A Glass Tower in Chicago Twists to Catch the Lake Breeze

Each floor of the new tower rotates slightly, so the facade becomes a pattern of angled glass panels that shade one another. From the Chicago Riverwalk, the building looks almost like it is turning in slow motion, its faceted surface catching the morning sun on one side and the reflection of Lake Michigan on the other. It is a striking addition to one of the most famous skylines in the world. But the twist is not just for show. It is the key to how the building breathes.

Architect Lakeline Partners · Location Chicago, IL · Height 612 ft

Designed by the Chicago firm Lakeline Partners, the 612-foot office and residential tower opened this fall near the north bank of the river. According to the design team, its combination of self-shading glass and natural ventilation is expected to cut energy use by about 40 percent compared with a conventional glass tower of the same size. The building’s operators say they will track and publish actual performance over its first few years.