Densely populated neighborhoods like Chicago's Old Town or the Chicago Gold Coast can offer relatively inexpensive studios and one-bedroom apartments among their many high-rise apartment buildings. Still, affordable apartments are to be found in high-rise Chicago apartment buildings. Today, the scene is quite a departure from the rustic wood cabin that served as a gathering point along the city's waterway. Some of the city's first non-native settlers frequented this spot. Why? Wolf Point was the site of Chicago's first hotel in the 1830s. Fun fact: the original Chicago civic symbol, which looks like a letter 'Y' enclosed within a circle (as opposed to the now-ubiquitous red stars and blue stripes of the Chicago flag), was modeled after this geographic point interest. Take the new high-rise apartments for rent at Wolf Point East. Renters can see all three branches of the Chicago River from this tower that rises an impressive 60 stories at the confluence of the river's north, south, and main branches. These views command respect, no doubt about it, but that added height also means that high-rise apartments at the city's newest towers also command higher rents. Renters at some of the tallest apartment buildings in Chicago can get world-class views of city landmarks like Grant Park, Soldier Field, the Merchandise Mart, and the glorious blue expanse of Lake Michigan. On hot summer days, the building's street-level plaza serves as an oasis in the middle of the city, complete with a lush garden and a waterfall.Renters who call some of the tallest apartment buildings home can quickly scope out northwest Indiana from the upper floors. ![]() Today, the building’s tenants include a mix of residential apartments, retail and office spaces, and a 94th-floor café and observatory where visitors enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. Plans were changed.ĭespite a financial crunch that prompted the building to change ownership from Jerry Wolman to John Hancock in the midst of construction, it was completed in 1968. Upon further economic analysis, the team determined that a trussed, single tower was more cost effective. A smaller site meant a tight squeeze, and architect Bruce Graham recognized that it wasn’t going to be big enough for the two planned towers. But the private Casino Club just east of the site refused to sell its lot to the developers. The original plan called for two buildings to be built on the site. In Chicago tradition, the form of the building follows its function. The retail space and parking garage require larger floors, but few windows, while residents of the condominiums want windows to allow them to gaze over Chicago, requiring the floors to be smaller. The shape was not driven by a desire for beauty, but rather is the result of the needs of those using the building. The tapering, obelisk shape of the Hancock Center gives it a unique, beautiful silhouette on the Chicago skyline. This design made it possible to build to unprecedented heights. The lateral load-resisting system also reduces the need for internal columns, opening up the building’s interior and increasing available floor space.Įngineer Fazlur Khan's idea of the "trussed tube system" was an important stage in the development of the skyscraper. ![]() The X-bracing on the building's exterior enables it to resist wind loads. The tapered rectangular tube-with giant trusses on each of the four sides-doesn’t hide how the building stands up. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill chose a bold form for the 875 N. ![]() An additional half a brace extends from floors 92-97. Did You KnowĮach side of the building has five X-shaped braces that stretch from floors 2-20, 21-37, 38-55, 56-74 and 75-91. With some of the nation's fastest elevators, you'll arrive at the Observatory in 39 seconds. Once per year, there is a race up these stairs for charity. There are 1,632 steps from the main lobby to the observatory on the 94th floor.
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