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Symposium Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Lake Point Tower Building Architect and Book Authors to Speak and Sign New Book

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 October 2009, 12:00 CDT

CHICAGO, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lake Point Tower, a well-recognized architectural gem on the Chicago lakefront, turns 40 this fall. Anniversary activities culminate on Wednesday, October 28 with a symposium, "Lake Point Tower: Back Story of an Icon." The free public event will be held 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Lecture Hall Gallery, 224 South Michigan Avenue.

In conjunction with the anniversary, the Chicago Architecture Foundation has published the book Lake Point Tower: A Design History, by architect Edward Windhorst and architectural historian Kevin Harrington. Symposium speakers on October 28th include the authors and Lake Point Tower architect George Schipporeit, now 76. A book signing will follow.

The Board of Directors of the Lake Point Tower Condominium Association initiated the book project as part of a year-long celebration. To date, $40,000 has been donated by condominium owners and vendors to underwrite the book and related events. It is available from the Chicago Architecture Foundation's store for $19.95.

"Lake Point Tower owners are leading the 40th anniversary celebration, because we are proud of the building's place in the history of architecture and in the hearts of Chicagoans," says Pat Spear, president of the Lake Point Tower Condominium board. The condo association has produced a 40th Anniversary webpage on their site, an Anniversary Blog, a YouTube video entitled Lake Point Tower: Condos with Spectacular Views and an 8-page, full color brochure Lake Point Tower: A Chicago Landmark.

Spear notes, "The building is well known for its beautiful exterior, but the genius of the design is the unobstructed, panoramic window views. With our efforts, we hope to show that, in every respect, it was a building ahead of its time."

In the book, Windhorst, principal of Chicago's Edward Windhorst James Gorski Architects, LLC, and associate of Schipporeit, concurs, calling Lake Point Tower "an extraordinary technical achievement." Coauthor Harrington, professor of Architectural History at the Illinois Institute of Technology, summarizes: "a visual and engineering masterpiece."

Lake Point Tower was designed by architects George Schipporeit and John Heinrich, both of whom were influenced by modern master Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The developer was Hartnett-Shaw Associates, Inc. The 70-story structure was completed in 1969 and converted to 879 condominiums in 1988. Its dark curvilinear silhouette and prominent setting east of Lake Shore Drive at the base of Navy Pier have made it a Chicago icon. Only this building has Lake Michigan on three sides, making views uninterrupted.

One of the first projects to create a total urban environment, the complex includes amenities such as a grocery, dry cleaner, health club and penthouse restaurant. It also boasts one of the earliest green roof features: a private 2.5-acre park with lagoon, waterfall and swimming pool designed by renowned landscape architect Alfred Caldwell. Lake Point Tower is one of 150 structures listed on America's Favorite Architecture, a website sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. http://www.favoritearchitecture.org/

NOTE: Release and more resources available on 40(th) Anniversary link, www.lakepointtower.org

Lake Point Tower Condominium Association is located at 505 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60611. For further information on the 40(th) anniversary celebration, please contact Paul LeRoux, (312) 467-0505, LeRoux@lakepointtower.org. For general information on the association, please see our website www.lakepointtower.org or contact the management office (312) 467-0505 or office@lakepointtower.org.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. The Chicago Architecture Foundation pursues this mission through architecture tours, exhibitions, panel discussions, and youth and adult education programs. Current exhibitions are Chicago Model City and B Like Burnham. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604. For further information visit www.architecture.org or call 312.922.3432.

SOURCE Lake Point Tower Condominium Association

Source: PR Newswire

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