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 22, 2013
World's tallest twisting tower added to Dubai skyline [slideshow]
The 75-story residential building, designed by SOM, features a dramatically rising helix shape for a distinctive addition to the city’s skyline.
| Oct 1, 2013
13 structural steel buildings that dazzle
The Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are among projects named 2013 IDEAS2 winners by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
| Sep 17, 2013
World's first 'invisible' tower planned in South Korea
The 1,476-foot-tall structure will showcase Korean cloaking technology that utilizes an LED façade fitted with optical cameras that will display the landscape directly behind the building, thus making it invisible.
| Sep 11, 2013
San Francisco expected to drop firefighter air tank refilling station rule for skyscrapers
San Francisco is poised to drop a requirement that skyscrapers have refill stations so firefighters can recharge their air tanks during a blaze. The city has required that new high-rises have the air refill systems for about ten years.
| Aug 26, 2013
13 must-attend continuing education sessions at BUILDINGChicago
Building Design+Construction's new conference and expo, BUILDINGChicago, kicks off in two weeks. The three-day event will feature more than 65 AIA CES and GBCI accredited sessions, on everything from building information modeling and post-occupancy evaluations to net-zero projects and LEED training. Here are 13 sessions I'm planning to attend.
| Aug 2, 2013
Design of world’s tallest wood skyscraper would be more sustainable than steel alternative
Architecture firm C. F. Møller has proposed building the tallest wooden building in the world in Stockholm, Sweden.
| Jul 10, 2013
World's best new skyscrapers [slideshow]
The Bow in Calgary and CCTV Headquarters in Beijing are among the world's best new high-rise projects, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Jul 10, 2013
TED talk: Architect Michael Green on why we should build tomorrow's skyscrapers out of wood
In a newly posted TED talk, wood skyscraper expert Michael Green makes the case for building the next-generation of mid- and high-rise buildings out of wood.
| Jul 9, 2013
AISC releases Design Guide on Blast Resistant Structures
Design professionals now have a valuable new resource on blast resistant structures with AISC Design Guide No. 26, Design of Blast Resistant Structures.
High-rise Construction | Jul 9, 2013
5 innovations in high-rise building design
KONE's carbon-fiber hoisting technology and the Broad Group's prefab construction process are among the breakthroughs named 2013 Innovation Award winners by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.