Sep 25 2005
Santiago Calatrava has recently unveiled his design for a 2,000 foot skyscraper to be built in Chicago.
Located by the mouth of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, Calatrava explained that the Fordham Spire's shape was derived by imagining the plume of smoke from a campfire lit centuries ago by Native Americans at the mouth of the Chicago River.
This latest skyscraper project is just one in a long line of recent designs to defy the expectation that American confidence in building ever-higher had been knocked by September 11th. Indeed, considering the novel designs of proposed towers by Daniel Libeskind at Ground Zero, and Frank Gehry in Los Angeles, all signs point to a revival of interest in skyscrapers.
Some have said that this is the first major re-imagining of the skyscraper concept since the 1930s, the era of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, with modern architects favouring a spire design. However, despite the apparent renewal of interest in high-rise buildings, the fact remains that Calatrava’s is the 3rd serious proposal for a spire-like tower in Chicago, and could still meet the same fate as 7 South Dearborn and the Miglin-Beitler Skyneedle, neither of which ever made it to the construction phase.
One argument against the Fordham Spire is its use. Skyscrapers have always been seen as commercial buildings, housing offices and representing capitalist success and growth. Calatrava though, proposes a residential tower, with 250 condominiums and a hotel. Many have blanched at the idea, however city centres are seeing a revival with young professionals remaining in the city longer and empty-nesters investing in a pied-a-terre. As working from home becomes more common, office vacancy rates are on the increase, and some argue that this makes it nonsensical to continue to build corporate skyscrapers.
The dispute surrounding the role of skyscrapers looks set to continue, as a recent article in Chicago Business stated that the Chicago condo market is ‘clogged’, with 24% of downtown luxury condo units built in the past 5 years remaining unsold. If the Fordham Spire makes it to the construction stage, it is expected to be completed in 2009.