That doesn't make any sense. . . I don't know of any city in the world where architects design with consideration of where the sun will or will not set on neighboring buildings. . . that's not how this works. . . that's not how any of this works. . .

. . .

Updating building height from elevation diagrams:

---60 Floors above ground
---3 Floors below ground
---835' 3" height to top of parapet as measured from Level B2 (restaurant/riverwalk)
---813' height to top of parapet as measured from Level 1 (main entrance)

. . .

I don't want to drag this out but you are very wrong. Of course not all (some don't give a shit) but many designers most definitely consider EVERYTHING. Have you not ever read or heard an architect speak of their reasons behind plans.

Disagree! Ask the designers of Trump Tower how they conceived their design. In relation and respect to its surrounding buildings and views. I could go on and on.

Trump was designed around the shape and size of the plot of land. The setbacks are a crafty homage to historic Chicago landmarks. You're talking apples and oranges here to the original debate, bhawk.

The debate was that designers never take their surroundings into consideration I thought. Which is completely inane, to use a fellow colleagues term. You said it yourself, the designers considered their surroundings in the Trump building design. Okay, you said "crafty homage" like it was an afterthought, I said considered. East Wacker Drive/East River canyon has become historic in it's essence and aura. It in itself is a Chicago landmark, imo. The riverboat business has grown exponentially. It is a huge tourist draw. Huge. Isn't it a reasonable suggestion to consider that dynamic? Ever notice nothing gets built around the Eifel Tower? (I know that's a wild comparison, but it holds that decisions were made to prevent poor views) NY could give a rats ass, but have you ever noticed nothing large gets built around the Empire State building? By chance? London is another prime example of building code etiquette.
I stand by my feeling. It is a single minded plan, with no reverence to location. But I'll live.

The debate was specifically about if/when/how the sun will set and the considerations thereof. . .

Look, you're new here. . . we're all aware what/why architects do what they do so this isn't new. . . don't get hung up on this, play nice and try not to derail the conversation too far off topic. . .

Thanks. . .

. . .

Agreed Bhawk. For the most part views are not protected, and not saying anyone building's views should be protected at Wolf Point. What I was getting at is this site plan absolutely just sticks a wall into the river corridor, a giant, wavy, dirty, streaky glass wall. There's nothing architecturally appealing about this. It will however create a new spatial dynamic, especially when the west side of river gets filled in and will become a true box canyon without an open end. At least a rounded, tapered tower could have allowed more light down to the river, played off Trump and 333 Wacker. This to me is a great opportunity lost. The new river canyon will still be cool but it wont have the vistas and interplay of towers it could have had with some better planning.

I think you're conflating "views" with other variables, like style choice or landmark designation. I would be willing to bet "views" were not taken into consideration in any of your stated examples. The riverboat business would do that much better if more towering skyscrapers were built along their routes. If "views" were a contributing factor, how would one building of similar height or taller ever get built next to another?

This building just seems like a shorter flatter version of OCS.. Not a fan, its sad that this building went from a prominent keystone of the Chicago River to a bland 700-800 ft blue glass office tower to blend in with the rest. WPW and WPE seem to have much more balanced massing and both have proven to have great detailing, so If the new tower has as much attention to detail as its brothers it wouldn't be a complete loss, but still disappointing.

I may have been misunderstood. I'm using the term views in reference to the sun set. Not peoples views from within the other buildings. And in my examples I meant views of certain buildings, like the Empire State building. Isn't it great that that gem isn't boxed in by a bunch of glass monstrosities? I initially said I see why they chose this plan because it sells "views" right down the river canyon. Yes. In the mean time they just put up a huge glass wall in front of enormously beneficial sun light. No offense to anyone, but I just don't understand the appeal of a dark shadowy canyon versus wonderful sun splashed river and buildings...like 333's beautiful green glass arc. That was the slot for it to happen. For the most part, say goodbye. Like Mark0 said above, wasted opportunity. Could've accomplished same goals with different plan. Anyway, here we are. Hope it works out.

ding

I agree... such a prime spot we were looking for something iconic...we just get a very nice tower... :shrug:

According to everyone that visits this site, every spot in Chicago is iconic and deserves a 1000 footer or it's a bust!

Lemonheads....

Wat. We have 1 river split. There's not any other site like it.

Lots want tall buildings in general, but there's no denying this is a special spot.

Forget your umbrella? ;)

UHHHH no. More like people screaming "BUILD IT" to anything thats proposed. Wolf point deserves so much better than this.

And I had so much respect for the Kennedy's...well the older ones. Kids today, smh.

The renderings make this building look so nice

835 is kinda lame (for this lot) but then again Chicago is one of the world's most spoiled skyscraper cities, so still a great addition

that kinda sums up my feelings as well.

the proposed building is certainly not offensive to me, but i was really hoping for something more magical at this supremely prominent spot.

Hines is playing it safe here. there's nothing objectively wrong with that (that's how successful businesses stay in business), but i imagine the final result will always feel a little bit like a lost opportunity to me.


it's a nice enough tower, but oh what could've been...........