The Trump International Hotel and Tower is a prominent mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Chicago, rising on the riverfront since its completion in 2009. Designed as a combination of luxury hotel accommodation and private residences, the building is widely noted for its polished exterior, setback terraces and prominent location near other landmark high-rises. For general reference see building overview.

Design and physical characteristics

The tower reaches approximately 415 metres (about 1,362 feet) and contains 96 stories. Its exterior is dominated by glass and stainless steel, and the geometry of the massing produces a stepped profile with cantilevered terraces on several upper levels. The internal program combines hospitality floors, residential condominiums and amenity spaces; mechanical floors and a reinforced concrete core provide structural stability for the high-rise form. More detailed technical summaries are available at architectural sources.

History and construction

Construction began in the mid-2000s and the tower opened to guests and residents in 2009. The project was developed by the Trump Organization in partnership with local firms and followed decades of high-rise development along Chicago’s riverfront. The tower’s completion continued a pattern of large-scale, high-rise construction in the city; historic context and timelines can be consulted through municipal and architectural records found via city resources.

Uses and public access

Programmatically the building is mixed-use: lower and middle floors accommodate the hotel portion and public amenities such as restaurants and event space, while upper floors are occupied by private condominiums. The tower also includes retail frontage at street level and offers views across Chicago and its lakefront from higher observation points. Visitor information and hospitality details are commonly provided on hospitality listings and the operator’s pages, for example hotel information.

Rankings, distinctions and notable facts

  • At its completion it became one of the tallest buildings in the United States, with its height placing it near the top of national rankings; compare with other major U.S. skyscrapers via tall building lists.
  • Within Chicago it is among the tallest towers in the skyline, following the city’s other supertall structures; further local comparisons are available at Chicago high-rises.
  • The tower is often cited in discussions of contemporary mixed-use vertical developments and riverfront urban design, due to its combination of hotel, residential and amenity functions and its impact on the surrounding public realm.

Because the building blends commercial hospitality and private residences, it is frequently discussed in architectural guides and city planning summaries. For additional photographs, floor plans and visitor guidance consult the referenced links and archival sources indexed by municipal and architectural organizations.