400 Lake Shore Drive is an iconic new urban destination designed to strengthen Chicago’s connection to the natural realm. Designed by SOM, the sister towers feature slender, cascading silhouettes, creating breathtaking views of the city and lake while transforming the downtown skyline.
Varying in height, placement, and rotation, the towers at 400 Lake Shore Drive form a gateway that offers spectacular views along the lakefront and river corridors. Constructed of glass and terra cotta with intricate metal detailing, the towers are clad in a contemporary rippling facade symbolic of the surrounding waters. A hallmark of the Chicago School—the “Chicago window”—is reinterpreted through a series of bay windows with floor-to-ceiling glass.
Reminiscent of a waterfall, the exterior of each tower incorporates expansive outdoor terraces that extend individual residences beyond their walls. Placed at carefully proportioned intervals, these outdoor living areas present a rare opportunity to enjoy sweeping, 180-degree views of the adjacent lakefront, river and cityscape.
We’re looking at two very elegant towers that, I think, will be iconic on the lakefront skyline.
The space between the towers transforms with each angle, framing a nearby building or opening a view to the sky above. At the end of Water Street, a plaza will mark the moment of arrival for residents and guests, incorporating plantings and art. Adjacent to the towers, an expanded Riverwalk will bridge the gap between downtown and the lakefront, connecting to a reimagined DuSable Park—a new public park in the heart of the city. The towers will include luxury condominium residences and apartments, and will be connected by a four-story podium housing a mix of residential amenities.
