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Height rank
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower
Chicago
This project is a renovation and replaced Blue Cross-Blue Shield Headquarters
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Metrics
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Height
226.7 m / 744 ft
Floors
54
Official Name
The current legal building name.
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower
Type
CTBUH collects data on two major types of tall structures: 'Buildings' and 'Telecommunications / Observation Towers.' A 'Building' is a structure where at least 50% of the height is occupied by usable floor area. A 'Telecommunications / Observation Tower' is a structure where less than 50% of the structure's height is occupied by usable floor area. Only 'Buildings' are eligible for the CTBUH 'Tallest Buildings' lists.
Building
Status
Completed
Architecturally Topped Out
Structurally Topped Out
Under Construction
Proposed
On Hold
Never Completed
Vision
Competition Entry
Canceled
Proposed Renovation
Under Renovation
Renovated
Under Demolition
Demolished
Completed, 2010
Country
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of Country, and thus uses the lists and codes established by that organization.
City
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of City, and thus uses the lists and codes established by that organization.
Address
Postal Code
60601
Function
A single-function tall building is defined as one where 85% or more of its usable floor area is dedicated to a single usage. Thus a building with 90% office floor area would be said to be an "office" building, irrespective of other minor functions it may also contain.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CTBUH "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CTBUH "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
office
Structural Material
Steel
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered a “steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Reinforced Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars.
Precast Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning system are constructed from steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. steel, concrete, timber), one on top of the other. For example, a steel/concrete indicates a steel structural system located on top of a concrete structural system, with the opposite true of concrete/steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used in a composite building’s core, columns, and floor spanning separately.
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered a “steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Reinforced Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars.
Precast Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning system are constructed from steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. steel, concrete, timber), one on top of the other. For example, a steel/concrete indicates a steel structural system located on top of a concrete structural system, with the opposite true of concrete/steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used in a composite building’s core, columns, and floor spanning separately.
composite
Core
Reinforced Concrete
Columns
Steel
Floor Spanning
Steel
Height
Architectural
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized and is employed to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) rankings of the "World's Tallest Buildings."
226.7 m / 744 ft
To Tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element (i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
226.7 m / 744 ft
Occupied
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest occupied floor within the building.
208.3 m / 683 ft
Floors Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors. Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level 4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
54
Floors Below Ground
The number of floors below ground should include all major floors located below the ground floor level.
3
# of Elevators
Number of Elevators refers to the total number of elevator cars (not shafts) contained within a particular building (including public, private and freight elevators).
39
Tower GFA
Tower GFA refers to the total gross floor area within the tower footprint, not including adjoining podiums, connected buildings or other towers within the development.
217,756 m² / 2,343,906 ft²
Rankings
-
By function
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-
By material
You must be a CTBUH Member to view this resource.
#
842
Tallest in the World
#
134
Tallest in
North America
#
115
Tallest in
United States
#
19
Tallest in
Chicago
#
382
Tallest Office Building in the World
#
82
Tallest Office Building in
North America
#
74
Tallest Office Building in
United States
#
10
Tallest Office Building in
Chicago
#
327
Tallest Composite Building in the World
#
37
Tallest Composite Building in
North America
#
30
Tallest Composite Building in
United States
#
5
Tallest Composite Building in
Chicago
Construction Schedule
2007
Construction Start
2010
Completed
Architect
Design
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Structural Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
MEP Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Façade
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Property Management
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Steel
You must be a CTBUH Member to view this resource.
Owner/Developer
Health Care Service Corporation
Architect
Design
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Structural Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
MEP Engineer
Design
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Main Contractor
The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.
The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.
Walsh Construction
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Façade
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Geotechnical
STS Consultants, Ltd.
Property Management
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Fire Proofing
Grace Construction Products
Steel
CTBUH Initiatives
Venue Confirmed for Awards Conference VIP Reception
29 March 2018 - CTBUH News
EMI Lead Chicago Tall-Building Study Trip
25 May 2015 - Event
Videos
16 September 2014 | Chicago
Blades of Steel: Understanding the Limits of Metal Façade Design
Metal claddings frequently skin our tall buildings. They provide the texture and shine that help distinguish one glass tower from the next. Like the fabric...
About Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower
300 East Randolph is a unique combination of a build-to-suit headquarters and a multi-tenant office tower in downtown Chicago. The design concept defined an initial building to serve a company’s immediate needs and planned for vertical expansion in the future. Thus the building was constructed in two phases, with the second phase of construction occurring on top of the fully operational phase one, without interrupting existing tenant operations. The project’s 33-story, first phase was completed in 1997 and in 2006 the decision was made to proceed with the initial plan and add 24 stories on top of the existing building. Nearly a decade separated the two phases of construction.
The initial foundations and structure were designed and constructed to support the fully expanded building. Additional riser space also was provided to accommodate independent mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for the expansion floors. In order to allow the cooling towers on the roof of phase one to continue to serve the building during construction, a three-story gap from the 30th to the 33rd levels was left during construction. Once the new cooling towers were in place, 24 floors above the originals, the old cooling towers were removed, and cladding was applied. This space now serves as a mid-building conference center, providing necessary additional meeting and training space.
Vertical shafts to accommodate the high-zone elevators that service phase two of the project were accommodated in phase one as large atrium spaces that ran the height of the building alongside the low-zone elevator banks along the north wall. Local open stair cases are also located along the northern wall to promote inter-floor interactions without dependency on the elevators.
The entire exterior of the building is clad in glass, stainless steel and stone—all materials that both aged well and were easily matched as the building expanded. As a result of this design planning, there is no visible distinction between the old and new portions of the building, providing a seamless, integrated expression that now achieves its full height and appropriately fits into the Chicago skyline.
Videos
16 September 2014 | Chicago
Blades of Steel: Understanding the Limits of Metal Façade Design
Metal claddings frequently skin our tall buildings. They provide the texture and shine that help distinguish one glass tower from the next. Like the fabric...
11 October 2011 | Chicago
Vertical Expansion Leads to Innovative Solutions
The 300 East Randolph building establishes a new standard for innovation in the Chicago skyline. Responding to the programmatic need to accommodate flexibility for future...
CTBUH Initiatives
Filter by
29 March 2018
Venue Confirmed for Awards Conference VIP Reception
The reception, kindly sponsored by Lotte Property & Development, will take place in the 30th floor of Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower in Chicago.
29 May 2015
EMI Lead Chicago Tall-Building Study Trip
A group of 20 Belgian real estate professionals traveled to Chicago from May 25-29 to visit several tall buildings, and related developments as part of a CTBUH Belgium study trip.
15 August 2012
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower Chosen as Featured Building
The design concept defined an initial building to serve a company’s immediate needs and planned for vertical expansion in the future.
21 October 2009
Blue Cross Blue Shield Building Tour
Attendees of the 2009 CTBUH Chicago Conference began their conference experience with a technical tour of the recent renovations to Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower.
17 July 2009
CTBUH Summer Tour - Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower
The final tour of the CTBUH Summer Study Tour series was held at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Headquarters in downtown Chicago.
5 July 2009
CTBUH Chicago Helicopter Tour
CTBUH members toured many of the extensive Chicago skyscrapers as part of the Chicago Skyscrapers Summer Tour Program.
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