Here at One North Wacker Drive stands the impressive UBS Tower. Completed in 2002, the UBS Tower is a testament to modern architecture. It reaches a height of 653 feet. Its 50 stories make a prominent mark on Chicago’s skyline.
The UBS Tower was not always known by that name. It was originally named UBS Tower. The tower was specifically designed to house various UBS branches. These included UBS Warburg, UBS PaineWebber, UBS Global Asset Management and UBS O’Connor.
Did you know the UBS Tower holds a special place in Chicago’s architectural history? It was the first large multi-tenant tower built in Chicago in six years since 1993. This marked a significant moment in the city’s development.
Lohan Associates, now known as Goettsch Partners, designed the UBS Tower. The John Buck Company developed it. Their collaboration resulted in a building that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
The UBS Tower’s lobby boasts a unique feature. It has a glass wall that was a first in the United States. The 40-foot wall is constructed of 5’x5′ glass panes. These panes are attached to a system of medallions and cable. This cable system was tested to withstand pressures above 150 psf. This equates to wind speeds of nearly 250 mph.
The glass itself is special. It is an optical interference anti-reflective glass designed by Schott AG. It has a very low surface reflectivity of just 1%. This gives the lobby an almost transparent look.
The exterior landscaping of the UBS Tower was carefully planned. Peter Walker and Partners Landscape Architecture Inc. from Berkeley, California, designed it. Their work complements the tower’s modern design.
Enclos, a facade engineering company, played a key role in the UBS Tower’s construction. They designed and installed the first cable net glass wall in the United States. This innovative approach minimized the sightlines of the steel support structure. It allowed for maximum transparency. The lobby features 15-meter glass facades. These facades wrap the perimeter of the lobby space using over 1,500 square meters of glass.
Artwork is an integral part of the UBS Tower’s interior. The UBS PaineWebber Collection features contemporary art pieces. The UBS Global Asset Management collection includes architectural relics. One notable piece is Roy Lichtenstein’s sculpture, Archaic Head. It is displayed on the 38th floor near Louis Sullivan’s elevator gate. The gate came from the old Chicago Stock Exchange.
With 1,754,000 sq ft of floorspace, the UBS Tower offers ample room. Rents are among the highest in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. They average over $25 per square foot on a triple net basis. This grosses up to over $40 per square foot. The building also offers a range of amenities. These include a two-story underground garage, a bar, a conference center, a fitness center and a convenience store. There is also a cafeteria on the 30th floor.
In March 2002, the UBS Tower was recognized as “Development of the Year”. This award was presented at the 14th Annual Greater Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards. This recognition underscores the tower’s significance.
Today major tenants occupy the UBS Tower. These include UBS AG, Stifel, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP, Northwestern Mutual, PwC, Fitch Group, Adams Street Partners, and Aquatic Capital Management. The UBS Tower stands as a symbol of architectural innovation. It also represents Chicago’s vibrant commercial landscape.