311 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, USA

HEIGHT: 293m/961 feet
FLOORS: 65 floors
COMPLETION: 1990
ARCHITECT: Kohn Pederson Fox Associates

This building, contiguous to the well known Sears Tower, was the first of a group of three towers situated around a winter garden, conceived as a pedestrian core and linked with different systems of transport concentrated in this area. The large public space is organized by means of two large squares crossed by a covered pedestrian area. The winter garden is also the lobby through which the octagonal tower is accessed.

Its bulky volume is decomposed in different elements. It culminates with a large translucent glass cylinder which is lit up at night, making the building stand out from the Chicago landscape.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker04.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swacker06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swackernight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/311swackerbase.jpg

I love this one and gave 9/10 points :)

Nice building, though it'll love odd if it's two expected twins get built.

9/10

Originally posted by adelaideglenelg
Nice building, though it'll love odd if it's two expected twins get built.Wonderful horizontal and vertical setbacks and an intricate pinnacle; a large cylinder surrounder by four smaller cylinders. A nice contrast to the Sears Tower.

8.5

311 South Wacker Drive as twins:

...........http://www.imb.rwth-aachen.de:8080/publik/Umdrucke/Bilder/Swd.jpghttp://www.imb.rwth-aachen.de:8080/publik/Umdrucke/Bilder/Swd.jpg

311's Wintergarden:

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/5/2000/11/104157.jpg..http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/5/2001/01/120330.jpg..http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/5/2000/11/115239.jpg

8/10. It doesn't impress me all that much.

Wow I like it. Nice spot right next to the Sears Tower. 8/10

It contrasts well with the Sears Tower but looks good on its own too.

8/10

7/10

While I admit its front is pretty quaint and sweet..wait till u see its backside..pretty hideous.

The backside Raffles? If so, it's quite massive.
BTW "quaint 'n sweet" LOL :)

I remain at 8.5

interesting... dunno bout the colour, great height though and far more interesting than that black one behind it ;D

9

tays

I think this is one of the most slept-on buildings in the world. In Chicago, it kind of gets lost in the crowd. I think this is a perfect example of how to do a classy and understated concrete skyscraper. Much better than some of the crappy concrete 'scrapers that have gone up after it. I think it'd be much more appreciated upon viewing in person...

9.5/10

Yuck, this building is grotesque. The colour is awful, the crown is ugly, and the design has no coherence. Octogons mixed with rectangles, with a constantly changing façade makes this my least favourite KPF skyscraper of all. Living in the shadow of the Sears Tower makes it less prominent in the Chicago skyline at least. 3.0/10

yeah too messy . . im sure Sears is saying "I dont know him" . . 4/10

Lol, that's a bit harsh of Sears to say.

The building is not bad, good colours, and nice shape, but would not look good with duplicates.

8/10

now i know this building is actually near sears tower ,tall but ugly

this thing looks so small when its next to the master of all skyscrapers! 7, but i like its design

A tall smudge in the Chicago skyline. 6.0

6/10 Nice Top, but doesnt really impress me, winter garden is nice

Has so many ways to view it's architecture depending on the viewpoint and/or what street your on surrounding the structure - which is what was intended. 7.5.

8/10. I like it, I'm not sure why. It's sheer height is wasted next to Sears though.

I love this one 10/10:)

Thank God only one of three were built !

8.5/10

8/10 - this was a bit of a toughie - It has good soaring height, which is helped by the setbacks, but that one side is rather massive. The facade is nice and sleek, and, from some angles at least, really dances with the light. The stone looks better than I'd expect of concrete, and there is a nice contrast between the veritcal and horizontal strips of glass.

The shape is interesting, but could perhaps use a few horizontal setbacks towards its base.

As to the top - the 4 cylinders at the top of each side fit in well, but that large, white cylinder at the very top. even though it looks good at night, doesn't. Berhaps it should have the same decoration as the rest of the facade?

there's just too much going on in this buillding..one flat side then an octagon with setbacks rising halfway up...it looks like 2 buildings that ran into each other...there is no cohesive design here...I can't believe KPF designed this...what a shame...6/10

I don`t know why, but I just love it! It looks great! 10/10

I guess that alot of people don' tlike this building very much, but I do. While I think the facade is a bit "busy", I like the form and scale of the tower very much. It hearkens back to the historical form (massing) of Chicago's old Gothic towers, but clearly has a modern look to it.

And peopel forget that if this tower was in just about any US city besides Chicago (or NYC), that it would be a very prominent landmark. In Chicago, its almost 1,000ft hieght is loses its impact.

8.0/10

9/10

i love this building!:) :D :cool:

Looks neat w/ Sears in backround.

Quite massive,looks good.Only the top is the thing i do not like.
Overall it's a 7.5

9.5 I love how busy and complex this building is... the massive side... and the sexy angular side... great height... shame it's so close to Sears... excellent cladding and color... nice peak

Y.A.S.

Yet Another Skyscraper....

A lovely building but too blocky. Get rid of that big box on the back and we can talk!

6

The shape is unique but it looks a bit weird.. Lovely lighting at night though.. :D Great stuff :)

8.5/10

A pic I took from Sears.

http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/data/6080/1373chicago38.jpg

7/10

7 it's high but i would have missed it looking to the Sears tower..

the top reminds me of an updated tribune tower, lol. I like this one alot, it would be great for a city like Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, or Detroit, but its to underated in Chicago in my opinion. I gave it a 9.5

9/10 Amazing in person. Chicago is the World's Greatest City.

8.5/10

Looking at it from Sears, I always thought the circles on the top were "bolts".

I like this one, but it's totaly dwarfed by Sears. 8/10

9.5! What a scraper!

I like this one
9/10

9/10

I like it next to Sears, but it might look cooler if it took the place of that ugly Sun Times building!

Normal 5.5/10 ! :)

8/10 8/10. It impress me a little but not all that much.

9/10

7/10


so so.

9/10
Amazing Building!
Looks very good from those photos especially the one with the top view of the building.

Great tower
Huge impact
Why alway refer to "the one near by" LOL
this tower dominates by it self

8.5/10

9/10

I love 311 S. Wacker's beautiful interior, and its very unique exterior.

Its winter garden looks awesome.:cool:
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/05/193435.jpg


http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2001/01/120330.jpg

Some people hate the top, but I love it. It looks great at night.
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/197363.jpg


http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/05/192062.jpg

I like , is very elegant, vivacious colors, I do not like the cylinders of the top part 8,5/10

i really like this one, especially the facade patterns. wish they had built one of the remaing 2 unbuilt triplets to this though. i like how this building serves as a neighbor to the rather isolated looking sears tower.

9.5/10

4.0

I absolutely HATE this building. It's just an obnoxious pile of attention-getting bells and whistles, from the crazy-quilt window pattern to the octagonal tower portion. The only redeeming features are the stone cladding and the crown (which they had to ruin, of course, with mega-watt illumination at night).

To quote Elaine Benes from "Seinfeld," who was describing a maneuver her boyfriend was using on her in bed that she didn't care for: "It's like one of those big-budget Hollywood movies with tons of car chases and special effects--and a plot that goes NOWHERE!"

8.5/10

10/10
Personally, this is one of my favorite buildings in Chicago. The top looks somewhat like a castle, which gives the tower a very good view. It looks best at night, when the cylinders at the top light up and can be seen from miles. Very Impressive!!!

8/10

Looks evil :D

8/10

A pretty darn good building. The facade is a little busy, as is the crown, but its since its next to something like the Sears, it stands out better that way. Like the setbacks, and the base area. Color doesnt please me too much, but not an eyesore. A really nice building, especially since it stands up somewhat to the Sears tower.

7.5

I love this one. It's very, very tall, but being next to Sears Tower makes it look like a midget.

Sturdy, powerful design. The use of pinkish granite and strapping on the facade is interesting. The circular glass drums top off the building nicely. I heard there were plans to build two more twins very close to this building, sort of forming a "U" shape. That would have looked bizarre. 8/10

5/10 I don't hate this building, but it doesn't have a coherant look. I don't like the color either.

looks good. 8

7/10

don't love it, don't hate it! 6

Whatever, looks ok. 6/10

7.5/10
The pink granite is an interesting use of materials, and its height is impressive. Overall it's not bad, but Chicago has a number of other towers which are miles better - Sears, JHC, Aon, to name a few.

7/10

6/10. 311 South Wacker is so shrunk but an OK building. But the crown makes it look like a ripoff of LA's US Bank Library Tower. Boooo!

^ oh?

8.5

Before I was really interested in skyscrapers, we'd drive to Chicago and this is one of the 1st scrapers you see from the highway. I was awed by its size and modern look. Now that I've seen a bit more, I appreciate this bldg even more. Its shape and facade, although messy to some, is pretty unique and will stand the test of time in Chicago IMO. Love the top :)

9.5

Looks good at night but during the day doesn't look as good. 8/10

dont like it - 6 points only for night view

Not bad for PoMo. 8/10

7.5/10

the top seems very confused - in fact the combination of elements in the rest of the build seems a little incoherent, but this is nothing compared to the roof. Makes it look like an over-designed water tower.

6/10

Looks,good,with,the,Sears,Tower
8.5/10

Good, but seems out of place for its construction period. I gotta give it a 7.5/10.

Really nice, 8

Its a nice building but is in a bad position. It would be better if it wasn't dwarfed by Sears. 6.5/10

9 for being great...and .5 for being overshadowed by its graceful neighbour

Real tall, but difficult to gauge it next to the Sears ^^
Cladding is nice, I like the shape from all points of view. The crown could be much better.
8.

I'm not a fan. The coloring is weird (especially next to Sears), the shape is awkward and the top is just odd. Its street interaction saves it a little but on the whole it's not a pretty scraper.

Its alright, dont really like it. Just want to get the attention of being one of the world's tallest building next store.

I always liked this one...quite an interesting shape

8.5/10

8.5/10

It has a wonderful top however I don't like the bulky and plain part of the building.I would prefer a more elegant shape for the building to fit with the top.

8.5/10 Nice.

I like it. 8/10.

8/10 impressive, very high, it´s cool!

7/10, don't like the colors

10/10

average building eeeeerm 7/10

8/10 nice

no pics available

I've seen better.. 6.5

Not my cup of tea at all. An odd shape indeed. 6.5/10.

I think it's too messy and the top is really strange.
7,5/10 - because of height.

8/10

8.5/10

6.5/10.

looks short becasue its next to Sears
8.5
Peace

A bit unbalance 7.0.

I wonder what would've happened if they actually made the two clones of this building, for a trio of nearly 1000 footers next to Sears.

9/10. Very nice and complex building.

an ok building
7.5/10

Thats just crazy thinking of how tall it is but how small it looks next to the Sears tower. Its a cool building though 8.5

7/10. It's alright I guess but the facade seems a little bland and the top seems a bit messy. Kudos for the night lighting though.

Interesting fact: It is the tallest building in the world known only by its street address.

Wow. This building is huge and gorgeous.
I will give it a 9

I quite like it. One of Chicago's better buildings. 8/10

typical chicago big. 9/10

5,5/10

i like it 8/10

7/10

amazing stuff 8/10

i like its design
7/10

8/10

I like it but nothing amazing except for height, 8.5/10

7/10

7/10

It's only cool because of it's height. 6.5/10

The height is fantastic and the facade is not too good. but god I hate this building. The tallest building in the world to inspire rage in me. Why? The lopsidedness with that solid horrible wall hurts. Its top hurts. I think the only reason this building passes is that its in Sears Tower shadow so all attention is automatically directed to its larger neighbor. Meanwhile, imagine if you will this tower standing alone in some city as the tallest building in that city and getting the brunt of the attention. Imagining that? I'm sorry, i just vomited and my head aches from imploding with the thought of having to look up just this. it may be irrational, but this is just my opinion. You dont have to like it or me.

0/10

^^ Come on man, don't exaggerate.
I'm not fond of it too but it isn't worth a 0/10.

I give it a 7/10

yeah like this tower 8.5/10

6/10 Not that nice..

7/10

The height is fantastic and the facade is not too good. but god I hate this building. The tallest building in the world to inspire rage in me. Why? The lopsidedness with that solid horrible wall hurts. Its top hurts. I think the only reason this building passes is that its in Sears Tower shadow so all attention is automatically directed to its larger neighbor. Meanwhile, imagine if you will this tower standing alone in some city as the tallest building in that city and getting the brunt of the attention. Imagining that? I'm sorry, i just vomited and my head aches from imploding with the thought of having to look up just this. it may be irrational, but this is just my opinion. You dont have to like it or me.

0/10

This inspires rage in you?

http://www.waltonst.com/Content_Files/13073/311%20for%20web%20site.jpg

http://www.ohbernardo.com/album/Chicago!/images/d39ac7ed063763e7b52be4ead3527e9d_11154471730/image.jpg

http://www.ohbernardo.com/album/Chicago!/images/acca62c5f1b07de97a49c54d19d11d3c_11154470210/image.jpg

Great building. But overshadowed by Sears Tower.
9.0

7/10

People give this tower too much criticism. It isn't groundbreaking, nor is it a beauty and perfect 10, but this is not the worst tower ever created, that I am sure of.

8.5/10 I don't understand why everybody hates this building, It's probably because it's always shadowed by it's older brother the Sears Tower.

8/10.

The height is fantastic and the facade is not too good. but god I hate this building. The tallest building in the world to inspire rage in me. Why? The lopsidedness with that solid horrible wall hurts. Its top hurts. I think the only reason this building passes is that its in Sears Tower shadow so all attention is automatically directed to its larger neighbor. Meanwhile, imagine if you will this tower standing alone in some city as the tallest building in that city and getting the brunt of the attention. Imagining that? I'm sorry, i just vomited and my head aches from imploding with the thought of having to look up just this. it may be irrational, but this is just my opinion. You dont have to like it or me.

0/10

If I am not mistaken, I am sure that I just saw a post of yours in the thread for One liberty Place dedicated to asking who voted a three for that building; a proposition you clearly could not comprehend as you deemed One Liberty one of the best skyscrapers in America. This makes me not able to comprehend the fact that you go so out of your way to declare your hatred for a building that in my mind is at worst inoffensive. A 0/10? What does that qualify this building as? One that doesn't exist?

Anyway, as for my assesment, I still don't see any disitnct direction in the design of this building, as it is a slightly incongruous mix of shapes that makes it look awkward from some angles; nice and shapely from others. The crown is also an oddity in itself as it looks a little over-baked, but I still feel that it is the savior of this building. The detailing is quite nice, however, and it looks very elegant at night. The proportions do no wrong either.

7/10

8/10.

nice building

It's too short. That big black one behind it is much taller. Why is it even in the list?

It's too short. That big black one behind it is much taller. Why is it even in the list?


Because it's #031, and since when was 293 m short?

4,5/10

Drawfed by Sears Tower completely :D

5/10

My two photos look wonderful here.

I like 311 with the exception of the east side of the building. Too bland.

B

one of chicago's best! 9.5/10

this thing looks so small when its next to the master of all skyscrapers! 7, but i like its design


It is kind of bizarre isn't it that that a 293 metre scraper actually looks small but it does. In manhattan it would look huge.

It is ordinary IMO and is an 8.

I like it: 9/10

9.5/10 impressive

5.5/10

Very chicago0like
I love the lines

8.5/10

6/10

7/10

7/10

7.5/10

9/10

7/10

10/10

Taken a few weeks ago.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5090/311swackervs8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Beautiful, especially at night.

9/10

8 / 10

nice building especially at night 8/10 dont like the facade that much

4/10 I don't like it :(

1 / 10

The top of the building looked as if it was designed by Chinese.

8/10

8/10. It is very muscular and imposing and the type of building that was being built around 1990.

9.5 lovely!

4 / 10

I think I'm being rather generous.

i rate this one a 9...........my favorite skyscraper in chicago.

Sometime I wish they build the other ones too.. ;)

One of my favorites in Chicago. To me, it's like a skyscraper castle and is beautiful.

It stands well although is near Sears Tower. 8.5

^^ The top of the building was designed after the arcitects wife wedding ring. I love this building! 10/10

I was going to give it 6.5 but after looking at the night shot decided to give it 7.5. Looks much better at night.

A few pics if you all don't mind


http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/3382/newby3gq.jpg


http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7757/newby21ki.jpg


http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6518/dsc030371nf.jpg


http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1558/dsc01077csresizedpostedeb0.jpg


http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/2268/dsc01547csresizedpostedzz1.jpg


http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3299/dsc04256csresizedpostedwo0.jpg


http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4821/posted46dsc03041resizedzm7.jpg

7/10

7/10

8/10

9 - I like the shape.

9/10 impressive

7/10

8/10

9/10

Not bad at all 8/10

8,5/10

9/10

this is one of my fav bldgs!

7/10

8/10

8/10 :cheers:

A lot better than the Aon Center, John Hancock, or Sears Tower. Pretty for a skyscraper. 9.5 / 10.

Sorry, this is not nice looking building. 4/10.

I love that building!

9/10

6/10 Nice Top

6/10

i like it

but have something boring, im not sure what

but i like the height

7.5

quite a cool tower. I like it.

9/10

This is my favorite scraper in the world. Just freakin' love it.

i like it

but have something boring, im not sure what



The fashion nowadays for towers is to have a glass facade. The more shiny, the better (nowadays). I am guessing you are sub-consciously bored by the lack of 'metallic luster' of the cladding.

Very nice 9/10!

This is about as good as pomo gets. 8.5

good height and shape but looks boringish. 8

8/10

awesome 9/10

Some pictures I took. Enjoy!
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t264/ThEnDoFSanity/IMG_0312.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t264/ThEnDoFSanity/IMG_0482.jpg

9.0:)nice.

8.5 / 10

8/10

6.5/10

6/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

sorry not my taste. ugly and old fashion

9/10
It looks good in the night.

07/10

07/10. Don`t like the overall shape.

4.5/10

9/10 looks very grand and posh!

6/10

6/10

8/10

8/10

The design is very interesting and the ilumination at night is very special.

It's hard to believe that this is almost a Supertall, yet it looks so tiny when viewed from above at the skydeck in Sears Tower.

5/10

7/10

9/10

6/10

7/10

Yuck!

5.5/1o

8/10

Not that impressive but highlights among neighbors...

7/10

8/10

7,5/10

love the crown- 8.5/10

6/10

8/10

7/10. i don't like the design.

8. Good building. Regards.

7/10

8/10

not bad 7/10

8.5/10

9/10

A KPF masterpiece. I love this building. It's a shame that it's overshadowed by Sears. I do love Sears (and I gave it a 10/10), but these two buildings should be spaced apart more so that there's more focus on this wonderful skyscraper.

8/10

All that horrible granite can't disguise the fact that this puppy is a dog. 5

A few pics if you all don't mind


http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/3382/newby3gq.jpg


http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7757/newby21ki.jpg


http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6518/dsc030371nf.jpg


http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1558/dsc01077csresizedpostedeb0.jpg


http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/2268/dsc01547csresizedpostedzz1.jpg


http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/3299/dsc04256csresizedpostedwo0.jpg


http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4821/posted46dsc03041resizedzm7.jpg

It's huge! 9/10

8/10

7/10

9/10

6/10

5.5
Povero grattacielo non è molto conosciuto perchè il Willis Building li toglie l'attenzione della gente.

6.5/10

voted 8/10

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7471/311southwackerdrive0605.jpg