JOIN USStudio Gang Architects has gone public with what will be Chicago’s third tallest tower, Wanda Vista, backed by China’s Wanda Group and Chicago’s Magellan Development Group. The massive mixed-use development, planned to open adjacent to the Chicago river in the US city’s Lakeshore East community by 2019, will reach 1,100 feet (335 metres) and encompass more than 1.8 million sq feet of residential and hotel space.
Defined by three vertical elements, the tower is shaped to maximise resident views of the city and the river below. “The distinct tapering block used to form the towers is derived from the frustum geometry, a shape that offers multiple benefits for the building, from the inside out and the outside in,” says Studio Gang.
“Alternating these blocks allow for multiple column-free rooms on each floor. The subtle gradient of the exterior glazing not only provides visual interest from near and far, but also performs an energy-saving function. The building navigates the street and ground levels with engaging public space for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.”
The skyscraper’s interlinked high-rises would rise to the heights of 47, 71 and 93 storeys if the proposed ground-level entrance is counted as the tower’s base.
The middle high-rise would straddle a narrow north-south road in Lakeshore East. Inset balconies would be limited to the tower’s east and west facades.