This is an archived material originally posted on sciy.org which is no longer active. The title, content, author, date of posting shown below, all are as per the sciy.org records
The Twisted Tower (The 150-story Chicago Spire)
Originally posted on sciy.org by Ron Anastasia on Tue 04 Dec 2007 03:00 PM PST
Thanks to RY Deshpande for suggesting this article.
 |
Perched on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Spire’s seven-sided
corkscrew design will be more than just an audacious architectural
whim. The twist—a clockwise shift at each of its 150 floors—will reduce
umbrella-busting gusts of wind at street level by directing most of the
wind upward along the channels. Rounded skyscrapers also sway less than
rectangular buildings because wind pushes evenly on all sides.
Contractors broke ground on the building in June; at 2,000 feet and with 1,193 condos, it will be the tallest residential building in the world (tall enough to see the curvature of the planet from the top floors!) when it’s completed in 2011. And with green touches such as a cooling system that draws water from the Chicago River, cisterns for collecting rainwater for landscaping, and reflective glass that will prevent migratory-bird collisions, the building is aiming to earn “gold†certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, an industry benchmark for environmentally friendly construction. thechicagospire.com
Contractors broke ground on the building in June; at 2,000 feet and with 1,193 condos, it will be the tallest residential building in the world (tall enough to see the curvature of the planet from the top floors!) when it’s completed in 2011. And with green touches such as a cooling system that draws water from the Chicago River, cisterns for collecting rainwater for landscaping, and reflective glass that will prevent migratory-bird collisions, the building is aiming to earn “gold†certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, an industry benchmark for environmentally friendly construction. thechicagospire.com
Attachment:
