Onterie Center

Onterie Center is a mixed-use high-rise building in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood that combines residential apartments with office space in two connected towers. The main tower rises approximately 570 feet and is distinguished by diagonal concrete panels that form its outer shell.

The building was completed in 1986 as the final major project of renowned structural engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan. It represents a culmination of decades of innovative work in high-rise design that influenced the field beyond this single structure.

The architectural design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill incorporates innovative structural elements that influenced subsequent high-rise construction methods.

The building provides public access to ground-level retail spaces and connects to the surrounding streets of Streeterville. The exterior design can be viewed from multiple angles as you walk around the block.

The diagonal shearwalls at the perimeter were a pioneering structural technique for concrete high-rises in the early 1980s. This construction method reduced the need for internal support columns and was later adopted by other builders.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1986

Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Official opening: 1986

Floors above the ground: 60

Address: 446 E. Ontario

GPS coordinates: 41.89368,-87.61606

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:48