150 North Riverside

In the heart of the West Loop in Chicago, Illinois, this 54-story building offers 1.2 million square feet of office space with views of the Chicago River and skyline. The building, which opened in 2017, provides a business hub located conveniently among major transit systems in the city, making it an easy commute for employees. The building’s amenities include conference facilities, indoor and outdoor lounges, and a fitness center.

GRAEF was responsible for the modeling and detailing for steel fabrication of the structure. They worked closely with the Fabricator, Erector & Connection Engineer to discuss sequencing of the job, fabrication of steel used and the erection of the building. A key challenge for the steel fabrication was determining the weights of the columns and beams to ensure the materials were able to be shipped in an efficient manner.

Another challenging feature of this project is the small parcel that was available for construction. In order to fit between the Amtrak tracks and the Chicago River, 150 North was uniquely designed to have a pointed, narrow base built upon a 39-foot wide base, giving the structure the appearance of balancing on a pinpoint. Twelve large water tanks on top of the building serve as a damper to keep the building sound and steady on the Windy City’s windiest days.

The North Riverside project was awarded a Platinum Building Team Award and is LEED Gold certified. A large effort and collaboration across several firms, this $270 million structure is a one-of-a-kind addition to Chicago’s uniquely designed cityscape.