I usually hate spires but I kind of like it on this one. Hopefully they don't fuck it up like 1 WTC.

Tired of BS
 

I rarely post anything on here, but nothing drives me more through the ceiling than people complaining about density in the core of America's second largest urban center (LA doesn't count since Downers Grove would fit in LA County). When I moved to the city at 13th and Michigan in 2006, that area was so quiet despite being a block from Grant Park, but when 4 new high rises went up within 2 blocks of me, I was more excited about the growth of small businesses and the addition of entertainment and street life. Certainly, some people on Prairie and Indiana in the low rises didn't like it so much, but here's the bottom line:

When anyone decides to live within a few miles of the center of a large city's core, they effectively waive their right to oppose development based on density. You don't like too many parking spaces? Fine. You don't like the street level design and interaction the building would have with pedestrians? Fine. However, wanting some reasonable changes is a lot different from opposing something because it'll add traffic, block your views, create noise, and add people to your neighborhood. You live in Chicago, and it's what you signed up for. The quiet neighborhoods within the city's core should never have even existed in the first place, and even so are inevitably going to lose out to property values that will demand much more $ per square foot in the long run. Wolf Point is centralized very well in the middle of our nation's second largest city core. It commands density and unofficial landmark status in high rise design and use. NIMBYs have a purpose, but they make their reasonable points of opposition practically moot when they start bantering about their so-called unalienable rights to live in a cute, calm town on a river. Move to beautiful Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles if that's what you want. A river, some decent architecture and history, and less traffic. Then, you can complain when someone wants to build a 2million sf development next to your house and have logic on your side for once. I can't wait for Wolf Pointe to build out and stand impressive on the river's Y!

Does this mean that the current design's roof height is close to 950'? Because I thought the consensus was that it is near if not more than 1000', and that both current and past designs were definitively over 950'. I'm confused as to whether a new PD will happen, or if there is less to be certain about height-wise than we think. (does mechanical space count?)

Underside of top floor so.

950 + the top floor,crown, spires, and parapet.

I think it would be sick if they could incorporate the municipal device into the detailing of this building in some way. The new design is a bit more throwback and Pomo, so they may as well do it right and embed little Y's in the mullions or the crown or something. This is the right site for it considering this site is what the Y represents.

When comparing it to the other buildings in pixels it's at least 1000' to the roof, probably a little higher. The spire probably close to 1100 or more? :shrug:

This will be an awesome addition.

I just found an interior rendering for the new Wolf Point Hotel:

http://40.media.tumblr.com/43ff7d75b...gbto1_1280.jpg

Ugh. :facepalm: Such disappoint.

TimeOut has small picture of Wolf Point with the south tower sporting a spire.
http://media.timeout.com/images/102776957/image.jpg
TimeOut Chicago

Make that 1250 feet tall and it would look nice, with an illuminated changing color spire. :notacrook:

Wow. That looks almost cartoonishly tall. Hopefully we don't end up with something so graceless.

How is it "cartoonishly tall and graceless"? Care to elaborate?

I think the cladding will make or break this buildings cartoonish-ness. Also, the earlier comment about revising the setbacks was an astute one. That would help with its grace.

I think I like the original design better. The bow shape of the original south tower is more stylish and unique than the new designed. I almost wish it was a hybrid of both towers - keep the bow shape and add setbacks and a spire.

This could be a cost saving design. A tower without curves is probably cheaper.

I loathe the bowed middle of the original design - looks like an overweight skyscraper trying to fit into skinny jeans. The new design isn't groundbreaking, but at least it's a little more elegant.

I agree to a point. I wasn't a big fan of the bow either, but it would have been awesome if it were a cantilever akin to the Sofitel, projecting over the river.

It's also cheaper to have a tower where all of the floors are the same shape within each zone rather than having every floor slightly different, and therefore requiring custom slab edge form-work and a slightly different curtain wall design on every floor.

I'm not sold on the new design though. Like others have said, the proportions on the south tower setbacks are awkward and need more study.

it reminded me of some kind of larva before

This building is in a hard spot, it has to find away to address the south and main branch. Hopefully Cesar Pelli can pull it of.

At second glance, judging by the neighboring buildings (500 and 700+ ish) it looks to be at least approaching the 1200 range (to spire) so probably not too far off. :)

http://i.imgur.com/IkApU.jpg

I haven't seen this rendering of Wolf Point before. Now that I have, I'm *much* happier with the redesign. It's far more graceful than this fat thing.

I agree with all of you. I am not a fan of the new South Tower design from this perspective. It's kind of a mess.

I also agree with this assessment. IMO, the design would have been better served if they maintained the below elevation on all sides:

http://images.photo1.walgreens.com/2...84286324nu0mrj

...something akin to the PCP Salesforce Tower going up in San Francisco:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...t_Proposal.jpg

Is this a joke? :uhh:

^ who doesn't want a parrot sitting over the bed

Now that you say that, the old one somehow reminds me of a 1 WTC that's been sliced by a katana.

yes

Actually, the new design is growing on me a little bit. I need to see a side view, but the slenderness is appealing. Except for that damn spire. :yuck::yuck:

It looks like something you get if you asked a 12 year old to draw you a "really tall building"... or maybe like you took a 500 foot tall building out of Dallas or Charlotte or somewhere, clad it in glass (that awful blue glass that is oh so tiresome), and stretched it to double it's height. Oh, and then added a stick on the top. Come on guys, exit the 1990s for god's sake.

I mean, I knew Pelli Clarke Pelli kind of sucked as a firm, but come on. They should at least try to create something half as strong as the tower next door.

Quick shop job showing WPS with no spire and lower shoulders.

http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54yhvkvo.jpg

seems if you like the trump spire you would like this one

nice

Wow, nevermind this looks a lot better without a spire.

side by side:

http://media.timeout.com/images/102776957/image.jpg http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/...ps54yhvkvo.jpg

i guess i don't find the spire to be anywhere near as offensive as many others seem to. the spire neither makes or breaks this design for me.

I too have no strong opinions about the spire, but the lowered shoulders are a big improvement.

Now this is all I can think of...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3...Ic42/Shrug.PNG

lowered shoulders it looks like a giant ghost of NBC tower

I actually think a needle head design really complements its form

Maybe something else is needed WITH it, but it's an interesting concept

http://i.imgur.com/oSOtePj.jpg

Lol, I know, the more discerning forumers have really put this one in perspective.

Edit: My biggest concern is the blue glass. They should go with something more reserved to balance the kookiness of the design.

Being that this is just a rendering I doubt they will use exactly the same glass colors it shows just look at the west building id think they would match that similarly for cohesiveness

Definitely cleaner without the spire. It looks like a glued on afterthought.

dont lower the shoulders, raise the height of the building.

I've gotta say - I'm just the opposite here with respect to the evolution of my reaction to this new placeholder design - Wasn't crazy about it at first, and appears worse each time I view it.....it's awkward, proportions are all wrong, it's frankly dull, the spire is absolutely goofy, etc. Have to say, I'm with Mr. Servo all the way - the overall Wolf Point project got off to a tremendous bang, design-wise with the exceptionally nice West Tower.......this S tower version, without a major re-working of various facets would be a dud, and pale in comparison next to it........

But again, I have virtually no reason to think of this as anything but just another placeholder, so not sweating it........

DNA has some comments from Hines. https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2015...d-towers-spire

The rendering have also been taken down from the wolf point website, replaced with "Coming Soon".

Would this suggest that the design isn't finalized, or that they're waiting to release things in a more formal setting/manner?

Sure makes Wanda Vista look stupid.
The extra setbacks, terraces, and decorative windows add a sense of scale.

I don't think it's much taller --just a detailed design. See how important detail is?

Too toy-like, needs some refining.
No blue!

My *very quick* attempt

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/257/1...98e079ab_o.jpg

Wolf Point Mockup by HomrQT, on Flickr

No

:notacrook:

The spire looks fine.... Man o man you guys are tough to please.

The building redesign looks promising, but it's hard to say much from only one perspective. I would have thought more people would be happy that it's probably going to break 1000 ft. My only question is this.... What will trigger the green light and start of construction. Seems like the office market is going have a lot of upcoming supply with several new buildings under construction. Might be a while before this even breaks ground... Presuming it does at all.

Good, I hope that the design is more inline with the previous design!

The previous design was boring.

why would they change it again....