Built: 1988-1990 Cost: $110,000,000.00 Designed by: Kohn Pedersen Fox Type: Skyscraper Stories: 65 Maximum height: 961 feet / 293 meters Location: 311 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, United States
3 11 South Wacker Drive is a worthy accompaniment to the Sears Tower next door. In its stature it mimics the Sears, and from certain angles, its flanking wings appear to be setbacks in the same manner as its neighbor. 311 South Wacker stands out, in part, because of its location. Aside from Sears, there are few nearby towers tall enough to compete with it. Another tower planned for this plot of land is still just a drawing, and as of this writing the space where it will go is a community park. Plans for other skyscrapers on nearby blocks are also on hold, and with no serious competitors to the south, this building dominates the landscape, marking the southern edge of the Loop skyscraper forest. While the Sears Tower is much taller, 311 South Wacker takes the same skyscraper formula and updates it. Instead of the Sears Tower’s forceful black glass squares, 311 South Wacker uses an octagonal main shaft clad in pink granite from Texas. The result is a smaller, more stylish presentation. Think of it as the cute girl next door to the big brute looking down on her. While the Sears may puff out its chest and light up its spires in festive colors, 311 South Wacker shows him up through simple elegance – a 70-foot-tall, 65-foot-wide barrel lit up in white at night, and surrounded by four smaller and nearly identical forms – like a central diamond surrounded by accent diamonds in an engagement ring.
» At the time of its completion, this was the fourth-tallest building in Chicago, and the 11th-tallest in the world.
» According to a 1996 Chicago Tribune article, the floors inside the large illuminated barrel at the top are vacant, except for the 69th floor where there is a basketball hoop the building's maintenance crews use to blow off steam.
» 1,500 flourescent tubes are used to light the top of the building at night. These lights are turned off at midnight to be less annoying to the neighbors, and are turned off even earlier when birds migrate.
» The five glass cylinders at the top. They are illuminated at night.
Did You Know?
»At the time of its completion, this was the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world.
Quotations
"Overdone to the point of boorishness." Chicago Tribune architecture critic Paul Gapp.
Chicago Tribune, 29 September 1996
Clint
Sunday, January 20th, 2008 @ 2:09pm
Rating: Four stars. Position is what makes this building. Without its partnership with the Sears Tower, 311 would just be another forgettable piece of post-modern junk. The pairing, however, makes it attractive.
David Shmuel
Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 @ 11:06pm
Rating: Three stars. All I can say is this: When I lived in Chicago I used to refer to this as the "White Castle building." I realize mine is the minority opinion here.
Andi
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 @ 11:28am
Rating: Five stars. I've always looked at this building in the skyline and wondered what it is. It sure looks like a castle to me :)
C. Dalka
Thursday, March 15th, 2007 @ 7:34am
Rating: Five stars. It is the wonder of the night sky in downtown Chicago. Some folks here call it "The White Castle Building".
joshua
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 @ 11:01pm
Rating: Five stars. I think it makes chicago beutiful and it looks good when its christmas time and in front of the sears tower
Kirby Cruz
Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:24pm
Rating: Five stars. I love this building. It is very interesting to look at! The brightly lit top at night is a very nice addition.
Adam J.
Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 @ 9:11pm
Rating: Five stars. This is a great building, and this page gives some nice comparisons to the Sears, constantly towering over 311, which is the tallest building in the world to be known simply by its address. ABJ, Chicago
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