Stunning Glass Architecture Along the Chicago River

Some call it “contextualist,” others call it postmodern. Whatever you call it, there’s no denying that 333 West Wacker is a dazzling jewel of Chicago. Completed in 1983 and made of blue-green glass that mimics the color of the river, the 489-foot curved commercial skyscraper reflects the city’s skyline in a beautiful, colorful show that transforms with the sun’s position and cloud coverage throughout the day.

Designed by architect William Pederson in the style of 19th-century Chicago, a stone base lifts the entire structure up, resulting in an elegant glass facade that appears to majestically float above the river. 

Built on what was considered for 80 years an undesirable small plot of land, too small a footprint for anything substantial, the glass skyscraper at 150 North Riverside turned a buildable site only 39 feet wide into an engineering marvel along the Chicago River.

Defying structural logic, this 54-story building completed in 2017 sits on a narrow, small base, to meet the constraints of the buildable land. The first eight stories of the building then slope outwards, resulting in more than 1.2 million square feet of leasable office space fitting on only 25% of the area’s lot. The rest of the 75% of the ground is dedicated to greenspace, a public park, outdoor seating, and a riverwalk.

In addition to its glass facade, 150 North Riverside’s exterior is adorned with vertical metal fins, mimicking the waves and ripples along the Chicago River. These features are more than just for aesthetics though. The shading created by the strategically placed fins helps shade the structure and keep it cool, resulting in the building’s pre-certified LEED-Gold designation for resource efficiency. 

When building in the Windy City, architects naturally have to account for the high winds common throughout every season. For a tall, slender structure on a narrow base, however, 150 North Riverside would be more prone to catching winds and swaying. An ingenious solution is used to counteract this: a hidden weight on the upper floors. Gigantic drums hold 160,000 gallons of water, counteracting the oscillation of the wind and mitigating the motion of the building. 

Situated where the three branches of Chicago’s River converge, Wolf Point Plaza lies on historic land where early explorers and traders first landed, eventually evolving from a trades area and home to Chicago’s first tavern, hotel, and drug store to the green space and architecture marvel it is today. 

Three glass skyscrapers with both commercial and residential spaces adorn the plaza: Wolf Point East, Wolf Point West, and Salesforce Tower Chicago, all planned by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects as an urban area combining work and play environments and public spaces. All three facades feature gently tapered setbacks, creating striking silhouettes that unite the trio of buildings. 

Today, Wolf Point Plaza serves as a green space getaway, featuring an expansive 2.3 acre public park between Wolf Point East and West at the heart of Chicago’s famous Riverwalk waterfront path. 

Experience The Majestic Architecture for Yourself

These five glass marvels are only the beginning of the amazing skyscrapers and structures that rise up above the Chicago River. Learn about and marvel at these buildings and more on a CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady, led by expertly trained volunteer docents from the Chicago Architecture Center. Grab your seat today!