CHICAGO | 300 North LaSalle | 785 FT / 239 M | 60 FLOORS

[Wild Onion Mike]

You know, I'm not an architect, engineer, or urban planner, so my opinion doesn't count for anything. But still, I gotta say those first two pictures look ridiculuosly beautiful!

A quick question. Is it true that most of the glass for skyscrapers now comes from overseas? And if so, is this because of cheaper labor or specialization from a technology only implemented abroad? Curious

[honte]

^ Yes. Price is a big part of it.

The other aspect is that there are only a handful of major glass companies left in the world - 4 or 5 of them. They produce almost everything, and they are all overseas (with US subsidiaries most of the time). Most of the glass innovation is happening in Europe.

[Via Chicago]

Now THATS the way glass should be done. puts trump to shame.

[jcchii]

wow. that looks really good.

great building, great site.
possible home run on tap

[harryc]

There is a sample of the curtain wall, w glass, by the tracks, just W of Clark.
You can walk down and see it ( enter from LaSalle ).

The steel beams are starting to arrive, even before the basement is done.

[Busy Bee]

The other aspect is that there are only a handful of major glass companies left in the world - 4 or 5 of them. They produce almost everything, and they are all overseas (with US subsidiaries most of the time). Most of the glass innovation is happening in Europe.

What about Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG)? Are they not a major player anymore?

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

Photo of the curtain wall:

Drop dead georgous. This project just keeps getting better.

Originally Posted by jcchii

wow. that looks really good.

great building, great site.
possible home run on tap

:up:

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

Now THATS the way glass should be done. puts trump to shame.

Its not a TRUMP LUXURY FUNHOUSE though.

Its a real building for people with taste...

[SolarWind]

July 3, 2007

[Fabb]

The core seems off centered.
I hadn't noticed that before.

[SolarWind]

July 6, 2007



Installation of the steel frame has begun.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^
Sweet! Great News, this building should really start to fly up in no time!

I also absolutely love the Facade pictures, I can't wait to see this building when it is finished! I hope the Spire has a similar glass and Stainless look to it! That would really help to date this buildings as a distinct design family from a distinct boom...

[RickBass]

I took a boat trip down the Chicago River on July 4th. Here are some pics.

Enjoy!





This picture doesn't give it justice but the counterwieght on the crane absolutely took all of my attention when looking at it in person. I just couldn't help imagining those huge things (they must weigh a few number of tons, I would guess) falling 15 stories. What a scary sight that would be!



This next picture was a big surprise for me. A couple of interesting details:

1. The core is semi-hollow. The very center of the core seems to have floors (I can't really tell) But the left and right sides are hollow! I guess they're going to use steel floors inside the core as well. That kinda blew me away (not that I have any clue about core construction - that's why I love this site - I'm learning new stuff everyday!).

2. Interesting little holes in in between the floors. Probably for plumbing and electrical would be my best guess. I wonder what the star looking like things are inside the holes. Rebar? Why would rebar be inside the hole? Wouldn't it get in the way of plumbing (or whatever else the holes are used for)?

[Dougall5505]

the core is hollow because the elevators have to go up and down inside it.

[RickBass]

Well. Them are some mighty BIG elevators then!

But seriously. That makes sense. Once I thought about it for a bit.

Thanks!

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Did anyone catch this article linked to on the front page of skyscrapernews.com?

"Hines Plan New Chicago Skyscraper

Yet another skyscraper by property developer, Hines, is set to grace the Chicago skyline at 300 North LaSalle.

Set on the north bank of the Chicago river the plan is for a rather uninspiring but typically Chicagoesque corporate-friendly box designed by Pickard Chilton which will stand on the waterfront at a height of 244 metres (60 storeys) making it upon completion the 10th tallest tower in the city.

Covering 140,000m2 the tower will comprise of office, retail and public spaces, with 30 floors (65,000m2) of the tower being taken up by prominent Chicago lawyers Kirkland Ellis as their new headquarters, the remaining office space it is hoped will be filled by other prestigious companies.

Floor plates of 2,300 square metres and 3 metre high ceilings provide versatility to layout as well as spaciousness for the occupiers of the grade A offices.

The tower has already won precertification Gold given by the US Council for Green Building due to the E class glass used which will maximize daylight whilst minimising solar heat gain, the tower also features a 50% green roof.

Clad in clear glass and stainless steel, the design although dull does have a certain amount of elegance and will be crowned by an articulated, incandescent stainless steel "beacon" that will be recognisable in the cityscape.

At ground level a 3 storey lobby of the building will add a touch of glamour to the build featuring a 37 metre long screen made of cherry wood and steel whilst the floor will be marble - a material palette that will continuous throughout the project.

A sunlit public garden will provide direct access to the water, front whilst a cascading plaza featuring landscaped terraces and ample seating and a large café which will offer spectacular views of the cities skyline.

Other amenities will include a fine dining restaurant, a conference centre, a fitness studio, bank and sundry shopping facilities. Parking for 240 cars over three levels will also be provided.

Financed by J P Morgan Construction and Hines themselves it is hoped that this $480 million project will be up and running by early 2009."

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1003

I'm not sure who penned it, but I can't help but ask myself whether he or she is looking at the same renderings that I am. Aside from that, the disrespect for Modernism and its historical significance in Chicago is astounding.

[honte]

^ Yes, very interesting.

As a true lover of Modernism, I sadly have to say nonetheless that the phrase "rather uninspiring but typically Chicagoesque corporate-friendly box" does indeed define most of the office towers built here since the 1980s.

I think 300 is a decent design, hopefully very well crafted, but I've complained here before that I think it's one of the least distinctive of P-C's towers. I wonder if we'll ever get something like the Gherkin - a truly inventive, redefining type of office building, instead of well-designed but "rather uninspiring" repeats?

[itsnotrequired]

Originally Posted by RickBass

2. Interesting little holes in in between the floors. Probably for plumbing and electrical would be my best guess. I wonder what the star looking like things are inside the holes. Rebar? Why would rebar be inside the hole? Wouldn't it get in the way of plumbing (or whatever else the holes are used for)?

It is hard to tell from the photo but they appear to simply be concrete forms. It looks like bracing inside of a sonotube.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by itsnotrequired

It is hard to tell from the photo but they appear to simply be concrete forms. It looks like bracing inside of a sonotube.

What is a "sonotube"

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by honte

^ Yes, very interesting.

As a true lover of Modernism, I sadly have to say nonetheless that the phrase "rather uninspiring but typically Chicagoesque corporate-friendly box" does indeed define most of the office towers built here since the 1980s.

I think 300 is a decent design, hopefully very well crafted, but I've complained here before that I think it's one of the least distinctive of P-C's towers. I wonder if we'll ever get something like the Gherkin - a truly inventive, redefining type of office building, instead of well-designed but "rather uninspiring" repeats?

A corporate equivalent to the Chicago Spire, in other words? Of course you're right, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place or a need for really good design, even if it's not revolutionary. I can't help but think that a city of two dozen "Gherkins" would just be a visual mess of starquitect erections poorly integrated into their surroundings.

[Nowhereman1280]

Whoever wrote that article not only lacks an appreciation and understanding of modernism, but is also a terrible writer... I've never hear so much phony unecessary fancy-sounding words used in one spot in my life. Did anyone else notice that the word "whilst" is used about 5 times in that article?