Did you know that the St. Regis Chicago is the tallest structure in the world designed by a woman? It stands proud at 1,198 feet. The St. Regis Chicago is a supertall skyscraper. It graces the Chicago skyline with its 101 stories.
Formerly known as Wanda Vista Tower, the St. Regis Chicago is located at 363 East Wacker Drive. Construction began in August 2016. It reached completion in 2020. Upon completion, it became the city’s third-tallest building. It surpassed the Aon Center in height.
Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects designed the St. Regis Chicago. Gang also designed the nearby Aqua skyscraper. The St. Regis complements the Aqua’s design. Both are the tallest structures in the world designed by a woman.
Initially, the project was a collaboration. It was between Magellan Development Group and Wanda Group. The construction cost nearly $1 billion. In 2020, Magellan bought the entire project. Then, it partnered with St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. The hotel portion opened on May 19, 2023.
The St. Regis Chicago comprises three interconnected towers. These are called “stems.” They have differing heights in a step-like arrangement. The stems feature alternating truncated pyramidal shapes known as frustums. This gives each tower an undulating appearance. The design has been likened to Constantin Brâncuși’s Endless Column.
Studio Gang Architects says the tower presents itself as three interconnected volumes. The volumes have differing heights. They move rhythmically in and out of plane. This is a result of the curvilinear design. The tower topped out in April 2019. It is part of the Lakeshore East development. It overlooks the Chicago River near Lake Michigan.
The St. Regis Chicago is a mixed-use building. It houses the St. Regis Residences. There are 393 luxury condominium residences. It also includes the St. Regis Hotel. The hotel offers 191 rooms including 33 suites. The hotel occupies the first 10 floors. Private residences are on floors 11 through 97. Floor 47 is a dedicated amenity floor for residents. It features an outdoor pool, spa, golf lounge, and fitness center. Residents also have access to all hotel amenities. These include the St. Regis Spa and in-room dining.
The St. Regis Chicago targets Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED certification. The towers have a curvilinear design. They consist of alternating frustums. The towers showcase six different shades of glass. The design has been described as stacks of tapering truncated pyramids. They alternate between right-side-up and upside-down.
The St. Regis Chicago also has unique columns. Unlike most buildings, its perimeter columns step inward and outward. Each column projects about 5 inches. This design was chosen over diagonal columns. Diagonal columns would have sacrificed interior space.
The St. Regis Chicago employs a coupled dual-core shear-wall assembly. This connects the three buildings for wind resistance. The building also contains uninhabited blow-through floors. These reduce wind-induced sway. Six tanks hold over 400,000 gallons of water. This counteracts the wind’s movement.
The St. Regis Chicago houses two independently owned restaurants. Miru is a Japanese-inspired restaurant on the 11th floor. It has an interior dining room and a large outdoor terrace. Tre Dita opened in March 2024. It is a Tuscan-inspired restaurant.