CHICAGO | One South Dearborn | 571ft | 39 fl | Com

[geoff_diamond]

I figured I'd start a new thread for construction progress on 1SD. So, here's everything I've taken so far (including some early renderings) and some new shots (taken today) at the very end. Please please please feel free to add to this *cough* Devyn *cough* !!!

rendering of the east facade
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SDearborn01.jpg

rendering of the base (looking southeast)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SDearborn02.jpg

rendering of the entire structure (looking northeast)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SDearborn03.jpg

construction status: 8/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_08200401.jpg

construction status: 8/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_08200402.jpg

construction status: 10/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_10250401.jpg

construction status: 10/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_10250402.jpg

construction status: 10/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_10250403.jpg

window detail: 10/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_10250404.jpg

construction status: 12/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_12070401.jpg

construction status: 12/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_12070402.jpg

construction status: 1/2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_01050501.jpg

construction status: 1/2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_01240501.jpg

construction status: 1/2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_01240502.jpg

construction status: 1/2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_01240503.jpg

More to come at some point.

[Monadnock]

Wow! This building appears to be much better than I'd dared hope, especially after seeing the heavy black (granite?) facade on the Dearborn side of the site. It is very light - I especially admire the design's deft handling of different opacities of glass on the curtain wall.

[ThirdCoast312]

I'm curious to know how parking ever got to be included in the design of the buliding. I thought no parking structures were allowed within at least block from the elevated loop structure. Am i wrong or did the developer just pull a few strings?

[geoff_diamond]

I wasn't aware of that rule ThirdCoast... is it part of the new code? Couple of things though: 1) the building isn't within a block of any elevated lines (the closest would be on Wabash - a block and half away). 2) The approval and construction of 1SD started before the new code took effect anyway, so, it would have been grandfathered in.

[Rivernorth]

well... you have the Dearborn Street Subway right there... im sure that still counts :)

If 1SD has no parking, then all the better. People should take Metra/CTA to work in the Loop.

[ThirdCoast312]

this has been a code around along time, that's why you don't see parking structures in the center of the loop elevated structure, except for underground garage at the federal center. to clarify what i meant is that no parking is allowed within the loop elevated structure, except garages are allowed within one block of the inner loop structure, haven't you guys ever wondered why parking garages seem to cluster in certain areas around wells and around lake street, well now you know, because that's the closest parking garages can get to the inner loop. But perhaps that zoning code doesn't exist any longer or as i said the developers could of pulled a few strings like creating a plaza (an unneeded one at that, there's one across the street) in exchange for a parking within the building.

[24gotham]

I figured I'd start a new thread for construction progress on 1SD. So, here's everything I've taken so far (including some early renderings) and some new shots (taken today) at the very end. Please please please feel free to add to this *cough* Devyn *cough* !!!

construction status: 10/2004
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_10250401.jpg

Geoff, Thanks for the update and pics!

This building is turning out OK, save for a large amount of black granite. As for the parking thing, I have to agree that they probably got some kind of exception in order to get approval for the parking, and the plaza may have been the deal maker. While I would agree we don't really need another plaza, this one isn't very big, and it is directly on the corner, so I think it will be nice. I also like the fact that they had enough sense to set the building back from Dearborn St, so as not to obliterate the view of the Inland Steel building (which is one of my favorites in the Loop).

I am guessing you took this pic (of my apartment :wink2: ) from your balcony. (only the arrow is pointing at 1SD.) If only you had let me know, I could have left a light on or something. :)

[geoff_diamond]

Ahh... sorry for the misunderstanding ThirdCoast. Now what you said makes lots of sense :)

Anyway Dev - next time I'm gonna take a shot I'll give u a holla so you can hang ur bald head out ur window :)... oh... btw... I lost ur card somewhere along the line... u should shoot me an email or sumthin.

[Packerguy]

Thank you for the pictures of One South Dearborn. It is going to be another nice building in the loop.

[northsidesoxfan]

Two pictures from the east taken on 2-21-05. First one is from Randolph. Second is from Millennium Park.

http://images.snapfish.com/342%3C273523232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2339%3D%3A9%3A%3D%3A28%3DXROQDF%3E232377%3B%3B6%3A25%3Aot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/342%3C273523232%7Ffp4%3Enu%3D3248%3E9%3A9%3E937%3EWSNRCG%3D323286%3C%3A79353nu0mrj

[AJphx]

thanks for the update!

yep its visible from the park, although, I wonder how much further up it has to go?

[itsnotrequired]

thanks for the update!

yep its visible from the park, although, I wonder how much further up it has to go?

I don't think it will be going up much higher. The concrete core hasn't changed height for months. I imagine any additional height would come from some mechanical enclosures on the roof.

[geoff_diamond]

Yeah, she's pretty much topped out.

[BVictor1]

Yeah, she's pretty much topped out.

I think that it will be considered topped out once the last steel beam is in place, but you all are correct. It's not going any higher.

[FarNWburb]

AJphx... just a visual referance for you. The Bank One Center (131 S Dearborn) at the left of the top pic is 39 floors and 580 feet tall. One South Dearborn is 39 floors and 571 feet. Pretty much exactly the same height.

[geoff_diamond]

I know Butler... that's why I said "pretty much" :)

[7 World Trade]

can't wait to see how the top of the building will turn out. it should be quite interesting to see...

[geoff_diamond]

Just a quickie shot I grabbed on my way by this afternoon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_02250501.jpg

[northsidesoxfan]

I present one of the weakest photos ever posted to the forum. I took it from a friend's apartment near North and Wells. Snapfish's automatic reduction in resolution adds to the pathos.

http://images.snapfish.com/342%3C%3B%3A2323232%7Ffp54%3Dot%3E2339%3D%3A9%3A%3D%3A28%3DXROQDF%3E232378%3A9%3B%3A636ot1lsi

[geoff_diamond]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that picture :)

But, I'll a crappy one of my own that I grabbed today on my way by. The steel columns that will frame the white curtain-like feature at the top have begun to appear (although, you really can't see them in this shot).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_03050501.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

I was out walking the lake today and grabbed this shot of 1SD. You can really see the outlines of the facade-feature that will mark the east and west faces of the building now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_03130501.jpg

[Tom in Chicago]

Now it's really getting close to topping out. . . we'll have to keep a close eye on it this week. . .

[geoff_diamond]

Well, I think it's safe to say that the beams you see running across the top of the picture effectively mark the apex of the building. She's not getting any taller than that.

[2PRUROCKS!]

According to the rendering I believe it would still have 2 levels to go. In the rendering there are 5 levels above where the corner is cropped off. In that latest construction photo there are only 3 levels. Maybe I am wrong, but that is how it looks to me based on the renderings.

[7 World Trade]

yep, looks like there's still 2 more floors left to go...

[SDK4]

looks like a great addition to one of the best skylines in the world.

[geoff_diamond]

Nope... you're right. I forgot that on top of the angled wall, there are two more regular floors to frame it in. Hooray for even more height!!! :)

[geoff_diamond]

We haven't talked about this one much lately, even though it's topped out and will have its crane removed next month. I haven't been down to the site during the day in a few weeks, but, here's some shots I grabbed from Emporis (sorry for the watermarks).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_04020501.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_04020502.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_04020503.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

It had also been a long time since I had been to the project's web site. So, here's some new images (new to me at least) that I hadn't seen there before.

Site Plan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SouthDearborn04.jpg

Rendering of the plaza on the building's west side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SouthDearborn05.jpg

Rendering of the unique, 5000-sqft parallelogram-shaped lobby
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Renderings/1SouthDearborn06.jpg

[oshkeoto]

^ This is one good-looking tower.

Damn, though, how many plazas can the Loop have? At least this one has trees.

[geoff_diamond]

I agree hole-heartedly. I think this is just a perfect example of a beautiful piece of infill. There's nothing extraordinary about the tower, but, it's also nearly impossible to find a single flaw in it, either.

As far as the plaza goes, I really like this one for its size. It doesn't take up half a block yet it's big enough to make a difference. I really think DeStefano hit a home-run with this whole project (that's not even to mention the fact that the entrance to the parking garage is in the alley rather than on a main thoroughfare).

[simulcra]

Wow, I love the lobby and the plaza. Yay for ground-level interaction.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of this building. While it may not be the WTB, it seems to be a nice post-modern reinterpretation of modernism. And I liked modernism (when executed well).

[LA1]

I love the idea of trees in the plaza.

[Steely Dan]

I am sure others have already mentioned this, but another bouns to the plaza is that it will give deference to inland steel, which is easily one of chicago's finest buildings. by setting 1 south dearborn back on the plaza, inland steel will now be evn more prominent than it ever has.

[geoff_diamond]

I've actually heard that argued as the basis for the entire plaza's inclusion in the project. They wanted to protect the view corridor toward Inland from north of the site and the only way to acheive that was to set the building back off of Dearborn a bit. I'm not sure whether or not we'll ever be able to confirm this story, but, it's a nice thought nonetheless :)

[wheelingman]

This building is going to be a beauty.

[Chicago3rd]

I've actually heard that argued as the basis for the entire plaza's inclusion in the project. They wanted to protect the view corridor toward Inland from north of the site and the only way to acheive that was to set the building back off of Dearborn a bit. I'm not sure whether or not we'll ever be able to confirm this story, but, it's a nice thought nonetheless :)

Yes I believe when they were announcing this project they specifically did stress the set back was to pay homage to Inland. I wish more architects would be a little more respectful of their surroundings. It is turing out to be a very handsome building.

[Chicago3rd]

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/19639745-L.jpg

http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/19639747-L.jpg

[LA1]

Looking good!

[geoff_diamond]

Took another shot a couple of days ago. I just love this angle of 1SD. The way in which it dwarfs the Chicago Building and so starkly contrasts style is just beautiful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_04120501.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

grabbed a quick shot today... my apologies for the shitty cam-phone quality :\

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/geoff_diamond/Chicago%20-%20Construction/1sdearborn_05050501.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

They're finally making some progress near the top of the building. The fun parts (the features on the east and west facades) are still yet to come.

http://img104.echo.cx/img104/7590/1sdearborn061205010wb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

[itsnotrequired]

They're finally making some progress near the top of the building. The fun parts (the features on the east and west facades) are still yet to come.

http://img104.echo.cx/img104/7590/1sdearborn061205010wb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Seriously, are they ever going to finish that thing?

[geoff_diamond]

The same thing happened with the Heritage if I recall (another highrise I've been able to watch daily). They zoomed along at break-neck speed until the neared completion - the details bog it all down. Pretty common I think - especially given that at this point, much of the energy is being devoted to interior trades.

[Latoso]

I saw something similar on the History Channel about the Hancock. The steel workers had to slow down so as to not make the rest of the trades look slow. They said something like the building could've been topped out at earlier but that the plumbers and drywallers and glass exterior would've only been up to the 15th floor.

[7 World Trade]

it's looking nice!

somehow it reminds me of the symphony center tower in atlanta.

[SDK4]

Shouldn't they top out and put on a rooftop before begining the insides?

[24gotham]

^As a tower rises, it make sense to begin completion of the interior on the lower floors well before the buidling is topped out. It's just good economic sense to have the building completed in the least amount of time possible, so as not to pay any more money in intrest on the construction loans than necesary. They have had nearly complete floors near the bottom of 1SD for several weeks now.

[24gotham]

Oh, and by the way, here is a pic of the building I took this evening from the roof of Marina City.

http://img142.echo.cx/img142/9868/p61700418qs.jpghttp://img142.echo.cx/img142/5816/p61700411wg.jpg
Thanks ImageShack

[Chi_Coruscant]

Your photo angle on 1SD against the sunet sky is awesome. The window reflection on sunset makes it interesting. Keep up your good work!

1SD bldg looks tolerable from design standpoint. I am still hurting over the loss of proposed world's tallest building on the same block. *sigh*

[SDK4]

It definitely looks better than the buildings around it.

[geoff_diamond]

I would call it more than "tolerable." I think it's pretty damn good for a very plain office tower. At any rate, like Devyn already pointed out, it wouldn't make any sense to to wait for a building to be TO'd before the interior trades started their work. Tenants already occupied much of the lower halves of the Hyatt Center and 111 S. Wacker well before the tops of the buildings were completed.

[geoff_diamond]

Okay, this is going to be one of the dwindling final updates on 1SD. Firstly, it's pretty close to completion, secondly, I don't live two blocks from it anymore - so, I won't be passing by as frequently (at least not until school starts again).

So, enjoy the crap-ass camera phone pictures :)

http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/227/1sd015rd.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

close-up of the facade feature at the top of the west facade
http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/9636/1sd025jt.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

shot of the continued work at the base of the tower
http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/2642/1sd030ta.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

[The Urban Politician]

http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/2642/1sd030ta.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

^Great pics, Geoff. I love how nearly every car pictured here is a cab. Reminds me of another great American city--New York!

I write this from a NYC hotel in the upper west side. My hotel room is the size of a box but costs 110 dollars. I am wasted, and I am having a blast in this amazing city. New York has no equal in this country.

But I still like Chicago more :)

[geoff_diamond]

Thanks for the update TUP :) I certainly don't mind any picture that is composed solely of cabs either :)

[geoff_diamond]

Daily-dose of One South:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9159/1sdearborn012bq.jpg

[Chicago Shawn]

Update, 08-23-2005

http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A38ot1lsi
I'm really loving how the screen becomes illuminated with sunlight...
http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A3%3Aot1lsi
http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A3%3Bot1lsi
The plaza
http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A46ot1lsi
http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A52ot1lsi
http://images.snapfish.com/3447%3B49523232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2344%3D%3A4%3B%3D6%3A8%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A59%3C36%3A57ot1lsi

Turned out pretty nice.

[spyguy]

Coming along nicely.

[SDK4]

Looking much better after a month of "aging".

[spyguy]

Hines ponders selling 1 S. Dearborn tower

THOMAS A. CORFMAN
Published October 12, 2005

Two months before the completion of 1 S. Dearborn St., developer Hines Interests LP is considering a sale or major refinancing of the 40-story tower, anchored by law firm Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP.

Hines is interviewing real estate firms about potential options, with a selection expected next month, sources said.

Gregory Van Schaack, senior vice president in Hines' Chicago office, declined to comment.

The building is expected to command a premium price of well over $400 a square foot, or substantially more than $330 million, according to estimates. Restaurateur and developer Lawrence Levy is a key investor in the 820,000-square-foot building, which is 90 percent leased.

[SDK4]

Wow, already thinking about selling? There must be some niche in the market that has suddenly opened up and might go away in a few months.

[geoff_diamond]

Wow... I'm impressed that they're 90% leased.

[ChicagoLover]

So many larger well capitalized office tenants want to be in a new building these days, which accounts for the 90% occupancy already.

[geoff_diamond]

They've reconfigured the fences at the site to allow for better access to the lobby (which is basically complete). Picage:

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/1581/dsc000206dh.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

Well, since this has sort of been my baby since it started construction, I thought I would wrap up (most likely) the photos for it. I've also included a bit of commentary since there are certainly some features of the main entrance and Dearbon facade that make me scratch my head in confusion and disappointment.

The usual disclaimer: sorry for the photo quality, I never seem to have anything on me but my phone these days.

Overview shot of the lobby and main entry.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/8654/1sd010lt.jpg

A slightly tighter shot. The lobby is really a work of art and the consistent parallelogram theme throughout is well-implemented. I think the simplicity of most of it is pulled off quite well, from the logo right down to the elevator banks.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/1227/1sd024vl.jpg

And here is where my only complaint with the building lies. I would have loved to be in the design meeting where it was agreed that faux backlit marble or onyx (or whatever it is supposed to be) was the way to detail the facade above the main entry. It's nothing more than a series of plain white backlit pieces of translucent plastic, covered over in PAPER that is meant to look like marble (or onyx). This detail isn't repeated ANYWHERE else on the building (interior or exterior from what I can tell) and I simply don't understand why they did it? Why not just leave the panels backlit white so they resemble the indentations in the facade at the top of the building!?
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/4036/1sd038nf.jpg

Here's an angled shot (looking south-southeast) at the entry and the plaza fronting Dearborn. I really like backlit translucent panels installed in the ground near the entrance, but, think they could have been spread further out into the plaza, perhaps. Not every tile, but, perhaps just a checkerboard?
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/8316/1sd041ho.jpg

A rippled glass wall is installed on both short ends of the parallelogram-shaped lobby. Pretty cool effect, but, looks like a bolted-on afterthought to me.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/8936/1sd058cc.jpg

Here's a tighter shot of the glass panels installed in the plaza surrounding the main entrance; you can also see the sort of clear lava-rock looking things just inside the curtainwall. Again, an interesting effect, but, why?
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/1995/1sd060pt.jpg

There are a couple of soffits installed in the lobby; they clearly carry the geometry of the space up to the ceiling.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/5941/1sd074il.jpg

Sorry for the blurriness... but, these are the new planters *cough* vehicular barricades *cough* installed fronting Dearborn. I'm not sure when it was that everybody decided every highrise in America was suddenly a terrorist target and needed to be protected from car-bombs, but, I think the result has been a cluttering of our sidewalks.
http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/97/1sd083js.jpg

So, all in all... I'm still a big fan of this building. But, I think there were some decisions made around the base that really hurt on the pedestrian level. Few will argue that the lobby is a great addition to the street-level environment on Dearborn - it might be the brightest, in terms of lighting, in the central loop; but, the intermingling of so many different surfaces being backlit and underlit seems a bit contrived to me. The two rippled glass panels would be great in and of themselves, as would the "lava-rocks" or the translucent panels just outside the space, but, the marriage of the three of them seems a bit overstated if you ask me. Perhaps one of our loyal forumers has some inside information on the reasoning behind some of DeStefano's more curious choices?

I might post one more series of shots when the plaza between the building and Dearborn is complete (as the planters that are still inside the fence show great promise).

Does anyone else have any thoughts? For now, though, I'm done pretending to be Blair Kamin :)

[spyguy]

I still love the building itself. The way it looks on a bright sunny day is amazing. Overall, I'd say I'm pleased with the way this one came out.

[Chicago3rd]

http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/97/1sd083js.jpg


I don't think those are vehical barricades...note how short they are. I think it is nice to get pedestrians a little away from the streets and direct them just a little towards the building...nice feature. In your pictures I don't see them on the street on the north side of the building.

Thanks though for the pictures and your observations! I have to get over there and see what I think.

[geoff_diamond]

Well, whenever I see planters now, I just assume that their primary purpose is as a vehicular barricade - call me a cynic. At any rate, yes, overall, I'm very pleased with the building as well, I just have some serious issues with their decisions around the base.

[Krzycho]

12.25.2005
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180097.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180034.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180143.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180183.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180148.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180142.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180144.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180145.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180146.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180150.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180182.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180181.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/wiezowce/P4180141.jpg

[spyguy]

Anyone have any good shots of the "window" at night? It looks rather cool from the park.

[spyguy]

Creative camouflage at One South Dearborn
January 4, 2006
BY KEVIN NANCE Architecture Critic

"Fashion is architecture," Coco Chanel once remarked. "It is a matter of proportions." So true, but she might have added that architecture is often fashion: It's a matter of finding ways to transform a subject's least attractive features into occasions for artistic flourish. Elaborate collars and empire waists, ornamented cornices and curtain walls -- same visual decoys, different materials.

It's this creative-camouflage impulse that has informed some of the key aesthetic choices by architects Jim DeStefano and Rick Keating in their chic and rather sly new office tower, One South Dearborn.

In their sole offspring as the Chicago firm DeStefano Keating Partners -- it's now DeStefano + Partners, with Keating having decamped to California -- the architects cannily turned what could have been the ugly necessities of a 40-story office building into elements of a geometric composition that confidently complements the architectural heavyweights that surround it.

One of those necessities was parking. Because of tight construction deadlines set by the developer, Hines, and the building's primary tenant, the giant law firm Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, parking facilities had to be above grade. The solution? Hide the garage floors on levels three through six, and in the process top off the soaring Dearborn lobby with an expanse of backlit marble that both mirrors and extends it upward. The light buff-gray of the stone also bounces pleasantly off the asymmetrical masses of translucent green glass on either side; the effect is like one of Mondrian's famously off-balance paintings, less the primary colors.

And the building's most striking artistic touch -- its double lantern crown, composed of east- and west-facing apertures with huge, inward-slanting frosted glass screens hovering above balconies on the top two floors -- also grew out of the need to disguise unsightly practicalities, in this case the building's massive mechanical systems. Soaring 70 feet above the top floor, the crown is far more than a hat that covers up an awkwardly shaped dome. It lends vertical balance to the west facade, the aperture's mass echoing that of the street-level lobby (with which, by the way, it's in perfect horizontal alignment). By day, as seen from Grant Park or the central Loop, each aperture becomes the all-seeing eye of an architectural Cyclops; by night, the backlit crown is a beacon fit for ships to navigate by.

Then there's the lobby itself, in which the architects have used angled art-glass panels -- each 18 feet high and, naturally, backlit -- to create a parallelogram theme echoed just outside by the parklike, half-acre granite plaza, with its chevron-shaped benches and patterned pavement. (In another echo of the chevron, the columnless northwest and southeast corners of the tower jut out oddly in a way that allows you to see the north and south facades from inside the building.)

The sum of all this is an architectural statement that feels modern but not especially modernist. This was an intelligent move given that its next-door neighbor, the graceful and relatively severe Inland Steel, is a modernist icon with which One South Dearborn would have been unwise to directly compete. Instead, DeStefano and Keating chose to salute Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's minor masterpiece in two ways: by making the plaza deep enough to provide mostly unobstructed views of Inland Steel's north face and by subtly re-contouring One South Dearborn's west facade above the level of the SOM building's top -- a contextualist tip of the hat, and what a hat. No doubt Chanel would have approved.

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/1989/onesdear10104062856nk.jpg
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/844/onesdearmap0104062854tl.gif

[geoff_diamond]

Well, I guess that sort of attempts to explain some of the choices that were made; but, it still doesn't tell us why the choice for the faux-marble rather than a simpler backlit translucent panel.

[Krzycho]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/CHICAGO%208/P5020240.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/CHICAGO%208/P5020243.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/CHICAGO%208/P5020241.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/krzycho/CHICAGO%208/P5020094.jpg

[geoff_diamond]

Great shots Krz! I especially like the second one :)

[spyguy]

Thanks for the nice night shot.

[Schellarch]

Just a note or two:
1) The 'faux' illuninated material over the entrance is in fact real Italian marble, Calatta Sponda 'G' to be precise. It is layered behind low iron glass to protect it from the weather.
2) The planters immediately on Dearborn are there to conform to the Dearborn Corridor planning standards.

Too bad I am am bit late in finding this forum.

S.

[geoff_diamond]

better late than never... I appreciate the info; although, I'm sure I saw a "rip" in the "marble" at some point during construction that sure made it look like paper to me.

[Schellarch]

Although it survived the boat from Italy, a number of the pieces were broken during shipping from the Permasteelisa plant where the unitized window units were assembled. The broken pieces were removed after installation, epoxy-ed back together and set back into the frame. That is probably the effect you are referencing. If you look closely, there is no repetition of a pattern that would indicate a printed material.

(plus I was able to go to the quarry to select/approve the marble, so I am quite confident that it is really marble.)

[geoff_diamond]

(plus I was able to go to the quarry to select/approve the marble, so I am quite confident that it is really marble.)

that's tough to argue with :)