333 Wacker Drive, Chicago

333 Wacker Drive stands prominently at the confluence of the Chicago River's main and south branches, making a striking impression on the city's skyline. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), this 36-story office building showcases a distinctive curved facade of blue-green glass, which reflects the river’s hues and changes with the shifting light throughout the day. This dynamic visual effect, akin to that of Millennium Park's Cloud Gate, allows the building to interact playfully with its surroundings, compressing and stretching the urban landscape.

The architectural design of 333 Wacker Drive nods to the traditional commercial buildings of late 19th-century Chicago while incorporating modern elements. Its structure follows a classic tripartite scheme-base, shaft, and capital. The base, constructed from stone, creates a stable foundation and gives the impression that the glass facade is floating above the river. The shaft combines transparent thermal glass with opaque spandrel glass, accentuated by brushed stainless steel horizontal banding, providing a striking textural contrast.

The capital of the building features a distinctive glass curvature with squared sides that intersect in a notched fold, forming a dramatic six-floor arc. Although architect William Pedersen did not use the term "Postmodern" to describe his work, the building's design reflects what some consider Chicago's first Postmodern skyscraper. Pedersen preferred the term “contextualist” to describe his approach, emphasizing how 333 Wacker Drive contextualizes its historical design lineage with contemporary architectural flair.