The mile-high tower at the Chicago waterfront investigates the dynamic interrelationship between technology and architecture through tall building design. Among the various technologies involved, the emphasis is placed on structural and facade systems, recognizing the significance of these systems, the separation of which in terms of their function led to modern architecture, and allowed the emergence of tall buildings. This seminar reviews the contemporary design practice of tall buildings through a series of lectures and case study analyses. While most representative technologies for tall buildings are studied, particular emphasis is placed on more recent trends such as diagrid structures and double-skin facades. Further, this seminar investigates emerging technologies for tall buildings and explores their architectural potentials.

A mile-high tower is a micro-city. With an interest in vertical urban development, the Chicago Wave envisions the mile-high tower as a series of neighborhoods connected by a vertical green belt. Each neighborhood has a unique character, offering a set of public and private services enriched by gardens of various scales. While it is important to soar up into the sky, we believe that it is equally meaningful to retain a healthy contact with the land and soil. The various gardens in each neighborhood allow users of the architecture to maintain their intrinsic bond with the sky and the land simultaneously.

CHICAGO RIVERFRONT SITE STUDY

The Chicago Wave starts with the interest in studying the green spaces along the Chicago waterfront. The project intends to bring this waterfront green space vertical up and create a vertical micro-city with supplementary public amenities. We recognize that the green spaces and gardens create a green belt for public activities along the seashore. Within each zone, the program is consists of both living and work elements and has a sky lounge component to connect these two programs together and bring in public activities, and hosting recreational events. Each neighborhood has a unique character, offering sets of public and private services enriched by gardens of various scales. The vertical gardens in each neighborhood allow users of the architecture to maintain the connection with the sky and the land simultaneously.