Chicago Spire Totally Explained

Everything about The Chicago Spire totally explained

The Chicago Spire is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Chicago, Illinois. The building was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. After several months of development, Carley failed to acquire necessary financing and the project was taken over by Garrett Kelleher of the Shelbourne Development Group. Since that time, three major revisions were made to the design. Chicago developer Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company was spearheading the project. The building was planned to include a hotel and condominiums and also featured a tall broadcast antenna mast. On March 16 2006, the initial design of the building passed unanimously during that day's meeting of the Chicago Plan Commission and on March 23 2006, the same happened at the city's Zoning Committee meeting. On March 29 2006, The Chicago City Council also approved that design. As part of the approval process, the council passed a measure that raised the height limit on structures at the site to accommodate the 2,000-foot (610 m) tower.
There was widespread support for the original design of the building among both the residents of the immediate neighborhood and the city of Chicago as a whole, partly because the building would block less sunlight and obscure less of the skyline than would the uses for which the land was originally zoned. Chicago Mayor Daley said he approved of the design, stating that it was environmentally friendly. Chicago's 42nd Ward Alderman Burton F. Natarus, who was the local ward alderman when the building was announced, said: "This is a very unique opportunity for the city of Chicago. This building belongs to Chicago and should be in Chicago." His current project, however, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, is also a skyscraper that's currently under construction just a few blocks west of the Chicago Spire site and would be in direct competition with the Chicago Spire as the tallest residential structure.

Financial problems

After several months of development, Carley failed to obtain sufficient financing for the construction of the building. He also had financial backing to acquire the land, something Carley lacked. Kelleher stated he'd consider using Carley's services on the development and that "Carley will be paid an unspecified sum for his involvement in the deal so far." Kelleher later renamed the project "Chicago Spire" after shortly going by "400 North Lake Shore Drive", as it was no longer a Fordham project. In early December 2006, Shelbourne Development issued another press release stating that the design of the building had been revised. This included the removal of the hotel and antenna mast, making the building all condominiums. The design change altered the twist to be consolidated towards the base of the building, which was also wider than the original plan. Additionally, the spire no longer tapered at the top, resulting in increased floor space and more total floors. Finally, the revision removed the separate parking structure from the original plan, instead incorporating underground parking into the spire itself. This first major redesign of the Chicago Spire was criticized by architectural critics and city officials. Several weeks following that report the Chicago Tribune held an exclusive interview with Santiago Calatrava, the architect, and Garrett Kelleher, the lead developer. During the interview, Calatrava drew out design ideas restoring the rotating design of the building and showcasing his vision for the Chicago Spire's lobby.

Approval

Following the March 26 2007, public presentation by Shelbourne Development, residents showed favorable reaction to the newest design of the Chicago Spire. The Chicago Plan Commission approved the final plans of the Chicago Spire on April 19 2007. Chicago's zoning committee also approved the tower, on April 26 2007. On May 9 2007, the Chicago City Council approved the final design of the Chicago Spire.

Location

The skyscraper is being constructed along Chicago's lake front west of Navy Pier, located northeast of Chicago's Loop, in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The construction site is at the junction of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The site is bordered by the Ogden Slip of the Chicago River to the north, North Lake Shore Drive to the east, the Chicago River to the south, and existing residential property to the west. The site was originally zoned for two 35- to 50-story buildings. After numerous short-term extensions, and later Carley's failure to obtain financing, Kelleher of Shelbourne Development purchased the land instead and pledged to finance the rest of the project.

DuSable Park

When the project was first announced, the Fordham Company pledged almost $500,000 to assist in the development of the city's proposed DuSable Park, which would adjoin the property of the Chicago Spire. DuSable Park would sit on 3.24 acres (1.3 ha) and has a $11.4 million budget for its renovation. On March 26, 2007, Shelbourne pledged to pay $6 million toward the development of the park, making up the deficit left over from the city's own initial pledge of $6 million and far exceeding the Fordham Co's initial offer. In May of 2007 Shelbourne's pledge jumped to $9.6 million.
Soil tests performed in December of 2000 on the property of the proposed park, adjacent to the building site, showed contamination of radioactive thorium. Thorium was used by the Lindsay Light Company which operated a location nearby. After the closing of the location in the 1930s, contaminated soil was dumped on the location of the proposed park. In March 2003, the Chicago Park District stated that the thorium clean-up on that land was incomplete. Hazards of contamination can be avoided by laying a minimum of 6 inches (15 cm) of concrete over any affected soil, a process which would be more feasible for the site of the Chicago Spire than compared with the development of the adjacent park. For the design of the building, he likened the structure to an imaginary smoke spiral coming from a campfire near the Chicago River lit by Native Americans indigenous to the area, and also related the building's newly designed pinnacle to the "graceful" and "rotating forms" of a snail shell. In February of 2008, prices for the condominiums were announced as ranging from "$750,000 to $40 million" USD. For supplemental structural support, each floor would be surrounded by cantilevered corners and four concave sides. Similar to the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center skydecks, the Chicago Spire will house a community room at the top floor offering residents a view of four states. The soaring four story lobby of the skyscraper will have translucent glass walls and be framed by arching, steel reinforced concrete vaults. The building has been labeled as a giant "drill bit" by the public and others in the media have likened it to a "tall twisting tree" and a "blade of grass".
The curved design, similar to that of Calatrava's Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, may provide two major benefits to the structure of the building. First, curved designs have a tendency of adding to the strength of a structure. A similar principle has been applied in the past when building curved stadium roofs. In addition to structural support, the curved face of the exterior will minimize wind forces. In rectangular buildings, a fluid wind flow puts pressure on the windward face of the building, while as air moves around it, a suction is applied to the leeward face. This often causes a sway in tall buildings which can be counteracted, at least partially, by stiffening the structure or by using a dynamic wind damper. DuSable Park was designated as a staging area for the construction of the tower. On January 14, 2008, the sales center for the Chicago Spire opened.

Underground phase

Crane parts and construction equipment arrived at the site on June 25, 2007. The following day Shelbourne Development officially announced the first construction contract. In preparation for construction, 34 concrete and steel caissons will be drilled 120 feet (37 m) into bedrock underlying the Earth's surface. A cofferdam with a 104 foot (31 m) diameter and 78 foot (24 m) depth will be installed to create a work environment and will later act as a foundation for the building's core. The underground portion of the construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.

Images

Image:Chicago Spire.jpg|Chicago Spire Image:Fordham Lot2.JPG| Months before construction on April 13, 2006 Image:Construction_spire.jpg|The construction team assembles on June 30, 2007 Image:ChicagoSpireAug22,20071.JPG|Bedrock being drilled on August 22, 2007 Image:ChicagoSpire from LakePointTower 1 12 08 closeup.JPG|Closeup of base excavation Jan 12, 2008 Image:ChicagoSpire 05 25 08.jpg|May 25th 2008 Further Information

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