150 North Riverside


150 North Riverside Plaza is a highrise building in Chicago, Illinois, completed in 2017. The building is 51 stories tall. The building occupies a two-acre site on the west bank of the Chicago River, whose size and location demanded an unusually small base for the building. The building features of leasable office space. Due to its unique superstructure design, it encompasses just 25 percent of the lot. In 2019, the building was given the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects' highest award for design excellence.

Background

As required by the city of Chicago for any new riverfront building, the developer was required to set aside part of the lot size for public park space. The remaining 75 percent of the project site is reserved for a public park, amphitheater, and riverwalk. The site is built with air rights over tracks that carry Metra and Amtrak trains into Chicago Union Station.
The building has achieved LEED gold and WiredScore Platinum certification.

Design

The west side of the building features a lobby with a glass wall that is nearly tall at its peak. The architect's intention is to connect the interior and exterior visually.
One signature aspect of 150 North Riverside building is the way the office floors cantilever out from the central core. The building is constructed with a smaller base for a height of 8 stories, but the building cantilevers out to the full size of the office floor space. This gives it a slenderness ratio of 1:20 at its base.

Reception

Variously referred to by popular names like "The Tuning Fork", "The Champagne Flute", or "The Guillotine", the building has become a highlight of architectural boat tours. Architecture critic Blair Kamin in his positive review calls it "a persuasive blend of the pragmatic and dramatic."
The building is one of the most-awarded towers in Chicago, receiving national and international acclaim: