Chicago Model Thread

STR · February 18th, 2006, 04:49 AM

Since SSP is FUBAR tonight, I figure I ought to finally create a thread here for my model.

Classic postcard shot showing all the major proposals and constructions in all their glory.

Overview of downtown. The latest shot of the model.

STR · February 18th, 2006, 04:55 AM

The Loop

Wide angle shot from the south.

Close ups of other buildings
Mid Continental Plaza

AT&T

STR · February 18th, 2006, 04:57 AM

From Hancock Observatory

From the proposed top floor of Fordham Spire

STR · February 18th, 2006, 04:58 AM

STR · February 18th, 2006, 05:00 AM

ardecila · February 18th, 2006, 07:37 AM

Wow, this is pretty impressive. What app are you developing this in, and what kind of polycounts are you seeing on your finished buildings?

I and several other people (that I know of) have modelled some buildings in detail for the SimCity 4 Building Architect Tool, which uses either Max or gmax.

This is quite impressive, at any rate. Is this being developed purely for enjoyment, or are you planning to sell this?

STR · February 18th, 2006, 08:26 AM

1)3DMax 7. Got a license cheap from a friend who opted against a graphics design career.
2) ~300,000 polys for the entire file. The buildings vary, with AT&T having ~100, Trump ~200 and Fordham Spire being some 3,200. They're basically massing models with bump/reflect mapping (plus a little transparency for the Fordham Spire spire). I used to design scenery for MSFS, so like all designers with roots in 3D gaming, it's all in the textures. It also makes changing a building ridiculously simple and fast. Rendering is also fast, once I streamlined the lighting system I was getting total rendering times of 2-3 minutes for the wide angle aerials.
3) Can't sell it because elements of it aren't originally mine.

Chicagotom · February 19th, 2006, 08:40 PM

Awsome Model!!! Anyway you can put the Museum Park Towers in on the South end of Grant Park?

Chi_Coruscant · February 19th, 2006, 09:24 PM

STR, as usual, these are fantastic works. Clearly, there is a contrast between Trump Tower and Fordham Spire. The way they are situated by the Chicago River indicate that the former is massive and masculine and the latter is serene and feminine.

The Urban Politician · February 19th, 2006, 10:09 PM

Wow STR, those are truly great.

I haven't commented on them before, but your models of TTC and Fordham Spire are quite stunning

rgolch · February 20th, 2006, 02:04 AM

I vote we make this thread a sticky.

Jules · March 2nd, 2006, 04:54 AM

These are awesome!

STR · February 20th, 2006, 10:40 PM

Water Tower district and Mag Mile.

From the JHC 94th. The shadows have a nice effect, but unfortunately, the deck isn't open at 8AM.

North Loop and 300 N LaSalle

STR · February 24th, 2006, 02:24 AM

Chi_Coruscant · February 24th, 2006, 02:37 AM

STR, this is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! And you, STR, are also UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

This definitely would happen in 4 years from now.

danthediscoman · February 24th, 2006, 03:04 AM

STR-two buildings I don't see in Streeterville is the STREETER(ohio&mcclurg) which has just been topped off and the Parkview(illinois&mcclurg) which construction just began on. Just curious as to why they aren't on their. Good WORK!

edsg25 · February 24th, 2006, 05:08 AM

This is the rarest of photo spreads where "Oh My God" actually means "Oh My God" or perhaps more realistically OH MY GOD!!!

And while STR has appeared to offer a wonderful service to us here, I am not yet convinced that he hasn't been wrecklessly irresponsible for sharing these pix without including a warning to people who might have heart conditions!!!!

Jules · February 24th, 2006, 05:23 AM

Thanks for all your hard work STR! Great stuff!!

wickedestcity · February 24th, 2006, 06:11 AM

amazing!!! thanks man , you make my day with these spectaculare models! rock on Chicago 2010

***nygirl*** · February 26th, 2006, 12:53 AM

WOWW, what a great job, can we steal you for a ny model?

February 18th, 2006, 04:49 AM	#1
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	Chicago Model Thread Since SSP is FUBAR tonight, I figure I ought to finally create a thread here for my model. Classic postcard shot showing all the major proposals and constructions in all their glory. Overview of downtown. The latest shot of the model. __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model Last edited by STR; February 20th, 2006 at 10:31 PM.

February 18th, 2006, 04:55 AM	#2
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	The Loop Wide angle shot from the south. Close ups of other buildings Mid Continental Plaza AT&T __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 18th, 2006, 04:57 AM	#3
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	Lake Shore East-All new shots From Hancock Observatory From the proposed top floor of Fordham Spire __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 18th, 2006, 04:58 AM	#4
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	Fordham Spire __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 18th, 2006, 05:00 AM	#5
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	Trump International Hotel and Tower __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 18th, 2006, 07:37 AM	#6
ardecila Jack-Of-All-Trades Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chick-ah-go, Illinoise Posts: 1,407	Wow, this is pretty impressive. What app are you developing this in, and what kind of polycounts are you seeing on your finished buildings? I and several other people (that I know of) have modelled some buildings in detail for the SimCity 4 Building Architect Tool, which uses either Max or gmax. This is quite impressive, at any rate. Is this being developed purely for enjoyment, or are you planning to sell this?

February 18th, 2006, 08:26 AM	#7
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	1)3DMax 7. Got a license cheap from a friend who opted against a graphics design career. 2) ~300,000 polys for the entire file. The buildings vary, with AT&T having ~100, Trump ~200 and Fordham Spire being some 3,200. They're basically massing models with bump/reflect mapping (plus a little transparency for the Fordham Spire spire). I used to design scenery for MSFS, so like all designers with roots in 3D gaming, it's all in the textures. It also makes changing a building ridiculously simple and fast. Rendering is also fast, once I streamlined the lighting system I was getting total rendering times of 2-3 minutes for the wide angle aerials. 3) Can't sell it because elements of it aren't originally mine. __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model Last edited by STR; February 18th, 2006 at 10:21 AM.

February 19th, 2006, 08:40 PM	#8
Chicagotom Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 426	Awsome Model!!! Anyway you can put the Museum Park Towers in on the South end of Grant Park?

February 19th, 2006, 09:24 PM	#9
Chi_Coruscant Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 906	STR, as usual, these are fantastic works. Clearly, there is a contrast between Trump Tower and Fordham Spire. The way they are situated by the Chicago River indicate that the former is massive and masculine and the latter is serene and feminine.

February 19th, 2006, 10:09 PM	#10
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,438	Wow STR, those are truly great. I haven't commented on them before, but your models of TTC and Fordham Spire are quite stunning

February 20th, 2006, 02:04 AM	#11
rgolch Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 422	I vote we make this thread a sticky.

March 2nd, 2006, 04:54 AM	#12
Jules 2016 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,559	These are awesome! __________________ Chicago 2016

February 20th, 2006, 10:40 PM	#13
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	Water Tower district and Mag Mile. From the JHC 94th. The shadows have a nice effect, but unfortunately, the deck isn't open at 8AM. North Loop and 300 N LaSalle __________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 24th, 2006, 02:24 AM	#14
STR What'u smokin' Willis? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 1,783	__________________ Chicago is really the only great American City - Nathaniel Owings, Skidmore Owings and Merrill. There are six phases to every project 1) enthusiasm, 2) disillusionment, 3) panic, 4) search for the guilty, 5) punishment of the innocent, 6) praise for the non-participants. - Guy Tozzoli Build your own Model Skyscrapers Chicago 2010 3D Model World Trade Center (1971-2001) 3D Model

February 24th, 2006, 02:37 AM	#15
Chi_Coruscant Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 906	STR, this is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! And you, STR, are also UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!! This definitely would happen in 4 years from now.

February 24th, 2006, 03:04 AM	#16
danthediscoman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 398	STR-two buildings I don't see in Streeterville is the STREETER(ohio&mcclurg) which has just been topped off and the Parkview(illinois&mcclurg) which construction just began on. Just curious as to why they aren't on their. Good WORK!

February 24th, 2006, 05:08 AM	#17
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,463	This is the rarest of photo spreads where "Oh My God" actually means "Oh My God" or perhaps more realistically *OH MY GOD*!!! And while STR has appeared to offer a wonderful service to us here, I am not yet convinced that he hasn't been wrecklessly irresponsible for sharing these pix without including a warning to people who might have heart conditions!!!!

February 24th, 2006, 05:23 AM	#18
Jules 2016 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,559	Thanks for all your hard work STR! Great stuff!! __________________ Chicago 2016

February 24th, 2006, 06:11 AM	#19
wickedestcity BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,641	amazing!!! thanks man , you make my day with these spectaculare models! rock on Chicago 2010

February 26th, 2006, 12:53 AM	#20
*nygirl* Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 5,725	WOWW, what a great job, can we steal you for a ny model? __________________ Completely attached to New York but completely in love with Chicago. NAKED NEW YORK: A complete tour of New York City, 5 boroughs and immediate Metro: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2202

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