Lake Shore Drive

Lore & Background

Designed by Schipporeit and Heinrich, students of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Lake Point Tower was completed in 1968 as the tallest apartment building globally at approximately 645 feet (197 m). The project developer William F. Hartnett, Jr. oversaw a design necessitated by its lakeside site and height to withstand high winds. At the center lies a triangular core, 59 feet wide, containing nine elevators and three stairwells that hold all vertical weight, permitting smaller perimeter columns. Radiating from this core are three arms forming an asymmetrical Y-shaped floor plan with outer walls curved for distinct views. The building was always designed as a three-wing structure, with the three arms spaced 120 degrees apart.

In Their Own Story

In the year 2014, during the filming of Divergent, Lake Point Tower briefly appeared abandoned and decayed to represent a future Chicago. In this specific cinematic moment, the narrative depicted a transformed environment where huge Lake Michigan had become a wetland in the same shot showing the derelict building. This visual effect utilized the existing structure's location at 505 North Lake Shore Drive to convey a post-apocalyptic setting. While other films like Straight Talk featured characters living there and The Lake House used its lobby for hospital scenes, Divergent uniquely repurposed the real-world landmark as a ruin within a fictional timeline, contrasting its 1968 construction with a decayed future aesthetic.

Reader's Guide

Located at 505 North Lake Shore Drive in the Streeterville neighborhood, Lake Point Tower is the city's only skyscraper east of Lake Shore Drive. It sits adjacent to Navy Pier on a promontory north of the Chicago River. The complex pioneered the "Park in the City" concept, featuring a two-and-one-half acre park three stories above ground with a playground, pool, duck pond, and waterfalls. Shops and restaurants occupy the first two levels beneath this elevated park. It was one of the first high-rise residential buildings to feature all-electric appliances. The building's position ensures unobstructed views in all directions, protected by ordinances limiting construction on the waterfront. Its graceful curves and picturesque location make it a major private structure on the east side of Lake Shore Drive.

Did You Know?

• Lake Point Tower was the tallest apartment building in the world upon its completion in 1968.
• The building features a unique triangular core, 59 feet wide, that supports all vertical weight.
• It pioneered the "Park in the City" concept with a two-and-one-half acre park situated three stories above ground.
• In Divergent (2014), the building was depicted as abandoned and decayed while Lake Michigan transformed into a wetland.