Chicago Spire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section contains information about expected future buildings or structures. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the building approaches completion. |
 |
| Chicago Spire | |
 Lot where the planned building is expected to be constructed. 13 April 2006 |
|
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | 400 North Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois |
| Status | Redesign city approval |
| Groundbreaking | 2nd quarter of 2007[3] |
| Est. Completion | 2010 (est.)[1][2] |
| Opening | 2010 (est.) |
| Use | Residential |
| Height | |
| Roof | 609.6 m (2,000 ft)[1][2] |
| Technical Details | |
| Floor count | 160 [1][2] |
| Floor area | 278,709 sq. m 3,000,000 sq. ft.[4] |
| Companies | |
| Architect | Santiago Calatrava |
| Developer | Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. |
Chicago Spire (formerly known as the Fordham Spire and 400 North Lake Shore Drive) is a proposed supertall skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, designed by Santiago Calatrava. It is currently being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. and is scheduled to be completed in 2010 with 160 floors.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] Development Status
On November 15, 2006 Shelbourne Development issued a press release stating that construction of the renamed Chicago Spire will begin in June of 2007.[3] The company acquired the site for tower in July and stated that it had finalized plans the building designers to going ahead with project. The press release also stated that the Chicago Spire will be the world's tallest residential building.
On December 7, 2006 Shelbourne Development issued another press release stating that the design of the building had been revised.[1] 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 is also wider than the original plan. The spire is also no longer tapered at the top, resulting in increased floor space and more total floors. Finally, the revision removes the separate parking structure from the original plan, instead incorporating underground parking into the spire itself.
[edit] Height
If completed, it would surpass Chicago's own Sears Tower, currently at 1,730 ft (527.3 m) tall, and New York's upcoming Freedom Tower, which is to be 1,776 ft (541 m) tall and become America's tallest tower. [1][2] Although this building will be very tall, it will not surpass Burj Dubai, currently under construction in Dubai, UAE. The current design, as of 07 December 2006, will surpass the CN Tower in Toronto as North America's tallest structure, as well as Q1 in Queensland as the tallest all-residential building.
[edit] Location
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. More specifically, the Spire is planned for the land at the junction of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River as a welcoming symbol to the City of Chicago. The empty lot where this building is planned to be built is bordered by the Ogden Slip of the Chicago River to the north, North Lake Shore Drive to the east and the Chicago River to the south. Residential property already exists to the west of the property.
[edit] Development History
Originally known as the Fordham Spire, the tower was proposed at 124 stories for Chicago developer Christopher T. Carley. Recently the new developer, Shelbourne Development Group, Inc., added 36 stories to the building and removed the transmission towers that were originally included. The raising of the roofline to maintain 2000 ft means it would surpass the Sears Tower and Freedom Tower even without a transmission antenna.
After Carley failed to obtain sufficient financing for the construction of the building, Irish developer Garrett Kelleher, executive chairman of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. acquired the land at 400 North Lake Shore Drive and will fund the development with the assistance of financing from Anglo Irish Bank.[5]
With Kelleher now running the project 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".[6] He also had financial backing to acquire the land, something Carley lacked. Kelleher said he will 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". [7] Kelleher is now calling the project the "Chicago Spire" after shortly going by "400 North Lake Shore Drive", as it is no longer a Fordham project.[7]
According to Shelbourne in their November press release it was to include a 5 star hotel. In the next month's press release, however, the hotel was eliminated from the design.[3]
[edit] Public opinion
There was widespread support for the original design among both the residents of the immediate neighborhood and the city of Chicago as a whole[8], especially as the building would block less sunlight and obscure less of the skyline than what the land was originally zoned for, two 35- to 50-story buildings, and would also be a global construction feat. According to Shelbourne Development, the new design has also received a favorable response from city homeowners and community groups.[1]
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 doesn't seem to even be a project,[9] although some in the media speculate that Trump is merely trying to downplay the enormous architectural impact Chicago Spire might have on his own lofty project, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which is currently under construction just a few blocks west of the proposed site for Chicago Spire.
[edit] Political approval
Mayor Daley recently 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[10] and on March 23 the same happened at the city's Zoning Committee meeting. On March 29 The Chicago City Council approved the tower.[11] 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. Mayor Daley and Alderman Burt Natarus praised the project, with Natarus saying "This is a very unique opportunity for the city of Chicago. This building belongs to Chicago and should be in Chicago." [12]
[edit] Images and Renderings
 |
[edit] See also
- List of buildings
- List of skyscrapers
- List of tallest buildings in Chicago
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- Shelbourne Development
- World's tallest structures
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. (2006, December 07). Shelbourne Development Files New Design of The Chicago Spire with the City of Chicago. Press release.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c Business Wire (2006, November 15). Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. Announces Global Team to Build 400 North Lake Shore Drive. Press release.
- ^ Repeat. (2006). Calatrava's Latest Twist from Spire to Licorice Stick Retrieved December 11, 2006, from http://lynnbecker.com/repeat/calatravachicago/calatravachicago.htm
- ^ 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
- ^ Comerford, M. (2006, July 20). New developer in works for site of Fordham Spire. Daily Herald, pp. 1, Business.
- ^ a b Roeder, D. (2006, July 20). New twist in spire project. Chicago Sun-Times, pp. 51, Front.
- ^ 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
- ^ Slevin, P. (2005, July 25). Chicago Developer Wants to Erect Tower With a Twist. The Washington Post. pp. A.03
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
[edit] External links
