311 South Wacker Drive

{{Infobox building

|name = 311 South Wacker Drive

|image = 311 South Wacker Drive~2.jpg

|image_size = 230px

|location = 311 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois

| highest_region = Wacker Drive

| highest_prev = 35 East Wacker Drive

| highest_next = 77 West Wacker Drive

| highest_start = 1990

| highest_end = 1992

|roof = {{convert|293|m|abbr=on}}

|status = Complete

|antenna_spire =

|floor_count = 65

|start_date = 1988

|completion_date = 1990

|building_type = Office

|architectural = {{convert|292.9|m|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://skyscrapercenter.com/chicago/311-south-wacker-drive/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202102647/http://skyscrapercenter.com/chicago/311-south-wacker-drive/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-02 |title=311 South Wacker Drive - The Skyscraper Center |work=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat }}

|top_floor = {{convert|256.8|m|abbr=on}}

|elevator_count = 34

|floor_area = {{convert|1400000|ft2|m2|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.311southwacker.com/PropertyInformation/BuildingFacts.axis |title=311 South Wacker - Property Information |access-date=2007-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064055/http://www.311southwacker.com/PropertyInformation/BuildingFacts.axis |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}

|developer = Gerald Kostelny/Lincoln Property Company

|architect = Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
HKS

|main_contractor = J.A. Jones Construction Construction Manager was Harbour Contractors, inc.

|references =

}}

311 South Wacker Drive is a post-modern 65-story skyscraper located in Chicago, Illinois, and completed in 1990. At 961 feet (293 m) tall, it is the ninth-tallest building in Chicago and the 36th tallest in the United States. It was once the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world. 311 South Wacker was also the tallest building in the world known only by its street address, until it was surpassed in height by New York's 432 Park Avenue in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.bisnow.com/chicago/news/construction-development/the-forgotten-history-of-chicago-supertalls-4-fun-facts-about-311-south-wacker-68118|title=The Forgotten History Of Chicago Supertalls: Everything You Need To Know About 311 South Wacker|access-date=December 20, 2018|date=November 28, 2016|website=Bisnow.com|author=Sudo, Chuck}}emporis.com {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101225113911/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=117191 311 South Wacker]}}

The lower level of the winter garden was designed for a possible connection via underground passageway to Chicago Union Station. The building also contains three levels of underground parking. The building contains both retail and commercial tenants.David Ibata, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/10/21/s-wacker-skyscraper-launching/ S. Wacker Skyscraper Launching] chicagotribune.com October 21, 1986

Lobby

The lobby is a two-level (one below ground) {{convert|85|ft|m|adj=on}}-tall glass-ceilinged "winter garden." It used to have palm trees, still has a fountain, and is supported by a steel structure influenced by the Chicago "L" tracks and bridges. It was envisioned as a commuter link or "pedestrian station" serving as a connection from the nearby Union Station through a disused streetcar tunnel under the South Branch of the Chicago River.{{cite web| url = http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=311southwackerdrive-chicago-il-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206194147/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=311southwackerdrive-chicago-il-usa |archive-date=2007-02-06 |title=311 South Wacker Drive, Chicago}} Raymond Kaskey's bronze sculpture "Gem of the Lakes" looks over the garden from the Wacker entrance. The fountain shell form is taken from the city seal with a heroic figure representing Chicago as the "city of broad shoulders" wearing a cape symbolic of the great engineering feat which reversed the flow of Chicago River.

Crown

File:Cancer display 3 1114.jpg

The top of the building is a {{convert|105|ft|m|adj=on}}-tall translucent cylinder, surrounded by four other smaller cylinders, which was inspired by the massing of the Tribune Tower. This makes it among the most visible Chicago skyscrapers at night, as its crown is brightly illuminated. The five cylinders on top are lit at night by 1,852 fluorescent tubes, and a lantern at the top changes colors for various holidays and special events.

Park

311 South Wacker is surrounded to the northwest by a grassy area, commonly used as a lounging and public lunch area during warm months, which is the largest area of green space in the Chicago Loop. This park is used to host local farmer markets, musical events, and various art and cultural festivals. To the southwest is a parking lot.{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.es/maps/@41.8770382,-87.6366343,3a,90y,85.47h,78.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNNJpFuoU11ZH6c2l1NFw-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=South Wacker Drive|access-date=3 March 2016}} This land was originally to be occupied by two companion towers that were never developed due to office market conditions.

Position in Chicago's skyline

Gallery

File:311 South Wacker Drive (Chicago, IL) 29Nov2007.JPG|View

File:Sears Tower and 311 South Wacker.jpg|311 South Wacker Drive and Willis Tower

File:Chicago Grattacieli 1.jpg|South view taken from Chicago River

File:311 South Wacker Drive (Chicago, IL) from the top of the Willis Tower 29Nov2007.JPG|311 South Wacker Drive top viewed from the top floor of Willis Tower

File:Chicago (5).jpg|311 South Wacker Drive as viewed from the 103rd floor of the nearby Willis Tower

References

External links

[http://www.311southwacker.com Official Building web site]
[https://archive.today/20130202102647/http://skyscrapercenter.com/chicago/311-south-wacker-drive/ 311 South Wacker Drive] on CTBUH Skyscraper Center
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040415081730/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=117191 Emporis listing]}}

{{Coord|41|52|40|N|87|38|08|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}

Category:Office buildings completed in 1990

Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Chicago

Category:Kohn Pedersen Fox buildings

Category:HKS, Inc. buildings

Category:1990 establishments in Illinois

Category:1990 in Chicago