high rise:2 01.30.10

city form: architecture

 
At the time of its completion in 1973, the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the innovative structural solution of a series of bundled tubes was the invention of architect Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan. Each of the nine tubes is essentially a separate building, clustered together to efficiently resist wind load, which is an important consideration in the Windy City. In 2003 Sears’ naming rights to the building expired, and in 2009 it was bought by London-based Willis Holding Group and renamed Willis Tower.http://www.som.com/content.cfm/www_homeshapeimage_3_link_0
Two recent additions to Chicago’s skyline have set new standards for American high rises: Trump Tower, also designed by SOM, and Aqua Tower, designed by Studio Gang Architects. The undulating concrete balconies on Aqua Tower are another innovative structural technique for dealing with wind loads.http://ctbuh.org/HighRiseInfo/TallestDatabase/TallestBuildingsCompleted/2009BuildingsCompleted/tabid/1353/language/en-US/Default.aspxhttp://www.studiogang.net/http://www.studiogang.net/shapeimage_6_link_0shapeimage_6_link_1shapeimage_6_link_2