The BUILDINGS
+ Amenities
A brief overview of each major building or facility at the World Tech Center's impressive campus.
The TWIN TOWERS
Technology North Tower
The Technology North Tower would be a hub for IT and digital technological pioneers. Housing state-of-the-art computing laboratories, software development workshops, simulation facilities and lecture rooms where software engineers, computational physicists and data scientists develop and/or collaborate on groundbreaking applications. The building's IT facilities cater to a dynamic mix of small startups and industry giants ranging from video game developers to aerospace and automotive designers.
Perched at the top is the 1500ft high Open Heavens Observation Deck - the highest outdoor viewing platform and garden in the Western Hemisphere. Open Heavens would be Chicago's latest and unique tourist attraction providing a refreshing experience with uninterupted views of the sky. It would be comprised of two levels:
1) The nature floor - a magnificent garden space featuring a variety of plants, shrubs and trees; with the addition of a mini food cafe and a stage for live performances.
2) The upper platform with a glass perimeter - a vantage point for spectators to admire the city, sit down and relax under the stars, or watch the sunset in serenity.
Science South Tower
Immediately adjacent, the Science South Tower complements its twin - serving as a hub for research, cleanroom laboratories and art and design workshops. As a nexus for scientific discovery and innovation, the building provides lecture and meeting rooms for learning and networking, and offices for prestigious national and international institutions such as:
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University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC)
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Purdue University
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American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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American Iron and Steel Institute
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American Society of Civil Engineers
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The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge
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Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
At the top is a massive dining restaurant. Christened Wonders of the World, it would reincarnate the Windows on the World from the original World Trade Center.
The pinnacle of it all - the spire - rises to 1969 feet. As a representation of the year humans first step foot on another celestial body (on Apollo 11), the largest waving Flag of the United States shall be raised tall and proud, and would symbolize America's leadership in exploration and discovery.
Surrounding FACILITIES
Physics & Engineering Building
The Christa McAuliffe Physics and Engineering Building would be a 10 story powerhouse for practical learning projects and student industry apprenticeships. It will be quipped with sophisticated laboratories that can manage multi-discipline space science experiments.
An array of cleanrooms of varying sizes provide space for assembling satellites, major student projects, inventions, and advanced machinery. Additional office and learning facilities would facilitate an ideal environment for professional bodies including:
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The Leibniz Institute of Mathematics (LIM), a proposed foundation aiming to revolutionize math education with intuitive, engaging methods with AI augmentation.
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Challenger Learning Center for Space Science Education
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Aerospace engineering apprenticeship providers and others
A rooftop garden brings ample green space for the wellbeing of the tenants and includes a small restaurant.
Conceptual SketchUp model
(awaiting full modelling and rendering)
Chemistry & Biological Sciences Building
The Chemistry and Biological Sciences Building is another 10-story facility that focuses on chemical engineering, medicine, and biological sciences. It will have the latest in sophisticated chemical and medical-grade laboratories and workspaces where industry professionals and talented students gain vital skills in chemistry and medicine. There will also be quantum computing facilities for research and devleopment in:
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General microbial biology,
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Cancer and disease research
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Materials science to develop new super-alloys, metamaterials and sustainable products, and
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Industrial process improvement
Complimenting its sister building would be another rooftop green space and balconies overlooking the plaza for the wellbeing of the tenants.
Conceptual SketchUp model
(awaiting full modelling and rendering)
Government Workshop Building
The John H. Glenn Jr. Federal Building (also known as the Government Workshop Building) is a unique 10-floor workspace hub that would unite national and international government bodies. Named in honor of the first American to orbit the Earth, the facility serves as a direct link where regulation works smoothly with innovation - providing authorities an efficient path to support, supervise, test, audit, and certify new techology; ranging from new aerospace software and automation to AI and medicine. Candidate tenant agencies include (but not limited to):
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
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U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
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National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Cabinet-level government departments such as:
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Defense (DoD)
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Agriculture (USDA)
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Health and Human Services (HHS)
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Homeland Security (DHS)
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Department of Energy (DoE)
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Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
In this collaborative envrionment, staff would support and advise students and industry firms directly within the World Technology Center and foster a streamlined path to compliant standards within a reasonable time period.
With direct assess to talented people from around the world, authorities would greatly benefit from learning new ways to investigate and solve industrial, chemical and aviation accidents and incidents.
Conceptual SketchUp model and preliminary test rendering (awaiting full modelling).
The Discovery Hotel
Comprising the North and South Blocks, this sleek, curved Hotel offers a 4-star, space-themed hospitality experience that provides guests the feel of sci-fi retrofuturism. It rises from 4 to 12 storeys and would include a restaurant, gym, sauna, and an indoor swimming pool.
The hotel encircles the Yamasaki Circle, and at the entrance a remarkable scale 1/3rd scale model replica of the Space Shuttle Discovery would be on permanant display.
Conceptual SketchUp model and preliminary test rendering (awaiting full modelling).
The Radio Music Venue
The Radio Music Venue (as the name implies) is a performing arts venue that is shaped like a cute ellipsoid Radio. Located directly in front of the Technology North Tower's northern entrance, It would host a variety of music events (such as an orchestra) and graduation ceremonies.
Conceptual SketchUp model
(awaiting full detailed modelling and rendering)
AMENITIES
Richard P. Feynman Plaza
"The only way for deep happiness is to do something you love to the best of your ability"
— Richard Feynman
This magnificent Art Deco plaza, dotted with trees, warm lamps and fountains will give the campus its signature nature-focus theme.
It is named after the legendary Nobel Prize-winning physicist (1918-1988) who was renowned for his pioneering work in quantum electrodynamics (QED), the development of mathematical tools called Feynman diagrams to visualize particle interactions, and his unconventional, brilliant teaching style. He was a key figure in the Manhattan Project; a popular science communicator; and a key investigator on the Rogers' Commission tasked to look into the cause of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
The signature pattern is designed to resemble a fountain pen's tip, representing the place where new discoveries and knowledge are written. STEM sculptures such as molecules and the globe would be on display.
STEM library
A multi-level STEM library will span five floors below plaza level and contain a vast collection of books, engineering drawings, and research papers, serving as a knowledge and reading sanctuary. The design would be inspired after the Toronto Reference Library in Canada with its stunning open-space atrium, balconies, decor and skylight.
Library glass skylight on Plaza Level (preliminary render)
AI generated brainstorming design idea iteration.
The Neil A. Armstrong Atrium
In-between the Physics and Government workshop buildings, the Neil A. Armstrong Atrium will be 60-meter high arched interior space adorned with glass, brick, brown and white granite and colorful metal trim. This vast open space will showcase visitors the triumphal architectural statement when stepping into the complex. Using design elements from a typical cathederal, the atrium's layout will feature large transeps in between the buildings that focus on a central nave with entrance stairs. Indoor plants and trees woulf florish amogst the glass and overhead walkways.
It is named after the first person to walk on the moon, and his words "One small step..." will be enscripted on the forward facing wall. The south entrance to the World Tech Center will be along W. Arlington Street, and would feature an elegant stair entrance with plenty of nature, with an Art Deco perimeter trim along the glass front's edges.
Conceptual SketchUp models and elevations (awaiting full detailed modelling and rendering)
Yamasaki Circle + Gardens
Immediately northeast of the Feynman plaza is the Minoru Yamasaki circle, which forms the entrance pedestrian area to the World Technology Center Twin Towers. Named in tribute to the original architect of the World Trade Center (1912-1986), this zone will feature a large circular plaza with a spiral ramp (leading to the mall lower level and Discovery Hotel). Hosting seasonal events; in summer an outdoor barbecue eating area, and in winter the swift conversion into a stunning ice skating rink that brings the spirit of the New York Rockefeller Center to the City of Chicago.
A variety of beautiful garden space (with park amenities) will adorn the campus throughout, where nature offsets the concrete jungle.
The Mall
Beneath the plaza would be bustling with activity with the World Technology Center's subterranean shopping mall, a retrofuturistic consumer experience inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey.
It will link all atriums and building lobbies with a diverse array of shops and eateries. There would also be two large grocery stores Aldi and Lidl.
The mall's architectural signature is expressed in a central underground 5 story atrium with a patterned glass dome, providing plenty of daylight into the underground space by the shining blue giants overhead.
There would also be a CTA blue line subway extension and station serving the World Tech Center, connecting the campus to the rest of the city with efficient underground transportation.
Flagship Apple Store
Inspired by the glass cube on Fifth Avenue, the World Tech Center in Chicago would boast a cylindrical glass Apple store at its western entrance - adding to the company's portfolio of flagship shopping locations.
Conceptual SketchUp model
(awaiting full detailed modelling and rendering)
Miscellaneous and Underground Facilities
The lowest subterranean levels will support major HVAC equipment, Data Servers, and Hydrogen Fuel cells for power generation. Just north of the dual block hotel and besides The Radio would be truck ramps leading to the logistics delivery zone and a new USPS vehicle maintenance facility to replace the one that would be demoloshed to make way for the campus. In addition, underground parking lots would be providided for essential personnel. All in all, five underground storeys will reach 28 meters deep and resting on bedrock.
