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

[honte]

^^ True enough. Gherkin is a bit of an extreme example.

What I am looking for, in a broader sense, are buildings that really have something to say. Modernism in its time had very powerful symbolic, ideological, and aesthetic meaning behind it that spoke to people. I'm not sure that is holds those values today, and hence buildings like 300, which artistically are not much of a departure, are lessened.

Since every building can't be - shouldn't be? - a Gherkin, I'd be interested to see buildings that have more to say about environmental concerns, lifestyles in the city, new definitions/ideas about sidewalk interaction, etc. What about new means of interaction between office workers - or flow of information in a digital age? There are tons of ideas and valid reasons to reconsider the old form of office buildings. Foster's trademark sky gardens are a good example of a fairly cost-effective change.

In any case, we should be happy to have such high-quality design and not a bunch of schlock like so much of what's being built across the country.

[Alliance]

Chicago just needs to have new variation in form...(maybe take a page or two from Europe in this regard...with St. Mary's Axe, Bisphosgate Tower, the Shard, Tour Phare, Russia Tower, and that new one in Marseille..maybe even the CCTV building in Beijing) ...Aqua and the Spire are clearly leading this. Aqua's street level is obviously a plus. I think that is the way to go in Chicago. Taller, thiner, more amorphous. I love boxes, but I also love variety and while its nice to be all retro, we don't want to have a modern revival of Modernism (is that even possible?) like Burnham (bless his soul) revived Classicism for the Worlds Fair. It sets architecture back and doesn't tap the true potential of talent in Chicago (Gang )

I feel that the age of the box is ending. Obviously it will never go away...because its so dman efficient. But pressure to build otherwise should be presnt in Chicago, imo.

300N. LaSalle is classy, but its not a push forward. Like Trump imo, but hopefully with better quality glass (which shouldn't be hard to do).

[ardecila]

Why is it that the styles invented by the Romans and Greeks were good enough for 3000 years of building (and counting), yet Miesian Modernism is done within 60 or 70 years?

Also, don't rag on Burnham, and especially not with Sullivan's line about setting architecture back. The World's Fair, it's architecture, and its planning inspired countless cities around the country to plan and build large-scale parks, boulevards, and civic institutions that radically improved urban quality-of-life. If Sullivan had designed the whole thing, no matter how progressive it may have been, it is doubtful that the Fair would have had the same effect.

[honte]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Why is it that the styles invented by the Romans and Greeks were good enough for 3000 years of building, yet Miesian Modernism is done within 60 or 70 years?

It's not, certainly not, and obviously we're still seeing its power and vision today with all the Buck and Hines buildings.

And yet, as Alliance says, there are a number of other ideas happening in office markets that are not being expressed so far in Chicago. Those ideas largely are derivative of Miesian modernism, and yet, they have a lot of new ideas to add to the mix. (Not surprising, the closer to Miesian rationality - eg, Foster - the better they seem to me.) That's all I'm trying to say.

What does 300 North LaSalle have to say about the world and about architecture? Is it making any kind of statement? Would that even be a good idea? Or, is it just pretty?

[itsnotrequired]

Originally Posted by harryc

What is a "sonotube"

Paper concrete forms.

http://www.sonotube.com/

[LoyolaBeachView]

300, Waterview, Aqua and Legacy all coming out of the ground at the same time =

[harryc]

Originally Posted by itsnotrequired

Paper concrete forms.

http://www.sonotube.com/

Thxs

[djvandrake]

Originally Posted by honte

It's not, certainly not, and obviously we're still seeing its power and vision today with all the Buck and Hines buildings.

And yet, as Alliance says, there are a number of other ideas happening in office markets that are not being expressed so far in Chicago. Those ideas largely are derivative of Miesian modernism, and yet, they have a lot of new ideas to add to the mix. (Not surprising, the closer to Miesian rationality - eg, Foster - the better they seem to me.) That's all I'm trying to say.

What does 300 North LaSalle have to say about the world and about architecture? Is it making any kind of statement? Would that even be a good idea? Or, is it just pretty?

I would be so bold as to say that 300 N. Lasalle represents a significant evolution of Miesian modernism, and an improvement to it as well!

*ducks*

Miesian architecture with the beauty that is it's simplicity failed to excite a good number of enthusiasts (myself included) due to a lack of visual stimulus. They're big black boxes that do what they do very well. This may be a simplistic opinion, but I prefer a touch more flair, ornamentation, and even a feature or two that serve no function other than visual excitement (like illuminated features, crowns, etc.)

300 North Lasalle (in my opinion) takes the best of Miesian functional design and puts a 21st century skin on it. The high quality glass, stainless steel, and design elements at the top of the building are what make this one of the best additions to the world's skyline without being overstated and flashy. This building is a class act worthy of the Chicago river.

[BVictor1]

Steel is going in. I noticed it while on the boat.

[SolarWind]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Steel is going in. I noticed it while on the boat.

If anyone cares to look, there's a picture of it on the previous page.

[ardecila]

djvandrake, have you SEEN the Seagram Building in person? Illinois Center doesn't compare.

[djvandrake]

Originally Posted by ardecila

djvandrake, have you SEEN the Seagram Building in person? Illinois Center doesn't compare.

No I haven't. I've never had the pleasure of visiting New York. That doesn't change my opinion that if you stand the completed 300 N. Lasalle next to the Seagram building or IBM building, I would choose 300 North Lasalle any day of the week. Visually, I find it a much more appealing design.

I can see elements of Mies in the design of 300, and the point of my post was I feel the architect has taken some inspiration from the beautiful functionality that defines Miesian Modernism. Yet given 300 a more modern and fresh look. It may not be a groundbreaking, eath-shattering, paradigm shifting design that some would like (and some claim is dull). BUT, I think it is an evolution of Miesian Modernism that is welcomed. It's clean, functional, has visual interest, and should make a beautiful addition.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by SolarWind

If anyone cares to look, there's a picture of it on the previous page.

Shit, you're right. My bad

[harryc]

They already had som of the sheet steel down for the floors Friday, lower floors will be parking garage.

The pipes that hold up the coffer dam (?) will be left in until all the floors are done and then removed in pieces.

As with block 37 the lowest floor of the basement is being excavated after the steel frame is already rising. Trump and Waterview both finished the bottom floor then started up - concrete vs steel ?

[harryc]

[SolarWind]

July 11, 2007

[ColumbusTim79]

Will the core keep going higher or stop now for the steel to rise?

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by ColumbusTim79

Will the core keep going higher or stop now for the steel to rise?

I see no reason for it stopping? Why would they stop building the core (which is perfectly capable of supporting itself) just because they started putting in steel? The people who put in the steel are a whole different group of workers, a whole different union I think. In all likelyhood the concrete will keep rising and the steel will probably catch up.

[harryc]

Hot off the RAM - taken from LaSalle st, S end of site.

Note how the braces are being left in until the floors are finished.

[ColumbusTim79]

Wow almost to street level with the steel