Designed by Bertrand Goldberg, FAIA and built as a hotel in 1962, the tower is probably as obscure as his Marina City is famous. But to architects visiting Chicago in the 1960s (including one jury member) it was included on tours of exciting new work. The external louvers were an inventive attempt to provide privacy and control daylight on a glass curtain wall.

Unfortunately, the available technology did not support the concept, and when condominium owners replaced hotel guests they eventually demanded a change. The solution devised by DeStefano and Partners eliminated the louvers and provided an entirely new curtain wall inside and out. Steel-framed window panels were assembled in a factory, delivered to the site, and bolted to the concrete columns outside the existing glass wall. The old windows were then removed from the inside.