CommercialChicago, IL2023
Meridian Atrium
Challenge
A 28-story office tower required a 50-foot-tall glass atrium lobby with no visible structural supports, while the tower above demanded column-free floor plates for maximum leasing flexibility.
Approach
We engineered a diagrid steel exoskeleton that transfers lateral loads through the perimeter, eliminating interior columns. The atrium uses a cable-net wall system with laminated glass panels, engineered to resist wind loads at 1,200 feet above sea level.
Result
The building achieved 95% pre-lease rates before completion and won the AIA Chicago Distinguished Building Award for its structural expression.
Project details
- Storeys
- 28
- Square Feet
- 620,000
- Leasable
- 95% pre-leased
- Timeline
- 22 months
Client
Meridian Properties