And the infamous Chicago Spire (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/delta2094/D-design-edit.jpg) (2000'+), a giant penis. which has seen more design changes than Michael Jackson's face.
The old version when it was the Fordham Spire (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/FordhamSpire-Revised.jpg). And if you didn't think it could look more phallic, check out the latest version (http://www.neweastside.org/SpireModels_op_495x600.jpg). If you go into the parking structure at the base of the building, you might find a giant switch labeled "vibrate" :rolleyes:

I'm just glad to see Chicago will be building another world-record building. It shows ambition. :) Better a giant penis than a HUGE nutsack. :huge:

Paul

[Xander]

... Better a giant penis than a HUGE nutsack. :huge:
Aaaactually, if you look at the park design at the base, it's two large circles (pavilions). Coincidence?:rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

You guys have weird penises.

The spire to me looks like silver twizzler. Or a drill bit.

[J-girl]

I like the Elysian... not too fond of typical officy glass buildings anymore

so is Chicago's penis gonna be bigger than Toronto's penis?:D

[Xander]

You guys have weird penises.
Yep, mine's made of steel.

It would look awesome if they'd only continue the upwards tapering into a sharp point. Then, from a ground-level perspective, it'd look like the structure continued into infinity. But I'm no architect, so... I'll have to do something about that. :D

For reference, the Sears Tower is 1,451ft, while the Chicago Spire is currently right above 2,000ft.

What do you guys think of the Aqua (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/Hi-resAquaRendering.jpg), though? I could look at that building all day...

[wordsmith]

The Elysian's the only one I really like, too. I generally prefer my architecture classic, vs.ultra modern.

[J-girl]

Yep, mine's made of steel.

It would look awesome if they'd only continue the upwards tapering into a sharp point. Then, from a ground-level perspective, it'd look like the structure continued into infinity. But I'm no architect, so... I'll have to do something about that. :D

For reference, the Sears Tower is 1,451ft, while the Chicago Spire is currently right above 2,000ft.

What do you guys think of the Aqua (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/Hi-resAquaRendering.jpg), though? I could look at that building all day...
Aqua is pretty neat!

[wordsmith]

What do you guys think of the Aqua (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Chgo83/Hi-resAquaRendering.jpg), though? I could look at that building all day...

Heh, I guess I answered your question with my cross post...sorry, guy. But for perspective, I'm the girl who loves the Museum of Science and Industry, the only holdover from the 1893 World's Fair. I'm timeless over cutting edge/experimental, mostly.

[beeblebrox]

Heh, I guess I answered your question with my cross post...sorry, guy. But for perspective, I'm the girl who loves the Museum of Science and Industry, the only holdover from the 1893 World's Fair. I'm timeless over cutting edge/experimental, mostly.

it's a beautiful museum, but so far away from the others in the city. My favorite buildings are the old art deco ones in the neighborhoods and parks. Logan Square has some old art deco ones that are really neat. Also, I like the union architecture like the Plumber's hall on Madison/Washington.

[Xander]

All architecture is dated, though. Like the 1893 World's Fair-era was mostly Beaux Arts style, which is the same style as many other buildings in town--my favorite being the Shedd. But the Science and Industry is super cool, for sure.

I guess I'm a proponent of more modern architecture if they represent our zeitgeist. the Aqua, in my opinion, does. That's also why I love the Sears and Hancock--they're totally 80s, but they capture the 80s style.

[aggiegrad05]

My favorite of those is the 300 N. LaSalle. Aqua is also REALLY cool. I wish Houston was as cool as Chicago :torn:

[PenforPrez]

You guys have weird penises.

Yep, mine's made of steel.

I don't need a 2000 foot one. :cool:

Where is the Chicago Spire? I was in Chicago last summer, and I never saw it on the skyline. :?:

They just built a huge condo building in St. Louis' Central West End. It's a beautiful building, except for the shit they put on top of it. They purposefully put a TV tower off-center, and they got some other stuff going on.

http://www.parkeasttower.com/views.html

Paul

[Xander]

Where is the Chicago Spire? I was in Chicago last summer, and I never saw it on the skyline. :?:
It hasn't broken ground yet (it has been proposed, canceled, re-proposed, modified, modified, modified, canceled, re-proposed, modified, approved... and I think it just got modified again).

But when it's built, there's no freggin way you're going to miss it. It's going to be an eyesore if not done right. Oh, and now they're talking about putting massive spotlights on the top. You'll be able to see Chicago from Michigan. :rolleyes:

The St. Louis building is interesting. The setback seems to be art deco-inspired, but the material used and the strong horizontal lines (balconies) clash... In my opinion, the offset antenna is actually the main thing that makes the whole top work in favor of the design. I'll take pictures of the NBC building that illustrates the art deco look with offset antenna and post it later tonight.

[PenforPrez]

The St. Louis building is interesting. The setback seems to be art deco-inspired, but the material used and the strong horizontal lines (balconies) clash... In my opinion, the offset antenna is actually the main thing that makes the whole top work in favor of the design. I'll take pictures of the NBC building that illustrates the art deco look with offset antenna and post it later tonight.

East Park is the first residential tower built in STL city in 20 years. Problem is, most of the buildings in that area date back long before that. There's a lot of towers in that neighborhood that date to the 20s (art deco being late 20s/early 30s). That building is very close to the Chase Park Plaza (finest hotel in STL), and that tower was built in '29, I believe.

Paul

[wordsmith]

it's a beautiful museum, but so far away from the others in the city. My favorite buildings are the old art deco ones in the neighborhoods and parks. Logan Square has some old art deco ones that are really neat. Also, I like the union architecture like the Plumber's hall on Madison/Washington.

Some art deco I like. I used to live off the Bryn Mawr Historic District, and the green terra cotta on the Belle Shore Hotel and lamp posts belong on the cover of The Great Gatsby. I like the Green Mill in Uptown, too.

All architecture is dated, though. Like the 1893 World's Fair-era was mostly Beaux Arts style, which is the same style as many other buildings in town--my favorite being the Shedd. But the Science and Industry is super cool, for sure.

I like the goddesses at S&I. I also like the Laredo Taft scupture of the Fountain of Time in Washington Park, which is totally different, but cool.

[Xander]

Ok, I've been waiting for the sun to set, but it's 7:23 and it's still not dark.

So, I'll just post what I took an hour ago.

This is a North view (http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9439/northviewlighteningsmzr8.jpg) from my room. The building with the blue roof is the Playboy building, where Hefner had those old broadcasts and parties. The tall black building is the John Hancock. I didn't even know I got a picture of the lightening until I imported into the computer.

And the reason I took pictures in the first place. South view of the NBC Tower (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4868/nbcuc9.jpg) is in the middle, but it didn't come out well. I'll go take better pictures later. The Sears Tower is blurring the NBC antenna, which is what I was trying to show you, Paul. The large building to the left is McClurg Court (where AMC 21 and Lucky Strike) are. The yellow building under construction is one of the three parts of CityPlaza (in my first post). I hate it because it now blocks my view of the Wrigley building, river, and my favorite, the RR Donnelley building.

While I'm at it, here's a view a little to the left of the above picture. The picture sucks, but in person you can see clear down Lakeshore Drive (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4545/lakeshorefa1.jpg), the Field Museum, and Soldier Field behind it.

And here's a little more left of the above pic. The empty lot next to the road (Lakeshore Drive) is the lot for the Chicago Spire (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2557/spirehm2.jpg), which will block my lake views... but I guess it wont matter since I'm moving anyway.

[PenforPrez]

Great pics! :) I see your point with the antenna.

Downtown Chicago is a wonderful marvel. Except for the parking costs. Jesus Christ!! :eek:

Paul

[Xander]

I see your point with the antenna.
Point? Antenna? Ziiiing!

I got home late and they shut the lights off on the NBC building. I'll try again sometime...