Chicago Spire

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Chicago Spire
File:Chicago Spire only.jpg
Map
General information
StatusRedesign city approval
Location400 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois
Estimated completion2010 (est.)[1][2]
Opening2010 (est.)
Height
Roof2,000 feet (609.6 m)[1][2]
Technical details
Floor count150 [3]
Floor area3,000,000 square feet
(278,709 sq. m)[5]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Santiago Calatrava
DeveloperShelbourne Development Group, Inc.

The Chicago Spire is a proposed supertall skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The building was formerly known as the Fordham Spire and 400 North Lake Shore Drive. It is currently being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. and is scheduled to be completed in 2010 with 150 floors.[1][2][3]

Originally announced in July of 2005 by Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company, the project was supported by many Chicagoans and city officials.[6][7][8] After several months of development, Carley failed to acquire necessary financing and the project was taken over by Garrett Kelleher of the Shelbourne Development Group. Since that time two major revisions were made to the design. The skyscraper would stand taller than Chicago's Sears Tower and New York's upcoming Freedom Tower to become North America's tallest structure and the world's tallest all residential building.

Location

Coordinates: 41°53' 23.32" N, 87°36' 52.91" W

The skyscraper was approved to go up along Chicago's lakefront west of Navy Pier, northeast of Chicago's Loop. The Chicago Spire would be located in the Streeterville neighborhood within Chicago community area zone 08. It is planned for the land at the junction of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River as a welcoming symbol to the City of Chicago.

Site

Map of area surrounding future site
File:400 N LSD site plan.jpg
Site plan including a concept for DuSable Park

The expected site of construction of the Chicago Spire is currently vacant. The planned building site is bordered by the Ogden Slip of the Chicago River to the north, North Lake Shore Drive to the east, the Chicago River to the south, and existing residential property to the west. The site of the tower was originally zoned for two 35- to 50-story buildings.[6] Originally it was to be sold by a joint venture of LR Development Company of Chicago and JER Partners of Virginia, for $64 million to Christopher Carley of the Fordham Company.[9] After numerous short-term extensions, and later Carley's failure to obtain financing, Kelleher of Shelbourne Development purchased the land instead and pledged to finance the rest of the project.[10] When the project was first announced the Fordham Company pledged almost $500,000 to assist in the development of the city's proposed DuSable Park, which would adjoin the property of the Chicago Spire.[7] DuSable Park would sit on 3.24 acres and has a $11.4 million budget for its renovation.[11]

Soil tests performed in December of 2000 on the property of the proposed park, adjacent to the building site, showed contamination of radioactive thorium.[12] Thorium was used by the Lindsay Light Company which operated a location nearby. After the closing of that location in the 1930s, contaminated soil was dumped on the location of the proposed park. In March of 2003, the Chicago Park District stated that the thorium clean-up on that land was incomplete.[13] Hazards of contamination can be avoided by laying a minimum of 6 inches of concrete over any affected soil, a process which would be more feasible for the site of the Chicago Spire then compared with the development of the adjacent park.[12]

Architecture

Design

File:Ib5.jpg
An early design of the building

Like with many of his designs, Calatrava has been inspired by themes and designs in nature for the tall, twisting skyscraper.[14] For the design of the building, he likened it to an imaginary smoke spiral coming from a campfire near the Chicago River lit by Native Americans indigenous to the area.[15] He also related the building's newly designed pinnacle to the "graceful" and "rotating forms" of a snail shell.[16]

Chicago's buildings are known for their innovative and revolutionary designs. The Chicago Spire will complement this pattern, and standing at 2,000 feet (609.6 m) it will transform the already changing Chicago skyline.[17][1][2] Each of the building's 150 stories would rotate more than two degrees from the one below with a total 360 degree rotation. For supplemental structural support, each floor would be surrounded by cantilevered corners and four concave sides.[18] The soaring five story lobby of the skyscraper will have translucent glass walls and be framed by arching, steel reinforced concrete vaults.[16] The building has been labeled as a giant "drill bit" by the public and others in the media have likened it to a "tall twisting tree" and a "blade of grass."[19][20]

The curved design may provide two major benefits to the structure of the building. First, curved designs have a tendency of adding to the strength of a structure.[21] A similar principle has been applied in the past when building curved stadium roofs. In addition to structural support, the curved face of the exterior will minimize wind forces. In rectangular buildings, a liquid wind flow puts pressure on the windward face of the building, while as air moves around it, a suction is applied to the leeward face. This often times causes a sway in tall buildings which can be counteracted, at least partially, by stiffening the structure or by using a dynamic wind damper.[21] Although the curved design of the Chicago Spire will not completely negate wind forces, a tapering concrete core and twelve shear walls emanating from it are installed to counteract these forces instead.[18]

Height

In North America, it would surpass Chicago's own Sears Tower, currently at 1,730 feet (527.3 m) tall, New York's upcoming Freedom Tower, which is to be 1,776 feet (541 m) tall, and Las Vegas' proposed Las Vegas Tower, which is planned at 1,888 feet (575 m), to become North America's tallest tower.[1][2] The current design will also surpass the height of the CN Tower in Toronto to become North America's tallest free-standing structure. The Chicago Spire would also surpass the Q1 in Queensland and the Eureka Tower in Melbourne to become the world's tallest all-residential building.[4] It will not, however, surpass the Burj Dubai, currently under construction in Dubai, UAE, to become the tallest building on Earth.

Chicago Spire in Chicago skyline

Development

History

Garrett Kelleher

Originally proposed as "Fordham Spire" in July of 2005, it was set to be 115 stories tall.[22] Chicago developer Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company was spearheading the project. The building was planned to include a hotel and condominiums and also featured a tall broadcast antenna. After several months of development Carley failed to obtain sufficient financing for the construction of the building, and Irish developer Garrett Kelleher, executive chairman of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. acquired the land at 400 North Lake Shore Drive. It was announced that he would fund the development with the assistance of financing from Anglo Irish Bank.[10]

With Kelleher running the project, much of the uncertainty of its development has been greatly diminished, since "He's putting up 100 percent of the equity so he doesn't have the financing problems [the original developer] had."[23] He also had financial backing to acquire the land, something Carley lacked. Kelleher stated he would consider using Carley's services on the development and that "Carley will be paid an unspecified sum for his involvement in the deal so far". [24] Kelleher later renamed the project "Chicago Spire" after shortly going by "400 North Lake Shore Drive", as it was no longer a Fordham project.[24]

Status

In the final quarter of 2006, Shelbourne Development issued two separate press releases regarding the construction and design of the spire. In a November 2006 press release it stated that construction of the Chicago Spire would begin in June of 2007.[4] In early December 2006 Shelbourne Development issued another press release stating that the design of the building had been revised. This included the removal of the hotel and broadcast antenna, making the building all condominiums. The design change altered the twist to be consolidated towards the base of the building, which was also wider than the original plan. Additionally, the spire no longer tapered at the top, resulting in increased floor space and more total floors. Finally, the revision removed the separate parking structure from the original plan, instead incorporating underground parking into the spire itself.[1] In late December 2006 the Chicago Tribune reported that the developer was soliciting opinions on a further revision from community leaders.[25] Several weeks following that report the Chicago Tribune held an exclusive interview with Santiago Calatrava, the architect, and Garrett Kelleher, the lead developer. During the interview, Calatrava drew out design ideas restoring the rotating design of the building and showcasing his vision for the Chicago Spire's lobby. The current design represents a more definite version of the project's final form.[16] In 2007, following a request for opinions on further revisions, Kelleher provided the Chicago Tribune with computer renderings and additional drawings of the newest revision to the building .[16]

Public opinion

There was widespread support for the original design of the building among both the residents of the immediate neighborhood and the city of Chicago as a whole partly because the building would block less sunlight and obscure less of the skyline than what the land was originally zoned for. However the first major redesign of the Chicago Spire, released in late 2006, was criticized by architectural critics and city officials.[20] Several weeks later a second major redesign was released and it was reported that public hearings on the topic of the newest design of the Spire are supposed to be held March of 2007.[16]

Opposition from some neighborhood residents comes from concern over increased congestion. Donald Trump immediately came out against this building saying it would be a target for terrorists and did not seem to even be a project.[26] His current project, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, is currently under construction just a few blocks west of the Chicago Spire's proposed site and would be in direct competition with the Chicago Spire.

File:Richardmdaleyportrait.jpg
Mayor Daley

Political approval

Chicago Mayor Daley said he approved of the design saying it was environmentally friendly and has been generally supportive of the effort. On March 16, 2006 the Fordham Spire passed unanimously during that day's meeting of the Chicago Plan Commission[27] and on March 23 the same happened at the city's Zoning Committee meeting. On March 29 The Chicago City Council approved the tower.[28] As part of the approval process, the council passed a measure that raised the height limit on structures at the site to accommodate the 2,000-foot tower. Natarus, who was the 42nd ward alderman when the building was announced, said "This is a very unique opportunity for the city of Chicago. This building belongs to Chicago and should be in Chicago." [7]

See also

References

Further reading

  • Keegan, E. (2005). Calatrava designing massive tower in Chicago. Architectural Record, 193, 29.
  • McKeoug, T. (2006). Artist at work: Santiago Calatrava. Azure, 22, 56-61.
  • Nobel, P. (2005). Onward and upward? Four years after 9/11 - at perhaps the peak of the real estate bubble - very tall has never been hotter. Metropolis, 25, 66-72.
  • Pridmore, J., & Larson, G.A. (2005) Chicago Architecture and Design : Revised and expanded. Harry N. Abrams, Inc.: New York.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. (2006, December 07). Shelbourne Development Files New Design of The Chicago Spire with the City of Chicago. Press release.
  2. ^ a b c d e Baeb, E., & Gallun, A (2006, December 06). Calatrava tower to drop spire. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?rssFeed=news&id=23109
  3. ^ a b Maxwell, T. (2007, January 15). Tallest tower will be built, developer pledges. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 18, 2007, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-070115spire,1,1024654.story
  4. ^ a b c Business Wire (2006, November 15). Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. Announces Global Team to Build 400 North Lake Shore Drive. Press release.
  5. ^ Repeat. (2006). Calatrava's Latest Twist from Spire to Licorice Stick Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://lynnbecker.com/repeat/calatravachicago/calatravachicago.htm
  6. ^ a b Chicago Architecture.info. (2006) Chicago Spire : 420 East North Water Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/ShowBuilding/357.php
  7. ^ a b c Bush, H. (2006, March 22). The coronation of Calatrava. Chicago Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2006, form http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=60&ArticleID=1507&TM=83215.53 Cite error: The named reference "032206ChicagoJournal" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Associated Press. (2005, July 27). Tallest U.S. skyscraper proposed for Chicago. MSNBC. Retrieved January 29, 2007, from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8715644/
  9. ^ Corfman, T. (2006, July 19). Carley’s back finds familiar wall in bid to build Fordham Spire. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=21390
  10. ^ a b Marin, M. (2006, July, 20). Irish Developer Will Build North America's Tallest Building in the Windy City. Multi-Housing News. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://www.multi-housingnews.com/multihousing/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002876823
  11. ^ Herrmann, A. (2006, September 18). A DuSable park at last? Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060918/ai_n16733817
  12. ^ a b Palmer, L. (2002, August 8). DUSABLE PARK PROJECT Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.saic.edu/~lpalmer/index.html
  13. ^ Palmer, L. (Unknown Last Update). 3 acres on the lake : dusable park. Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.laforum.org/forum_issue_5_parks/3_acres_on_the_lake_dusable_park_chicago_by_laurie_palmer
  14. ^ Tzonis, A. (2004) Santiago Calatrava : the complete works. Rizzoli: New York.
  15. ^ Exoo, T. (2006, September 22). Ask Chicagoist: A-spire-ing Tower? Message posted to http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2006/09/22/ask_chicagoist_aspireing_tower.php
  16. ^ a b c d e Kamin, B. (2007, January 21). New twists for lakefront skyscraper. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2007, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0701210430jan21,1,6381991.story?track=rss
  17. ^ Pridmore, J., & Larson, G.A. (2005) Chicago Architecture and Design : Revised and expanded. Harry N. Abrams, Inc.: New York.
  18. ^ a b Hampton, T. (2006, March 27). Chicago Builders Ride Next 'Supertall' Wave - Developers in the Windy City have their eyes set on luxury residences climbing over. Retrieved February 15, 2007, from http://www.empireprojects.com/Articles.3-06-Construction.com.Chicago-Supertall.htm
  19. ^ Kamin, B. (2007, December 7). Major redesign is latest twist in plan for spire. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2007, from http://www.bdcnetwork.com/index.asp?layout=articleXml&xmlId=543234652&nid=2073
  20. ^ a b Jacobs, S. (2007, January 14). Spinning politics with the Spire. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 22, 2006, from http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/210600,CST-CONT-spire14.article
  21. ^ a b Salvadori, M. (1982). Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  22. ^ Corfman, T., & Kamin, B. (2005, July 26). Tallest tower to twist rivals: Trump blasts iffy edifice that would put his in shadow. Chicago Tribune, pp. 1, news.
  23. ^ Comerford, M. (2006, July 20). New developer in works for site of Fordham Spire. Daily Herald, pp. 1, Business.
  24. ^ a b Roeder, D. (2006, July 20). New twist in spire project. Chicago Sun-Times, pp. 51, Front.
  25. ^ Kamin, B. (2006, December 21). Controversial skyscraper plan gets new look. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2006, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061221tower-story,1,6758570.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
  26. ^ Slevin, P. (2005, July 25). Chicago Developer Wants to Erect Tower With a Twist. The Washington Post. pp. A.03
  27. ^ McHugh, M. (2006, March 16). Planning commission approves Fordham Spire. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved December, 11, 2006, from http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=19877
  28. ^ Yue, L. (2006, March 29). City Council OKs Fordham Spire. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=20016

External links

41°53′23.32″N 87°36′52.91″W / 41.8898111°N 87.6146972°W / 41.8898111; -87.6146972

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