Grant Thornton Tower (formerly Chicago Title & Trust Center, 161 North Clark and sometimes Chicago Title Tower[1]) is an office tower located in Chicago designed by the firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. Before completion in 1990 the twin tower design was awarded The Chicago Athenaeum's "Best Building" Architecture Award, the award was received by one of the lead designers Kevin Flanagan. (view PLP Architects). The fifty-storey building rises 756 feet (230 m) in the Loop and was completed in 1992, on the site of Chicago's Greyhound Bus Station.[2] Previously, a structure at 111 West Washington was known as the Chicago Title & Trust Building. After CT&T moved to the new tower in 1992, its former home became known as the Burnham Center.[3]

Grant Thornton Tower
Grant Thornton Tower as seen from the west
Grant Thornton Tower is located in Chicago metropolitan area
Grant Thornton Tower
Location within Chicago metropolitan area
Grant Thornton Tower is located in Illinois
Grant Thornton Tower
Grant Thornton Tower (Illinois)
Grant Thornton Tower is located in the United States
Grant Thornton Tower
Grant Thornton Tower (the United States)
General information
TypeOffice
Location171 N. Clark St.
Chicago, Illinois
 United States
Coordinates41°53′05″N 87°37′50″W / 41.88472°N 87.63056°W / 41.88472; -87.63056
Construction started1990
Completed1992
Height
Antenna spire756 ft (230 m)
Technical details
Floor count50
Lifts/elevators23
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Structural engineerSeverud Associates

One of the tower's most notable features is its eastern-facing slanted roof at upper levels. At night, the top of the building facing east and west is flooded with light, creating a memorable presence on the Chicago skyline.

The building was originally intended to have a twin at 181 N. Clark Street, but the plan has been dropped twice: initially, after the completion of the first tower, and then a second time in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks.[2] A multi-level parking structure currently occupies the space where the north tower may someday be constructed.

It has a basement-level pedway connection westward to the south-east corner of the James R. Thompson Center's food court.

As initial tenant CT&T reduced its presence in the building, it became known by its address (161 North Clark). In 2012, Grant Thornton International acquired the naming rights to the building for its 2015 lease.[4] The official address has moved as Grant Thornton's official address is Grant Thornton Tower, 171 North Clark, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois, 60601 according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.[5]

Tenants edit

Position in Chicago's skyline edit

 311 South WackerWillis TowerChicago Board of Trade Building111 South WackerAT&T Corporate CenterKluczynski Federal Building333 South WabashChase TowerThree First National PlazaMid-Continental PlazaRichard J. Daley CenterChicago Title and Trust Center77 West WackerPittsfield BuildingLeo Burnett BuildingThe Heritage at Millennium ParkCrain Communications BuildingIBM PlazaOne Prudential PlazaTwo Prudential PlazaAon CenterBlue Cross and Blue Shield Tower340 on the ParkPark TowerOlympia Centre900 North Michigan875 North Michigan AvenueWater Tower PlaceHarbor PointThe ParkshoreNorth Pier ApartmentsLake Point TowerJay Pritzker PavilionBuckingham FountainLake MichiganLake MichiganLake Michigan

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Glass Steel And Stone Archived 2012-06-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Emporis Listing
  3. ^ "The Burnham Center". Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  4. ^ Ori, Ryan (2012-11-28). "Grant Thornton gets naming rights in HQ move to former Chicago Title tower". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  5. ^ "Registration Statement No. 333-203147". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  6. ^ Accenture Office Directory
  7. ^ a b "Chicago's 161 North Clark Office Tower Signs Over 300,000 Square Feet of Leases". Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2012-09-28.