Like massive structures of yore, skyscrapers are considered modern time monoliths because of their overwhelming impact on a viewer and the cityscape, as well as their impermeability. However, The St. Regis Chicago (Vista Tower) is a landmark which defies the monolithic stature.
Currently forming the third tallest building in the Chicago skyline, the design for the tower is based on the question: What if skyscrapers can be porous connectors, rather than barriers, for the public realm? Instead of one solid shape creating a dominating effect on the viewers, the result breaks the structure into an assortment of three interconnected volumes, graduating from the tallest West Core to the shortest East Core. The key motif in each volume is a truncated pyramid (a frustum), which spans a block of twelve stories. These blocks appear to be placed on top of each other in alternating configurations, one with the pyramid facing the right side up, and the other where the pyramid faces the downward. The overall impact of the alternating shapes is of fluidity and movement.
The design places the central volume in the middle of the bordering volumes to lift it up from the ground—literally opening the skyscraper to the public—allowing valuable public connections to form between the Chicago Riverwalk and the rest of the city.
The unique geometry creates a tall building with eight corners instead of four, providing inhabitants with daylight and fresh air from multiple orientations, while allocating green space atop the building’s various heights. Apart from a five-star hotel, the building’s program also accommodates condominium residences, restaurants, and other amenities.
Reinforcing the tower’s flowing appearance is a gradient of high-performance glass that has been optimized for solar performance according to the variations in floorplate size. To create the building’s stepped edges, “walking columns” align to the outer corners of the floor plates as they step in and out across the frustums (visible in during construction photo to the left).
The project team was as follows:
bKL Architecture, architect of record; Gensler, hotel architect; HBA, interior architect; Magnusson Klemencic Associates, structural engineer; dbHMS, MEP/FP design assist, LEED consultant, and IT; Mackie Consultants, civil engineer; Ground Engineering Consultants, Inc. (GEC), geotechnical engineers; RWDI, wind engineer; OLIN, landscape architect; Curtainwall Design Consulting, facade consultant; CD+M, hotel lighting consultant; Cini-Little, hotel kitchen consultant; FSS, vertical transportation consultant; Hugh Lighting Design, residential lighting design; WT Group/Innovative Aquatic Design, swimming pool consultant; Kimley-Horn, traffic consultant; Lee Herzog Consulting, facade access consultant; Shiner Acoustics, acoustic consultant; Simeone Deary Design Group, hotel public space interior design; and McHugh, general contractor.
Recently, the project received the following awards by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH):
Award of Excellence, Best Tall Building 300-399 meters [984-1309 ft], Audience & Category Winner, CTBUH Awards, 2022; Award of Excellence, Best Tall Mixed-Use Building, Audience Winner, CTBUH Awards, 2022; and Award of Excellence, Best Tall Building Americas, Audience Winner, CTBUH Awards, 2022.
Extreamly Amazing
I grew up looking at the sears tower all the way from 108th and Wentworth id walk one block west and stand on the train tracks to see it as a kid
This is another great site to see