Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower


The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower is on the north end of Millennium Park along E. Randolph Street at the NE corner of Randolph and Columbus Drive, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the headquarters of Health Care Service Corporation.
The building's address is 300 E. Randolph Street and is next to the Aon Center. Original plans to connect the two buildings via an underground pedway never came to fruition.
Architect James Goettsch of Goettsch Partners designed the building. The 33-story first phase was completed in 1997 under the firm name of Lohan Associates. The 24-story second phase started in 2007 and was completed in 2010.

Expansion

In 2006 the City of Chicago granted a building permit to Health Care Service Corporation Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to renovate the building upwards, which gave additional 24 stories and made the building 57 stories in total. Upon its completion, it became the first project in Chicago that built upon an existing tower.

Tenants

  • Baker & McKenzie
  • Health Care Service Corporation
  • McKinsey & Company

    Tower as billboard

The management of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower frequently shows its support for health care issues, local events, Chicago sports, and charities by arranging to have appropriate messaging displayed at night on the south facade of the building facing Grant Park.
Unlike the nearby CNA Center, which uses AutoCAD, the design of messages on the tower's facade is drafted by hand in the form of sketches or also by using Microsoft Excel. Nevertheless, work on arranging them in both towers is done manually by adjusting the window shades floor by floor, with the work carried out by the buildings' staff.

Position in Chicago's skyline

The below image was produced in 2006, prior to the tower's expansion.