Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower

Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower
Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower
Location within Chicago metropolitan area Show map of Chicago metropolitan area Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower (Illinois) Show map of Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower (the United States) Show map of the United States
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Office
Location	300 E. Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41°53′5.55″N87°37′11.66″W / 41.8848750°N 87.6199056°W / 41.8848750; -87.6199056
Construction started	1995 (phase 1) 2007 (phase 2)
Completed	1997 (phase 1) 2010 (phase 2)
Height
Roof	744 ft (227 m)
Technical details
Floor count	54
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Lohan Associates (Phase 1) Goettsch Partners (Phase 2)
Structural engineer	Magnusson Klemencic Associates

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower (BCBS) is on the north end of Millennium Park along E. Randolph Street at the NE corner of Randolph and Columbus Drive, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the headquarters of Health Care Service Corporation.

The building's address is 300 E. Randolph Street and is next to the Aon Center. Original plans to connect the two buildings via an underground pedway never came to fruition.

Architect James Goettsch of Goettsch Partners designed the building. The 33-story first phase was completed in 1997 under the firm name of Lohan Associates (now Goettsch Partners). The 24-story second phase started in 2007 and was completed in 2010.

Expansion

In 2006 the City of Chicago granted a building permit to Health Care Service Corporation Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to renovate the building upwards, which gave additional 24 stories and made the building 57 stories in total (3 floors below ground). ^[1] Upon its completion, it became the first project in Chicago that built upon an existing tower. ^[2]

Photo from 2007 prior to expansion	2010 - Showing the building's new height in relation to surrounding	2010 - Showing the building from Lakeshore East
Photo from Sept. 2008 during expansion

Tenants

• Baker & McKenzie
• Health Care Service Corporation
• McKinsey & Company

Tower as billboard

A message displayed to celebrate the Chicago Cubs' effort to win the 2015 NLCS

The management of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower frequently shows its support for health care issues, local events, Chicago sports, and charities by arranging to have appropriate messaging displayed at night on the south facade of the building facing Grant Park. ^[3]

Unlike the nearby CNA Center,^{[ citation needed ]} the drafting of the message is done by hand. ^[4]

Position in Chicago's skyline

The below image was produced in 2006, prior to the tower's expansion.

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Chicago
• List of tallest buildings in the United States

References

1. "Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
2. Japsen, Bruce (July 26, 2006). "24 More Stories Coming to Blue Cross Building". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved March 25, 2020.
3. "LifeTimes - Your Guide to Lifelong Health - Community Corner - How'd They Do That? Turning a Building into a Billboard". Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
4. A final tribute in lights: 'Thanks Chris', Chicago Tribune, 2013-12-11

External links

• Phorio listing
• Emporis listing ^{[ usurped ]}