400 Lake Shore – A New Chicago Gateway

Rising at the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, 400 Lake Shore will reshape the skyline with two towers reaching nearly 900 feet, articulated with terraces that cascade down the eastern facades. Tapering in both plan and section, the towers frame a view of the lake, while angling back towards the cityscape. The classic “Chicago window”—a bay window design that is a hallmark of the city’s historic architecture—is re-imagined as a shallow bay of floor-to-ceiling glass, with metal detailing that evokes the rippling surface of Lake Michigan.

A plaza between the two towers will mark the end of Water Street, featuring amenities, public art, and spaces for residents and guests within a two-story podium. 400 Lake Shore will redefine the north edge of Chicago's Riverwalk, with open spaces and pedestrian routes connecting to the planned DuSable Park. With views encompassing the lakefront, cityscape, and the river, this site, once home to Chicago's pioneering figure Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable, will become a legacy shared with future generations of Chicagoans

Learning Objectives

•     Understand the history and challenges of regenerating the development on the prominent site, including the existing foundations installed from the prior planned development.
•     Gain insight into the architectural development of the two-tower development and the associated site planning and building form objectives.
•     Become familiar with the structural engineering approach to the Towers, including material properties, construction considerations, and aspects of wind engineering.

Location

Cliff Dwellers Club
200 S. Michigan Ave, 22nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60604

Menu

• Bibb Lettuce and Artichokes with Vinaigrette
• Stuffed Chicken Breast With Spinach, Pine Nuts and Sundried Tomato
• Key Lime Pie

Presentation time:  6:00 – 7:00 pm
Cocktail hour:  5 – 6 pm

Registration

In Person:   Member - $75;  Non-Member - $115
Live Streaming:  Member - $35;  Non-Member - $50

About the Speakers

Ryan Culligan, AIA
As a Design Principal in SOM’s Chicago office, Ryan specializes in large-scale mixed-use projects around the world. His experience includes the design and implementation of diverse commercial, hospitality, transportation, healthcare, urban design and residential projects in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia.

Recent notable projects include a 20 million sq ft development in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand—the country’s first project to target LEED Neighborhood Development Platinum; two new concourses at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, developing a design concept around health, wellness and bringing nature inside to improve the passenger experience; and at 400 Lake Shore, a pair of towers located where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan, drawing inspiration from the site and the city’s rich architectural history to incorporate a cascading facade reminiscent of the surrounding waters

Austin Devin

Austin is an Associate and Structural Engineer in the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.  He joined SOM in 2014 after receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in Structural Engineering from University College Dublin, Ireland.  Mr. Devin is a member of the ACI Performance Based Wind Design subcommittee, and has been involved in research aimed at optimizing the aerodynamic shape of buildings. Austin worked as a Structural Engineer on the Manhattan Loft Gardens in London, and has been involved in a number of tall building projects in the US, Middle East and China. Austin is an influential member of SOM’s in-house experimental wind tunnel laboratory.