303 East Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL / 2021

Despite its prominent location, 303 East Wacker lacked the modern finishes that attract today’s tenants, and its colorless, rectilinear International Style architecture appeared bland and aged on the skyline.

After our repositioning, the building now shines brightly on the Chicago River through an updated design reminiscent of modern lighthouses.

A prominent stripe, or “zipper,” of dynamic color runs up the side of the building, making it pop in the crowded Chicago skyline. The design language of the stripe, its sleek silhouette and burst of color, is repeated in the font choices and accent colors used throughout the building.

Inside the lobby, lighting bays wrap the elevator and feature animations similar to the movement, pattern, and play of the lantern at the center of a lighthouse. Each bay features two RGBA lighting fixtures, concealed at the top and bottom of the wall. Each fixture has four individually-addressable pixels to allow for low-resolution animations and light shows. The lighting program is scheduled to correspond to the ebb and flow of tenants passing through the lobby at different times of day, and changes over the course of the work week.

CN Core Responsibilities /

/ Lead Designer & client contact
/ 3d design, detailing and rendering
/ Lighting prototyping & art direction
/ Interior Design & furniture
/ Construction administration

Client / Beacon Capital Partners
Experience Design / ESI Design
Architect / WHA Archtitects
Specialty Fabricator / Kubic Maltbie
Lighting Integrator / EOS Light Media