Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons

The Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons stands next to Lake Michigan, and is a high-performance urban campus that showcases best practices in workplace design.

The building provides meeting spaces, dining areas, training facilities and terraces overlooking the gardens. At ground level, there is a three-acre garden and a pedestrian-oriented streetscape to welcome visitors.

Brand: Benson

Architect: Pickard Chilton

Construction manager: Gilbane Construction

Client/building owner: Northwestern Mutual

The project

The concept

The 32 storey office tower sits on a five-storey podium known as the ‘Commons’. The elegant tower’s glass form at the eastern edge of the campus maximises panoramic views, serving as a beacon overlooking Lake Michigan.

What did we do?

For the podium – the Commons – we designed, engineered, manufactured and installed 17,094 sqm of unitised curtain wall, consisting of glass, aluminium panels and stone. For the tower, we provided 34,745 sqm of unitised curtain wall made of glass, granite and stone.