Thursday, January 17, 2008

Santiago Calatrava's Chicago Spire

The City of Chicago has begun its final review of Santiago Calatrava's Chicago Spire design. Calatrava's twisting 2,000-foot-tall building was officially filed for final design. The initial design for the project was unveiled in May 2005. Refinements, to the new design include eliminating a broadcast antenna, eliminating the proposal for hotel and retail space and giving a more organic feel which is more in keeping with the tradition of Chicago's skyscrapers. Calatrava has proposed building two bridges on the site. One across the Chicago River-designed so it can pivot to accommodate water traffic-will connect the Chicago Spire's plaza with the lakefront bicycle trail to the south. A second, on the north side will connect the site to DuSable Park. The design also includes enhancements for DuSable Park, including a pavilion and boat landing, to bring light, colour and activity to a now-forbidding section of road below Lake Shore Drive.

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