Along the way to Navy Pier, you can’t help but notice Lake Point Tower. Completed in 1968, this 645-foot-tall (197 m) skyscraper has three rounded lobes, evenly spaced at 120-degree angles. The building’s curves are designed so that residents cannot see into each other’s windows. If you think the tower has a “modern” look, you might be surprised to learn that the design was actually influenced by a plan drawn by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1922!

The developer constructed the tower taller than its original plan (at the architects’ request), so that when it was complete, the building had the highest residences above ground in the world. (John Hancock Center surpassed this accomplishment a year later.) It is and always will be the only tall building east of Lake Shore Drive; a city ordinance prohibits construction of any new towers.

Finally, Lake Point Tower was once the home of Chicago Cubs player Sammy Sosa, and it was the temporary home for many actors while they were working in Chicago, including Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, Anthony Quinn, and Tom Selleck.¹

Lake Point Tower’s design influenced two other residential towers on the lakefront. A good friend of mine lives at Park Tower Condominiums, which stands at 513 feet (156 m) with 54 stories and was completed in 1973. Originally an apartment building, it is the second-tallest building in Chicago outside of the downtown area. Both Lake Point Tower and Park Tower were intended to be one of three identical skyscrapers, but in both cases, the other two structures never came to fruition. And while the two buildings do look similar, they are the results of two different sets of architectural firms (Schipporeit-Heinrich and Graham, Anderson, Probst & White for Lake Point Tower; Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz for Park Tower).²

The youngest of the bunch is Harbor Point, located on the south end of Lake Shore Drive. In 1975, the 550-foot (168 m) tower was in fact the last skyscraper to be built east of the Drive, but when the road was rerouted, the building ended up on the west side of it.³ It was the project of the same team who designed Park Tower Condominiums and provides its residents with great views of Grant Park and Millennium Park.

All three of these residential towers feature shaded windows and three rounded arms that extend from a central axis. They all exemplify how condominium structures can be more than rectangular boxes of glass, steel, and concrete.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) afagen, Dr.Flemming

Lake Point Tower: 505 N Lake Shore Dr
Public trans: Bus # 2, 29, 65, 66, 124
http://www.lakepointtower.org/

Park Tower Condominiums: 5415 N Sheridan Rd
Public trans: Bus # 136, 147, 151 or Red Line train (Berwyn, Bryn Mawr)

Harbor Point Tower: 155 N Harbor Dr
Public trans: Bus # 60
http://www.neweastside.com/harborpoint.htm

¹ Terranova, A. (2003). Skyscrapers. White Star.
² (n.d.). Park Tower Condominiums, Chicago. Retrieved September 8, 2008, from Emporis.com Web site: http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=5415northsheridan-chicago-il-usa
³ (n.d.). Harbor Point, Chicago. Retrieved September 8, 2008, from Emporis.com Web site: http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=harborpoint-chicago-il-usa

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Today’s apartment block is simple yet unique. Completed in 2002, the Wells Street Tower has 34 stories and stands 388 feet tall (118 m). While the green glass gives the building a modern feel, it’s the right triangle of a roof that makes it memorable. And what artistic expression does this interesting pyramid achieve? Well, actually, it’s a bit more practical than that. The right triangle covers up the mechanical elements at one end of the building.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex, Antre

Wells Street Tower: 701 S Wells St
Public trans: Bus # 145
http://www.wellsstreettower.net/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Most people who visit this structure though are visiting the ground level’s AMC Theatre, the largest cinema downtown with 21 screens. There are plenty of restaurants in the area, so it’s a good place for a date night’s dinner and a movie.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex, BWChicago, Antre

River East Center: 350 E Illinois St; 847-765-7AMC (7262) (theatre showtimes)
Parking garage
Public trans: Bus # 2, 29, 65, 66, 124

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, The Regatta offers its occupants some great views, including picturesque scenes like Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. Completed in 2007, this 466-foot (142 m), 44-story building reflects the glistening water of the nearby lake and river. (Neighbor to The Tides & The Shoreham,) The tower is a symbol of luxury, featuring an indoor swimming pool, rooftop garden, and theatre room complete with surround sound.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex (1, 2, 3, 4)

The Regatta: 425 E Wacker Dr
Public trans: Bus # 6
http://www.regattachicago.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Just two blocks north of Santorini and Greek Islands, the $75-million, 39-story Skybridge is a condo building that puts all the other concrete box-shaped buildings to shame. Completed in 2003, it is a symbol of inventive architecture: a twin-towered structure bound together by 250-foot long (76 m) transparent, glass bridges. Because of these glass hallways, you can actually look right through the building. And then, of course, there’s the “bridge” at the very top, giving the towers a unique skyline presence.

Photo credit: my percept…, YoChicago1

Skybridge: 1 N Halsted St
Public trans: Bus # 8, 20, 127
http://www.skybridgechicago.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The Tides: 360 E South Water St; 866-827-1931
Public trans: Bus # 60

The Shoreham: 400 E South Water St; 866-827-1931
Public trans: Bus # 60

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Let’s get some basic stats out of the way. Construction began in March of 2007, and the building is expected to be complete in 2009. It will stand 822 feet (251 m) tall with 87 stories and will be the first downtown building to combine condominiums, apartments, and hotel space. The first 18 floors will consist of 210 hotel rooms, the next 34 will contain rental residential units, and the top 28 floors will hold 263 condos and penthouses. (Strategic Hotels & Resorts, the same company which operates the Fairmont Hotel across the street, has agreed to acquire the first 15 floors of hotel space upon completion.)

But what will make this structure so unique are its balconies. Extending as much as 12 feet from the tower’s perimeter, the balconies undulate and change slightly from floor to floor, forming a rippling surface. This ground-breaking design makes for a complicated construction, as every floorplate is unique. In fact, the framework for the curving edges will be guided by a global positioning system (GPS). All that hard work is certainly appreciated though, and I for one can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

Aqua: 225 N Columbus Dr; 312-565-9600
Public trans: Bus # 3, X4, 4, 20, 26, 60, 143, 145, 147, 148, 151, 157
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Randolph)
Metra train Electric Line (Millennium Station)
http://www.lakeshoreeast.com/AQUA/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler