Also known as: Two Pru Built: 1990 Designed by: Loebl Schlossman and Hackl Type: Skyscraper Stories: 64 Maximum Height: 995 feet / 303 meters Location: 180 North Stetson Avenue, Chicago, United States
R eminiscent of a number of other skyscrapers around the world, Two Prudential Plaza successfully takes the art moderne aesthetic and updates it for a new generation.
The building rises from an artificial hillside plaza as a dramatic shaft piercing the sky. Along the way it goes through several chevron-shaped setbacks until it reaches the top -- a diamond shape created by chamfering the corners of the block. The building's grid pattern is represented in these cuts as stripes as if the architect cut into a layered candy. Further visual interest is generated by long glass channels which run down all four sides of the building, leaping over the setbacks like crystal waterfalls that sprout from gables at the roofline. The entire affair is topped with a short spire, a spike really, which helps end the building's skyward ambitions.
One of the few things this building has going against it is its neighbors. It is blocked in by the dated (though beloved) One Prudential Plaza, and overshadowed by the Aon Center to the north. There are few angles from which this building can be fully appreciated.
Brent Kampert
Friday, August 15th, 2008 @ 3:15pm
Rating: Five stars. This is a very cool skyscraper in Chicago, like how it looks. Especially the pyramid and point at the top looks spectacular. It even looks cool at night, even when it's day time.
JL
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 @ 1:54am
Rating: Three stars. Not a bad-looking building, but the lobby is odd and unreadable to the casual visitor, and it handicaps the building in a significant way.
David Shmuel
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 @ 5:56pm
Rating: Three stars. Actually, this is not an unattractive building, but there are far better in Chicago. My main objection to this building is that it basically possesses no originality. It reminds me of a contemporary rendition of New York's Empire State and Chrysler buildings, not to mention a few buildings in Philadelphia and pretty much those of any other large US city. In other words, it's very generic, which disqualifies it from being a true Chicago skyscraper.
Geddy Lee
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007 @ 7:04am
Rating: Five stars. best looking newer skyscraper in Chicago
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Brent Kampert
Five stars.
Three stars.
Geddy Lee