Formerly: Citicorp Center Formerly: Northwestern Atrium Built: 1979-1987 Designed by: Murphy/Jahn Architects Type: Skyscraper Stories: 40 Maximum Height: 588 feet / 179 meters Location: 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, United States
Building Rating 70% of readers like the Citigroup Center (Chicago).
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Description by Wayne Lorentz A massive hulk of a building that manages to not feel imposing in spite of its girth. The Citigroup Center combines reflective glass with setbacks to maximize office space while remaining pedestrian-friendly.
In essence, this building is actually a group of three traditional Art Deco towers attached shoulder-to-shoulder and clad in blue glass. The massing of a shaft on top of a podium with additional setbacks at the top is a method used for a hundred years to make sure that light reaches street level. By covering this building in reflective blue glass it maximizes the amount of light it shares and also helps blend into the sky to reduce its visual footprint.
Though some believe the shape of the building is reminiscent of a cash register to represent its largest tenant, it is actually intended to look like a waterfall to help link it to the nearby Chicago River.
Part of the reason for the spread at the bottom of the building is to incorporate a shopping mall and the Ogilvie Transportation Center, a busy suburban commuter railroad station.
Architect: Helmut Jahn
Floor space: 1,460,000 square feet
Atrium height: 80 feet.
Elevators: 24
December 8, 2007: Inventor Joe Jackson snaps and begins shooting up a law office on the 38th floor of this building. Three people are killed and one wounded before police manage to kill the gunman.
Joshua
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 @ 7:38pm
Rating: Five stars. I love this building! I walk past it everyday and go to its foodcourt occassionally. For its massive size it doesn't make a giant visual footprint - but is still visually beautiful, which is something only good design can accomplish!
Russ
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 @ 7:01pm
Rating: Five stars. I'm sorry. This building is lying. There is NO way this HUUUGE hunk of beautiful glass covered monolith - is only 588ft tall! C'mon now, I KNOW the tape measure says one thing, but spooky truth says another. It's waaay taller than that.. surely?? It's all just one big magic trick.. I am certain of it!(PS. It IS gorgeous though!)
such a perfect building in every way fom design to fuctionality
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 @ 2:06pm
Rating: Five stars. so sleek and sexy it belongs among chicago best and the view from the top is aww inspiring
Wilbert NYC
Tuesday, June 20th, 2006 @ 5:05am
Rating: Four stars. the first time i saw this building (1992)I was impressed with its design it looks like a waterfall cascating down a cliff it is a beautiful building
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Joshua
Five stars.
Russ
Four stars.