The Chicago Spire

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Architect / Designer: Santiago Calatrava
Status: Under Construction
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Groundbreaking: June 25, 2007
Estimated Completion: 2012
Use: Residential


Chicago Spire is one of the innovative ideas that came out from an amazing architect. For me, this skyscraper might become a trend in modern lives. To be able to come out with this kind of design is really surreal for me.

The height of the building, the usage of the building as residential area, and all the proposed facility inside the building are just amazing. However, as I came to think more into it, I wonder if it is a really good idea to have everything in one building? You don't even need to step outside to do anything. You want sports? It's in there. You want entertainment? It's more than you could ask for. Is it a sign of individualistic lifestyle???

Anyway, as a student of structural engineering, I would say I am amazed by the idea behind this skyscraper. It would be the third tallest building in the planet. Wow!!!


Design

The Chicago Spire is inspired by the nature, by the beauty and complexity of the living, breathing earth.
For supplemental structural support, each floor would be surrounded by cantilevered corners and four concave sides.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 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. In addition to structural support, the curved face of the exterior will minimize wind forces. Although the curved design of the Chicago Spire will not completely negate wind forces, a tapering concrete core and twelve shear walls emanating from it are installed to counteract these forces instead.

Additionally, the Chicago Spire will incorporate world-class sustainable engineering practices to meet Gold standard of LEED certification.


For more information, you can find out from http://www.thechicagospire.com/