Paul Clemence Posts Images of Chicago’s Third Tallest Building, Studio Gang’s St. Regis Tower
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Copy———-In his latest series of photographs, Paul Clemence turns his lens on the latest addition to Chicago’s famous skyline: the undulating shapes of St. Regis Tower, formerly known as the Vista Tower. Designed by Studio Gang, the 101-story skyscraper leaves its mark as the third tallest building in Chicago. Despite its size, the volume appears slender due to the rhythm that defines its three nested towers.
The tower aims to enhance rather than disrupt the surrounding urban fabric. Located between the center of Lakeshore East Park and the Chicago Riverwalk, the careful design of the lower levels allows for a porous connection between the two attractions. Innovative structural systems are implemented to achieve this by completely raising the second volume off the ground.
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Rising from the horizon, the shape of the three interlocking towers is at once subtle, yet recognizable. The flowing appearance is generated by alternating the orientation of the main volumetric module of the towers: a 12-story truncated pyramid, also called a trunk. The hesitant but geometric form that evokes the famous Infinite Column of Brâncuși, is more than a simple aesthetic choice. Regulates sunlight and optimizes airflow from multiple orientations. In this way, the form fulfills the function of the tower, which houses 393 condominiums and a 5-star hotel, as well as restaurants and various service spaces.
Paul Clemence’s photographs also highlight another defining element of construction. The color gradient visible on the glass-clad facade indicates its varying degrees of reflectivity. Material qualities of high performance glass are optimized for solar performance according to variation in floor plate size. The image of stepped edges is created by progressively increasing or decreasing the size of each level from floor to floor, depending on the orientation of its respective module.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has already recognized the qualities of the St. Regis Tower by awarding it two Excellence Awards for the categories Best Tall Building 300-399 meters and Best Mixed-Use Tall Building for 2022. This adds to the already wide recognition of Studio Gangan architecture and urban design practice founded and led by Jeanne Gang, with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris.
Studio Gang is best known for offering innovative responses to both complex urban contexts and broader concerns regarding environmental and ecological sustainability. Their ethos is grounded in actionable idealism, an effort to create places that support environmental resilience, equity, and justice. One of his most recognized and acclaimed buildings is Aqua Toweran 82-story skyscraper located on the same urban island as the St Regis, making the studio’s influence on the Chicago skyline even more noticeable.
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