Eco-friendly buildings are all the rage among high-profile architects these days. The latest example is the new Clean Technology Tower in Chicago, designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill architectural firm.

What makes the Clean Technology Tower stand out is its huge rooftop solar shell, which sucks up juice from the sun all day. Underneath it hides an atrium of wind turbines that collects energy from the heavy gusts of wind that blow way up at the top of the skyscraper. The combo of solar and wind power would help supplement the energy needs of the 1.8-million square feet of office space and 300,000 square feet of hotel and retail space in the tower.

Metaefficient, via Inhabitat