Aon Center
Chicago, USA

HEIGHT: 346m/1,136 feet
FLOORS: 83 floors
COMPLETION: 1973
ARCHITECT: Edward Durell Stone & Associates

The Aon Center in Chicago was completed in 1972. At 1,136 feet (346.3 m) tall, it is second only to the Sears Tower in height in Chicago. When the building was originally built, it was the world's tallest marble clad building. Eventually, the harsh climate caused the building's Carrara marble sheathing to fail and detach from the building. From 1990 to 1992, the entire building was refaced with white granite at a greater expense than the original cost of the whole structure. The building employs a tubular steel-framed structural system with V-shaped perimeter columns to resist earthquakes, reduce sway, minimize column bending, and maximize column-free space.

The Standard Oil Building or "Big Stan" as the building was often called was known officially as the Amoco Building. After the building was sold, it became known officially as the Aon Center.

In the early 1980s, the lights in selective offices in the building were turned on to form a huge cross in the Christmas season. It was a unique seasonal display in the Chicago skylines. It is unknown if such tradition is still in place nowadays given the energy conservation concerns.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon04.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aon06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aonnight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/aonbase.jpg

7.5/10. It's a box, but it's a tall box.

8/10

It is a box. But it carries off being a box very well...no nonsense..sheer verticality. Thats how I feel it should be appreciated.

I guess its the tallest box after WTC?

brilliant, so simple, elegant dignified. if you have to pic a stripped down basic box, this would be the one. wonderful porportions make the tower read as a giant fluted column.

i take a half point off because i think it would be even more beautiful if it had been clad with a black stone instead of the white granite, but oh well.

9.5/10

Big, tall, boxy....6/10

BOXY, but nice and tall. It fits Chi-Town perfectly. 7/10

It's an ok box. 7/10. I've seen better boxes...

Tall, huge, big...ect. What ever word you may use to describe its hight, remember its still an ugly box!


3/10!

Tall, but boring and dull due to it's completely boxy shape.

4/10

boxy but high
8

No tricks on height, although the same is true of design.

Though simple the results are still quite grand - IMO it's a glorious, bright monolith that is far from unsightly.

Probably the closest relative of the late WTC? Hence it's to be cherished.

simplistic, tall, not spectacular, not shithouse either, "nice" 7.5

tays

not the best box around, but has good neighbors and is tall! .. 6.5/10

The tallest White House I know.

It's tall, but it's still a box, and an uninteresting one at that.

6/10

You people don't appreciate "form follows function."

I think its a damn good box.

At its best when reflecting blinding light into your eyes.

8.5/10

what a box!

3/10. I will agree that the proportions are nice, but other than that it is just another piece of dehumanizing 1970s crap architecture. That period had to be the low point in design history.

You people don't appreciate "form follows function."

You're right! I don't appreciate it! Espcecially an an excuse for boring design.

9/10 My favorite box next to the Twin Towers and the Pru. The white makes it eyecatching, doesnt look that good up close

weren't the construction men got bored building this one?
yeah..it's a tall box!
6.5/10

5/10 - I regard this building as a good example of the problems with modernism - yes, it has plenty of height, and does a great job of soaring skyward, but that pinstripe facade with narrow windows and anything-but-shining-or-even-sparklig-a-little-bit white granite doesn't even dance with the light until its own come on at night. And it doesn't have a twin to relate to, so the rest of the time, it just sits there; lonely, aloof, and boring. The Twin Towers pulled the whole vertical box routine off a lot better, I think...
As for form following function - Louis Sullivan, the Chicago skyscraper pioneer, was the first to apply this to architecture, and, as a look at any of his buildings will show, he *certainly* didn't think this meant facades stripped down to the point of utter monotony - his facades have beautifully detailed ornament to spare. I think he meant that oranament should harmonize with the structure of the building, and not overwhelm or disguise it. IMO, the modernists, or at least most of them, seem to have misundertood this point completely.

:baaa:

Its just a box.

6/10

AON reminds me a lot of the WTC...it's height is impressive even though there really nothing impressive about the facade , nevertheless it soars gracefully...8.5/10

Originally posted by Bobdreamz
AON reminds me a lot of the WTC...nevertheless it soars gracefully...

the same toughts over here to !!

The comments seem to have all been said. I'll go 7, only because it's almost 2003 and not 1973 right now. This is a major impact on the skyline, and, not really that hideous in the whole entirety of the Chicago skyline take.

This Building is very neglected, even with its height. But you cant miss it. It sticks out like a sore thumb w/ its whiteness and being right in front of the skyline.
But its a very nice sore thumb.:D

I give the aon a 8.
It is THE box!!!:D :D

too boxy but the white facade and height make it look better... 6/10

boring in the morning but very interesting at night.

6/10

10/10

It's a pretty good box. Plus it's the second tallest in Chicago..

7.5/10


Interesting fact I learned about Aon Centre.. A little while after they built it.. the marble started cracking.. so they had to replace it with granite, floor by floor at a cost of $1 million per floor! yikes

Tall, but nothing special
8/10

It rules. You have to see it up close in real life to like it.

Whats that beautiful looking building with the spire next to AON Centre?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Mr. Detroit </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Whats that beautiful looking building with the spire next to AON Centre?</td></tr>
</table>

2 Prudential Plaza. We have a thread on it in this section. You can rate it here:

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5815

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by X-seed 4000 </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Tall, huge, big...ect. What ever word you may use to describe its hight, remember its still an ugly box!

3/10!</td></tr>
</table>
:baaa:

But it's the ultimate white box. Elegant in the same way as a classic suit.

8/10

This is essentially a box, but I like it.

The sibling of Toronto's FCP.... looks a lot better than Toronto's though... 7.5/10.

Almost as bad as the nightmarish Aon Centre in Los Angeles! It's mindboggling that this dreadfully boring thing is well over 1000 ft tall! 2 Prudential across the street... which is dwarfed by Aon... is infinitely more beautiful than this abomination. 0/10.

Beautiful in its stern and rational simplicity.

8/10
It is an impressive box, remembers a little to the falls towers of the WTC... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
:angel1:

8.5/10..I like it, nice, bright, and white. It looks like it always catches your attention. Enough with the box hating already!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Evergrey </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Almost as bad as the nightmarish Aon Centre in Los Angeles! It's mindboggling that this dreadfully boring thing is well over 1000 ft tall! 2 Prudential across the street... which is dwarfed by Aon... is infinitely more beautiful than this abomination. 0/10.</td></tr>
</table>
Oh come on. Not everything should be a pointy, shiny spire that looks like it came straight out of Star Wars. Sometimes less is more. It at least has its place in any well-balanced skyline. You don't want a skyline that's all boxes, but you sure as hell don't want one that's all spires either (Shanghai). New York, Hong Kong, and Chicago achieve this balance well, and that's why they're the Big 3.

Great third pic, very plain, it just looks like a rip off of the WTC....it's got great height and 2 Prudential really compliments it well 6.5/10

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tmac9wr </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Great third pic, very plain, it just looks like a rip off of the WTC....it's got great height and 2 Prudential really compliments it well 6.5/10</td></tr>
</table>

Actually the Aon Centre was built before the WTC.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by savethewtc </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tmac9wr </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Great third pic, very plain, it just looks like a rip off of the WTC....it's got great height and 2 Prudential really compliments it well 6.5/10</td></tr>
</table>

Actually the Aon Centre was built before the WTC.</td></tr>
</table>

Whoops, I guess since the WTC were so famous I just assumed they were built first, my bad haha

Just a box! :bash: What a waste.. they could have designed a much nice building with those money.. >( Only thing good about this building is the height :)

7.5/10

lite and brite. 8/10

I don't understand why other posters from other nations keep on bagging American skyscrapers. Sears: ugly black box. Aon: ugly white box. John Hancock: another ugly black box.

It's funny how with all these "ugly," "boxy" skyscrapers, our cities are the richest in the world. I wonder how, with all these horrible buildings, our cities are recognized all over and other wannabe-metropolis (cough Kuala Lumpur cough) are not.

No offense, Malaysia.

I have a lot of pictures of it so I'll post a few. The plaza is amazing with fountains and restaurants and when you see how massive it is in person, it grows on you.

My pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p542520c2db7e1c3fed5ec07ee63c0cb0/fbdb1972.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/pf0d3dbd3f58393b4987f5ac73801e199/fbdb1976.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid67/p06f67139ac26aeed40e86dbf7432ab04/fbdb1994.jpg

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by TropicalSQ744 </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Just a box! :bash: What a waste.. they could have designed a much nice building with those money.. >( Only thing good about this building is the height :)

7.5/10</td></tr>
</table>
:baaa:

Don't you guys realize that it's not necessary to stick a spire on everything?

pretty damn good box! 9

Beautiful "ugly white box".

4/10

It's a box, but it looks fresh.

7.5/10

5/10 i won't use the excuse "it's a box"

the vertical lines compliment the scraper well, but the white color ruins it. i'm not a complete box hater, but CHICAGO HAS BETTER BOXES. i don't think white fits boxes. look at Sears, Seagram, John Hancock Chicago. those are ok boxes.

It's funny how with all these "ugly," "boxy" skyscrapers, our cities are the richest in the world

umm.. there's no connection between the 2. any city can have a ugly scraper, regardless of their wealth.

It's a box,a simple one too.But i still like it:) 7.5/10

9/10

A great combo with Two Prudential Plaza. It is my favorite box.

8.5/10

Another classic. 9/10

10

One of my favorite in Chicago, I need a photo host because I have some pics!

Ugly One 3.5/10 :)

9/10 to me it looks like the south tower of WTC

10/10 Huge.

8.5/10


Boxy, but I like it.

7/10
Very tall and very boxy
Looks extremely simple & straight.

It's a box, but it's a very very tall box
But at least it white rather than all glass

6/10

6.5/10

It's too plain-looking for me and it's not golden/reflective like the WTC was.

One of the best boxes I've seen. It's shape and size suits Chicago's skyline.
9/10
:)

:puke:

Sheer. Big and tall. No decorations, nothing, just a box. Massive. Corporate. 9.5/10

7.5/10

an ok-box

Originally posted by SearsTower

I don't understand why other posters from other nations keep on bagging American skyscrapers. Sears: ugly black box. Aon: ugly white box. John Hancock: another ugly black box.

It's funny how with all these "ugly," "boxy" skyscrapers, our cities are the richest in the world. I wonder how, with all these horrible buildings, our cities are recognized all over and other wannabe-metropolis (cough Kuala Lumpur cough) are not.

No offense, Malaysia.

Don't get all patriotic... you gotta see the truth.

ugly supertall box

7 :)

Very nice and elegant, it is similar to the tower Picasso of Madrid 9/10

10

Construction shot
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/554/4stdoilunderconstruction.jpg

Great there Ruffles love the water and car park in the back ground

7/10

8.5 / 10

Nice one, first because huge. Then because it looks a bit like the WTC (that's what I thought when I first saw it). And it is very typical in the Chicago skyline.

my second favorite intl-style scraper (after GM nyc)

9/10

9/10

A very underrated building, I think. As RafflesCity said on the first page, it carries off being a box very well - just sheer verticality.

I love boxy buildings with a flat top. No room for whining about spires and cheating. Plus buildings with a flat top are the best designs ever since you can actually stand on top of the building and get the greatest view. Hell you can even have a roof party.

Most people spend their time looking out of looking up at and across at towers. Rarest view is from the top. Dont dont buy what you saying sorry.

8.5

Form truly follows function here. Does every beautiful building have to have a glitzy design.

very nice box 8/10

Sorry for this comparison, but for me it looks like little WTC sister...

10/10
Simple, yet beautiful. The vertical, marble facade makes it look very tall and massive. One of Chicago's best!

That construction shot was awsome. All of the big 3 here in Chicago went up years before I was born. That makes the fact of Trump Tower going up so much more exciting. If anyone has more construction pics, please post them.

7.5/10

Soaring. Thats what I have to say about seeing it in person.One of the best boxes, nice and clean facade (but not too clean) and very practical. THe archetypal chicago building, which I personally like a lot. Great location.

I like this tower. It looks like a younger brother of WTC. 9/10.

My favorite box of all time. 10/10.

tall, but ugly! 4

I give it a 4...it is just not very pretty. Cool construction shot though!!

It's tall but very boring but looks ok in Chicago. 5.5/10

Looks okay up close, but from far away it looks boring. 6.5/10

7.5/10!

8/10

hmmm AON ... u mean this AON? hahaha...

http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/Resources/11629/S2%202004/Site%20Gallery/images/DSC00042.jpg

:jk:

It's tall, but a bit boring. :moods:

9.5

Opulent! Gotta see this one in person to truly appreciate it. It's awesome/soaring/majestic. Plus it's in a great location by Millenium Park/river and adds alot to the skyline which is the best in the world IMO.

5.5/10. Lovely, stripe box and tall too. Loses points for being too pearly whitish and being a pre-clone of WTC. *snarl* Should be spraypainted a tall dark black, then it will fit in well. :sleepy:

too vertical! but so high... 7.5/10

I voted 7/10

This is one that would grow on me so 7/10.

9/10 My favorite in skyscraper 'boxes'. :D

Tall, slender (only 175ft wide) and very, very vertical. Maybe a little (very little) dull, but far from ugly. 9/10

A perfect example of early post modernism/Late 60's Mod...

Considering when it was built, its very nice. Its tall, and the location to Millenium Park gives it extra 8.5/10

now that is the way to build a box. Niiice.

9/10 - Wasn't there a proposal to add floors onto the top of the Aon a couple of years ago?

9/10 - Wasn't there a proposal to add floors onto the top of the Aon a couple of years ago?

I've never heard of such a thing. You may be thinking of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building, which is next to Aon and was designed to accomodate building more floors on top in the future.

8.5/10
classic box from 70s - I truly like it - we have small version of it in Warsaw (Elektrim tower 140m)

8.5/10

Aon,Center,is,nice,9.5/10

BORING 3

A tall box, looks identical to the Colpatria tower in Bogota-Colombia. I like its height7.5

Way to simple design in my opinion, but tall. 6.5/10

try looking at this building from the ground, 10/10

Even for being 'just a box', this building does its job well. I give it a 8.5/10. :okay:

Nice enough I guess.
8/10.

8/10

Boxy but in the best way

very present in the chicago skyline

A classic, 9/10

Huge and Tall, A great box. 9/10

I can't think of something else in International Style that came out better. It really soars with its vertical lines and excellent proportions. The night lighting is crap, but well...
8.

Boring boring boring. If this is the best international style building out there, that's a good reason to stop building in that style. They could've done so much more with that kind of height.

very white tall box... twould look good near the white house ;)

Is this the world's tallest box now?
8.5/10

Is this the world's tallest box now?
8.5/10

Speaking about roof height, it is.

It's very tall, but it's a white/black striped box, nothing really special about it. 7.5/10

7.0

very nice 8 :)

10/10

7/10
The facade is boring.

In my top personnel 10

10/10 Perfect, like a classical Greek column!

This is THE box, 7.10

One of my favorites buildings..! 10 points..!

:cheers:

6/10

Boring boring boring. If this is the best international style building out there, that's a good reason to stop building in that style. They could've done so much more with that kind of height.

I'm not sure too many people would even claim that it's the best international style building out there. The Sears Tower and JHC, for example, are both better international style buildings.

The Aon Center is a building that, as a Chicagoan, you have to like and embrace. True, it isn't the most compelling piece of architecture out there, but I've always liked it. I like it more for the role it plays in the skyline as a whole, rather than as a singular building. It provides a nice central point of punctuation to the skyline. And it looks beautiful at night.

Taken by InTheLoop
http://img128.echo.cx/img128/5808/p61000449je.jpg

Taken by Flash
http://www.raleighskyline.com/chi/chicago117.jpg

http://www.raleighskyline.com/chi/chicago86.jpg

http://www.raleighskyline.com/chi/chicago103.jpg

Unknown photographer
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/i_am_hydrogen/original.jpg


8.5/10.

I give it a 9.5 because it doesnt use a cheap spire like many building in the 15 and below.

10/10

9..

10 its in my top 5 ;)

Interesting style, boring shape. 6/10.

Very tall, slim, simple and elegant. One of the best boxes in the world ;) 9/10

The colour white is so good for this kind of skyscraper. It reminds me to Torre Picasso in my city, Madrid.(for colour and shape, not for hight) 8/10

I love this building with its Yamasaki's style 9.5/10. Well done E.D. Stone :okay:

7/10.

tall box 8/10

really amazing and tall but the design is boring.
7.5

id give it a 10 but man those winters in chicago are dreadful.

It's an OK box, although far from being my fav scraper.
7/10

Not bad at all

This is simply a great building. Love it. 9.5

:puke:

it's a box, but I like it!
8/10

Amazing. Love this soaring skyscraper. 9 out of 10.

ugly. I dont no how building this big and ugly are allowd to be built. 4/10

9/10. The world's tallest box in the post September 11 world. I think boxes, or at least simplistic designs like this are needed to make a great city. If every building in a city was too architechurally "out there" the city would be too complex. As far as boxes goes this one is exceptional - it's towering height is just awe inspiring.

10/10

It's boring, only getting points for it's size. 7.5/10

7/10.

7/10

8,5/10

this is an amzing tower of Chicago it looks a excelletn designe and nice box

Although I’m not a big fan of boxes, this building shows such a design doesn’t have to be about cheap space. It’s simply beautiful. 8.5/10

7,5/10

Tall, slender, but too simple. 8/10

Quite a fine example of seventies modernism. I like it. 8.5

9/10. I LOVE it! :eek:

9.5/10. Sleek, elegant, huge--fits very well in the Chicago skyline; a no-nonsense, unpretentious building for a no-nonsense, unpretentious city.

Also, it's the closest thing we have to the WTC. Very similar proportions, but about 75% scale. For those of us who miss the grandeur and mass of the WTC (isn't that most of us?), gazing at this building for awhile--then imagining it somewhat bigger, and imagining a twin--helps ease the pain just a bit.

boxy ans solid. i don't like it much 5/10

I love this building at night

6.5/10

8/10

Plain, simple and ugly white..but it's tall 3.5/10

8/10

Massive box
8/10

7/10 really tall box

Nearly as good as a box gets 8/10.

7/10. Not so good looking box, but very tall.

Another Chicago huge numb building, but I kinda like it. 6/10

nice box 8/10

7.5/10

:)

Nice scraper 9/10

very simple, but is nice. He has class 8/10

7.5/10

7/10 I love boxes, expecially with vertical stripings. I was one of the biggest wtc fans. but this one doesn't do it for me. Not the worst tower, but i'm just not into it. Definite points for reaching an intense height without a spire or antenna

I have to confess; I hate boxes. But somehow, I still enjoy the Aon. It's tall and elegant with the vertical white stripes visible even from far away to lead the eyes upwards to the top. It's tall and not ashamed for it, yet not too imposing either. It has confidence and it really fits Chicago. 9/10

8/10

8.5/10 for height + 6.5/10 for design /2
= 7.5/10

4,5/10

I LOVE YOU !!!

classy yet modern......8.5/10 for that......

My favourite 10/10

I don't know what I gave this building already but it definitely wasn't very much, I regret that now. This may be just a tall box but it's one of those buildings that only when you see it in person you realise how great it is. Fantastic, 9/10 and one of Chicago's best!

I don't know what I gave this building already but it definitely wasn't very much, I regret that now. This may be just a tall box but it's one of those buildings that only when you see it in person you realise how great it is. Fantastic, 9/10 and one of Chicago's best!

I tell people all the time that this is a building you have to see in person to appreciate it. I love it.

Btw, whats going on with your pictures of Chicago?

looks sort of like the wells fargo center in portland..

8/10

Simple and very slim I just love this one 9.5

a box with impressive height...

graceful 8.5/10.

Tall . 6/10

really nice box :D

brilliant, so simple, elegant dignified. if you have to pic a stripped down basic box, this would be the one. wonderful porportions make the tower read as a giant fluted column.

i take a half point off because i think it would be even more beautiful if it had been clad with a black stone instead of the white granite, but oh well.

9.5/10

I would like to agree with you. It is a box but an elegant, slim, beautiful box.

I give it a 9 simply because I reserve 10 and 9.5 fior hte dozen or so great great buildings and though it is good, very good, it is not great.

Just a white 70's box. 3/10

7.5/10

10/10...I love it, can't say it in words.....

8/10 too boxy but high

It's just a box, and I bet the windows are very limited in their view of the rest of the city. 6/10

I don't like it for two reasons. One: it overshadows Two Prudential. Second: It's an overpowering box. 4/10.

Even better in real life... quality finishes, perfect proportions and fits so perfectly into the chicago skyline. 9/10 great skyscraper

8/10

elegant cube

Like some have remarked, this tower reminds me of the fallen Twins from New York. The only difference is that it's a smaller version, and that there's only one tower instead of the two. Great height. Like the twins, it's very imposing, and it's so breathtaking. If only they could have built another one to go with it, it would almost be too perfect. :)


Oh well, at least there's one.
I'd give it a 9/10.

Like some have remarked, this tower reminds me of the fallen Twins from New York. The only difference is that it's a smaller version, and that there's only one tower instead of the two. Great height. Like the twins, it's very imposing, and it's so breathtaking. If only they could have built another one to go with it, it would almost be too perfect. :)


Oh well, at least there's one.
I'd give it a 9/10.

twin towers block each other's view.

bad idea.

Tall box with surprisingly nice elevation- it's quite boring and popular but looks good. 7/10

10/10

The buildings surrounding it are disgraced by this building.
The only thing impressive is the height,

6.5/10

I like its design, it´s very similar to Picasso Tower in Madrid 8.5/10

8.5/10 Height is impressive.

very simple, but not without its charms. 7

1/10

8/10

9/10

very big tower 9/10 :)

cool 9.5/10

8/10

7/10

It's attractive enough for being a boring box. It's a boring box that's a bit more than just a boring box. But still...it's a box...

one of the best on earth 10/10.

7 / 10

It needs 27 floors and 232 feet to match the old WTC (Highest one) but it is a simple early 70's building that still looks good. I give it 9/10!

Very nice box. A supertall one with a elegant design. Fits very good in the Chicago skyline. 7.5/10

8/10

Nice box :)

box!!!! i love boxes but my favourite box is sears tower so i give this one 9.5/10 ^^

9.5/10 A box, but classical box :D

5.5/10
a box but not a bad box, it has nice surroundings

Pretty nice.

8.5 / 10

beautifully simplistic... looks amazing next to the millenium park... 10

The building doesn't amaze me, like said before, it's a box. The night view does something though, in the end I gave it 4.

King of drab, but in a positive way - since it's really vertical. 9.5

Gave it a "3>"
I have never liked this building. I used to see it in the intro to "Married With Children" when I was little and thought it was hideous. After visiting Chicago several times, I just reassured my feelings for it. It's very tall, but it's a drab white box. It's a bad example of characterless 70's architecture and really doesn't fit in Chicago like the Sears Tower and "Big John" do. It's like going on a date; if you don't have any personality then you don't score any points.

It's not a box! It's a rectangle :)

9.5/ I cannot believe I never voted for Aon. Classic for sure.

P.S. Alot of people that think the 60's and 70's were characterless are being a bit harsh. The plain modern and in a way POS gets too much of a bad reputation here. I don't know why at times but sometimes I can understand why people hate the style for the fact that cities like Chicago and New York were booming back then and just farted these things out.
If everything looked like it does today it would be a bit extreme. I like the fact that there is a suttle period and that great finds like Aon from that time are showcased in all their glory. Aon is so sexy and Chicago simply wouldn't be the same (visually)without it. For a short time this will be the second tallest in the city. The shiney blue Trump close by will look good with this soaring white monument of success.

For a short time this will be the second tallest in the city.

This is currently the second tallest in the city. It was indeed the tallest for a short period of time before Sears was completed, less than a year. Many people aren't aware that Aon is actually 9 feet taller than Hancock, not counting the antennae of course.

8. nice and simple!

This is currently the second tallest in the city. It was indeed the tallest for a short period of time before Sears was completed, less than a year. Many people aren't aware that Aon is actually 9 feet taller than Hancock, not counting the antennae of course.


Nahhh I totally knew that. For a long time I was confused and thought that Hancock was the second tallest because Hancock really gets tons more recognition. The reason I said it will be the second tallest is because Trump is schefuled to complete in a couple years time. So until then it's days as the cities second tallest are numbered and for that I say here here, or hear hear. :cheers:

Nahhh I totally knew that. For a long time I was confused and thought that Hancock was the second tallest because Hancock really gets tons more recognition. The reason I said it will be the second tallest is because Trump is schefuled to complete in a couple years time. So until then it's days as the cities second tallest are numbered and for that I say here here, or hear hear. :cheers:

Well then I misinterpreted your post. Still, I think it's good for people to understand where this building stands in the height hierarchy. :)

This is currently the second tallest in the city. It was indeed the tallest for a short period of time before Sears was completed, less than a year. Many people aren't aware that Aon is actually 9 feet taller than Hancock, not counting the antennae of course.


Antennae don't count. If you count antennae 1 Pru is nearly as tall as 2 prus roof but look at the skyline. Is there any comparison? no. One is a middle rise building th eother a big beast.

Same with all buildings. the height is roof height and the Aon is taller than the hancock - not as iconic but taller.

^^ 1 Pru actually has a flagpole, but I think falls into the same category as antennas, according to CTBUH. I still consider Hancock taller then AON though, because of the antennas. From an engineering and an aesthetic standpoint, the antennas ARE an integral part of the building, counter to what CTBUH would have you believe.

I like it, not a bad building at all. Reminds me of the Now gone Twin Towers.