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New "highest" skyscraper for Chicago?

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Old Jul 26, 2005 | 10:01 pm
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New "highest" skyscraper for Chicago?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050726/us_nm/life_tower_dc

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A twisting 115-story glass and concrete tower that would be the United States' tallest building may soon grace Chicago's lakefront, its developer said on Tuesday.

Critics compared the proposed 2,000-foot (610 meter) Fordham Spire to a giant candle fit for a cake, while others said it was out of place in a post-Sept. 11 world in which landmark skyscrapers could be terrorist targets.

The tower, which would house condominiums and a hotel, is the brainchild of Christopher Carley, chairman of Chicago-based Fordham Co. It was designed by award-winning Spanish-born architect Santiago Calatrava, who is known for his curvaceous bridges, as well as for designing the winged addition to Milwaukee's art museum and the transportation center to be built on the site of New York's Ground Zero.
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That picture looks terrible The skyline is fantastic the way it is now with the Sears and Hancock on either side. This just looks... ugly

There isn't a better skyline in the world IMO then when you're driving down the Edens towards the city and the full skyline comes into view.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 7:23 am
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Originally Posted by plat
There isn't a better skyline in the world IMO then when you're driving down the Edens towards the city and the full skyline comes into view.
I also like the following two views:

When driving along LSD from the south side going north, there is a sweeping view at about 35th and then the view just after one goes under the McCormick Pedestrian skyway.

Also sitting out on the north side of the Blvd that goes to Adler Planetarium, especially at night.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 2:32 pm
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It's a lot grittier but my favorite view is coming east on 18th Street over the river just after sunrise. The rail yards along Roosevelt mean that there's a rather unobstructed view of a lot more Loop buildings. The view coming across on Roosevelt is similar, but you're closer and it loses a bit of framing.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 3:37 pm
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Fugly, it doesn't fit the skyline. The style of that tower is something for a city like Hong Kong, Shanghai or Taipei for example, but in Chicago (or most other large US metropolis'), it just looks out of place.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 5:24 pm
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You're right, the tower could look good in the right locale. I looked at some pictures online of it close-up and it looks pretty unique. Just doesn't fit into Chicago though.

Originally Posted by DAL767-400ER
Fugly, it doesn't fit the skyline. The style of that tower is something for a city like Hong Kong, Shanghai or Taipei for example, but in Chicago (or most other large US metropolis'), it just looks out of place.
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Old Jul 28, 2005 | 3:14 pm
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Don't forget that EVERYONE HATED the Hancock when it was first built. Everyone made fun of the black building with the big X's. It didn't match the Chicago School of Architecture and thought it was out of place. Today it is a Chicago institution. Everyone still complains about the Picasso in Daley Plaza - but could you imagine downtown without it? The Spire has a sleek design - very modern. Maybe it doesn't match the rest of our gorgeous skyline, but I'll put money down that in 10 years everyone would rave on how visionary it was to build it.
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Old Jul 30, 2005 | 8:22 am
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Originally Posted by Sweet Willie
I also like the following two views:

When driving along LSD from the south side going north, there is a sweeping view at about 35th and then the view just after one goes under the McCormick Pedestrian skyway.
That's my favorite view as well. I've done that trek many times when I was at the U of C and when I drive up from a night of poker from Indiana (I hate the $2.50 Skyway toll so I take US 41).

As for the building, I'd like it b/c it would be nice to have another tall building to take visitors. I miss having the Sears Tower as the world tallest building. The fact that it won't be the tallest though makes me not really care if it's built or not. That they're building that new tower in UAE makes me want to go there even more though.
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