Jahn Builds in Streeterville
In this morning's Chicago Sun-Times, David Roeder reports on a residential development at 600 N. Fairbanks (on the northwest corner of Ohio and Fairbanks) in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood. Designed by Helmut Jahn, and developed by Geoffrey Ruttenberg of The Brixton Group, the 27-story high-rise would offer 197 residences, generous glazing, and a celebration of the automobile via a ramp to the parking garage visible at the base of the building. The garage itself would be built over an existing three-story building to the north, currently housing such local dining favorites as Timothy O'Toole's, West Egg, and the Indian Garden.
Image scanned from the Sun-Times
Streeterville is a neighborhood of high-rises, this site being almost on its "edge", close to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital that occupies the blocks to the north (right in the image above). Having been a parking lot recently and just a plain 'ol vacant lot before that, it is refreshing to see a proposal for the site's use. I don't foresee any local opposition to the development, since 27 stories in this area is not that big (though the article mentions the units will have ten-foot ceilings, pushing up the actual height of the building to a comparable 30-story structure).
Also the simple design is inoffensive, though I hope the romantic notion of putting the parking ramp on display is successful when built. The Contemporaine takes a similar risk at its base and pulls it off, though it doesn't strive for the level of transparency that Jahn's rendering indicates. Regardless, it appears that architects are (finally!) finding creative ways to deal with Chicago's required parking for residential structures, that is beyond the common "hide it behind the facade" solution. Not only does Jahn put it on display, he lifts it up and over another building, seemingly defying gravity in the process.
Now it remains to see if the project goes ahead, though according to the article, "buyers have shown a preference toward modern designs in most of the latest projects being marketed."
Image scanned from the Sun-Times
Streeterville is a neighborhood of high-rises, this site being almost on its "edge", close to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital that occupies the blocks to the north (right in the image above). Having been a parking lot recently and just a plain 'ol vacant lot before that, it is refreshing to see a proposal for the site's use. I don't foresee any local opposition to the development, since 27 stories in this area is not that big (though the article mentions the units will have ten-foot ceilings, pushing up the actual height of the building to a comparable 30-story structure).
Also the simple design is inoffensive, though I hope the romantic notion of putting the parking ramp on display is successful when built. The Contemporaine takes a similar risk at its base and pulls it off, though it doesn't strive for the level of transparency that Jahn's rendering indicates. Regardless, it appears that architects are (finally!) finding creative ways to deal with Chicago's required parking for residential structures, that is beyond the common "hide it behind the facade" solution. Not only does Jahn put it on display, he lifts it up and over another building, seemingly defying gravity in the process.
Now it remains to see if the project goes ahead, though according to the article, "buyers have shown a preference toward modern designs in most of the latest projects being marketed."
[Moved by web page administrator from original HaloScan comment box]:looks a bit like Bertrand Goldberg meets Ludwig Hilberseime
ReplyDelete[Moved by web page administrator from original HaloScan comment box]:Lohan and John Buck tried something like that on Wacker north of the Sears Tower. I don't know how well they pulled it off since I have been near there since it has been finished. The original design for that was pretty interesting since the building was all hung off the center core. So you had no exterior columns for the first 30-40 feet and the parking ramp that spiralled around the core. It would have had a very clean look, but I think the design got muddled up along the way.
ReplyDelete[Moved by web page administrator from original HaloScan comment box]:The Lohan tower at 111 S. Wacker has 8 massive exterior columns at ground level, none in the corners. The lobby is dramatic, but the building is utterly pedestrian from there on up. I was disappointed by the curtain wall, and massing of the building - The Hyatt Center across the street is elegantly sculpted and clad in comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe Jahn building looks awfully clumsy in that rendering. I wonder about that garage - is it cantilevered over the neighboring property? I guess they must own it now, which makes for a generous gesture to leave it standing, for a developer.
[Moved by web page administrator from original HaloScan comment box]:After the post, I checked www.skyscrapers.com and saw some recent photos. Pretty disappointing after knowing what was originally planned. I believe the original plan had a much higher lobby or the building was not as wide. On the other hand, the Hyatt next door looks really nice.
ReplyDeleteI'm no structural engineer, but I highly doubt the garage is cantilevered. My guess is either the existing structure has enough capacity to take four storeys of garage or they will punch columns through the existing and build some new foundations. Tim O'Tooles will have more counter space with no leg room.
[Moved by web page administrator from original HaloScan comment box]:Just came upon the site. I am no engineer or architect, but must say this particular building is un-eloquent, truly unappealing. Perhaps detail will bring some interest, certainly not the engineering, nor the car ramp. New york would knock this baby down in a heart beat. its a hunk a junk. I feel for you chicago.
ReplyDelete