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| River Point | |
|---|---|
| Name | River Point |
| Caption | River Point from the Chicago River |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Start date | 2013 |
| Completion date | 2017 |
| Architect | Pickard Chilton |
| Developer | Hines (real estate) |
| Height | 732 ft (223 m) |
| Floors | 52 |
| Floor area | 1,250,000 sq ft |
| Building type | Office tower |
| Structural engineer | Magnusson Klemencic Associates |
River Point is a commercial skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, United States, sited at the confluence of the Chicago River's north and south branches. The tower is a prominent component of Chicago's Loop and West Loop, adjacent to major civic landmarks and transportation corridors. It combines a high-rise office program with a podium plaza and waterfront open space, integrating elements of modernist and contextualist urban design.
River Point is a 52-story office tower completed in the late 2010s, conceived amid a wave of development that included neighboring projects such as the Aon Center, Willis Tower, and the Trump International Hotel and Tower. The project involved multiple stakeholders including Hines (real estate), River Point Holdings, and municipal agencies such as the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Its siting at the tri-junction of the North Branch Chicago River, South Branch Chicago River, and the Main Stem makes it a focal point for riverfront revitalization initiatives championed by figures associated with the Chicago Architecture Foundation and civic plans led during the administrations of Rahm Emanuel and predecessors.
Designed by Pickard Chilton with landscape contributions by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the tower employs a stepped podium and a tapered tower form to optimize river views toward Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The façade combines curtain wall glass with aluminum mullions, referencing materials used on Aon Center and Magnificent Mile buildings while maintaining a distinct profile akin to works by firms like SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) and Foster and Partners. The podium plaza integrates landscape elements referencing the Chicago Riverwalk and sightlines to the Chicago Cultural Center and Daley Plaza. Interior public realms were programmed with collaborators experienced on projects such as Salesforce Tower and One World Trade Center tenant fit-outs.
The site was formerly occupied by low-rise commercial buildings and surface parking, situated within parcels assembled during downtown redevelopment campaigns dating to the late 20th century that involved entities such as Tribune Company and McCormick Place. Initial proposals emerged amid competition with projects like Eureka Tower proposals and redevelopment of the Old Main Post Office. Financing was arranged with participation from global investors similar to those backing One Vanderbilt and included institutional capital sources that have underwritten Chicago towers such as 300 North LaSalle and The Legacy at Millennium Park. Permitting and approval processes navigated review by the Chicago Plan Commission and coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation for riverfront access.
The building occupies acreage at 444 West Lake Street near the intersection of Lake Street and LaSalle Street, adjacent to the Chicago Riverwalk and the LaSalle Street Bridge. Surrounding institutions include Union Station to the west, Millennium Park and Grant Park to the east across the Metra (Chicago) corridors, and cultural destinations such as the Chicago Theatre and the Art Institute of Chicago. Transit connectivity is provided by LaSalle and proximate Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station commuter rail hubs, plus access to Chicago Transit Authority bus and rail lines.
Primarily an office building, River Point houses national and international firms similar to tenants found in other Chicago towers such as Caterpillar Inc. satellite offices, finance firms akin to Northern Trust, and technology and professional services companies paralleling occupants of 1871 and McDonald's Corporation headquarters. Ground-level retail and dining spaces cater to riverfront visitors and office workers, complementing hospitality and conference activity seen in adjacent properties like The Langham, Chicago and Westin Chicago River North. The plaza and public spaces are programmed for events coordinated with organizations such as the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Construction employed engineering practices used on high-rise projects in Chicago, involving deep foundation systems similar to those used at Aqua Tower and complex riverbank stabilization akin to interventions along the Chicago Riverwalk redevelopment. Structural engineering by Magnusson Klemencic Associates incorporated tuned mass damping and a composite concrete-and-steel core to meet wind and seismic performance standards overseen by the City of Chicago Building Department. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems pursued energy targets influenced by standards like LEED certification processes applied on towers such as The John Hancock Center renovations and implemented modular construction sequencing familiar from projects like One Prudential Plaza.
Upon completion, the project received attention from publications including Crain's Chicago Business and The Chicago Tribune, with commentary relating to its contribution to the Chicago skyline and the revitalization of the Chicago River corridor. Urbanists compared its public realm to interventions along the High Line (New York City) and riverfront initiatives in Boston and San Antonio. Economic analyses referenced employment multipliers similar to those documented for River North and South Loop development, while preservation advocates evaluated its relationship to historic fabric including nearby Marshall Field Building and Merchandise Mart. The project has since been cited in case studies on waterfront redevelopment and mixed-use commercial density within American central business districts.
Category:Skyscrapers in Chicago Category:Office buildings completed in 2017