Skybridge at One North Halsted, Chicago

The Skybridge at One North Halsted is a 39-story, mixed-use residential high rise in the West Loop.

The project includes 32 floors of condominium units, five levels of parking for tenants and the public and Dominick's grocery store with underground parking.

A prominent feature is the separate towers that are connected by "bridges" that emerge from the 14th floor. The bridges are enclosed by a clear glass curtain wall and illuminated with interior accent lighting.

Opposition Drops Away

Ralph Johnson, the architect, designed a building that could stand out among the high rises to the east and blend in with the Greek Town neighborhood to the west.

Johnson pushed the Skybridge directly against the Kennedy Expressway to minimize the impact to the neighborhood and keep the structure enclosing the parking and Dominick's low.

Initial opposition came from the Greek Town community due to concerns of a wall blocking the view of the skyline. Concerns subsided once the Skybridge was presented.

The building's design is slender, compact and separated into two towers that connect by a glass-enclosed bridge. The design allows the building to appear somewhat transparent, rather than the giant wall that was feared.

Overcoming Construction Hurdles

The bridges that connect the two separate towers were a single concrete beam design, which posed the problem of differing exterior wall conditions.

The schedule was accelerated because Dominick's planned to occupy the space and open before the building was complete. Moreover, the parking garage needed to be complete to accommodate the store's customers.

The site was confined. The project was bound by three busy city streets and the Kennedy. Deliveries were coordinated, materials were staged and two tower cranes were used simultaneously.

The jury said, "The architect succeeded in creating drama with the use of shadows and light, instead of a solid wall of windows. This is a very difficult site. Coordination with traffic was difficult and tolerances were tough, but the results are stunning."

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