212m/695ft
52 floors
completed in 1973
designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe/ C.F. Murphy Associates

This is Mies’ last American building and his largest, faced with dark aluminum and bronze-tinted glass. It is sited to capture lake views; the entry plaza also has a gracious presence. The plaza is a great place to approach the "corncob towers" of Marina City, a strange and beloved Chicago landmark.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0039.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0032.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0131.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0130.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0018.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptownssc/chicago0231.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0135.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0136.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/naptown89/chicago0129.jpg

8/10...I like the all black color and the facade looks so clean. The base is unique for a box, but it's not as good as the Seagram Building.

8/10

Very elegant. I love the slim side of the tower the most. The black is a very attractive color for the building. The base is also nice.

7/10

Looks like Seagram Building.

ugly box, 5.5/10

6.5/10

Plain and simple black slab.

it's a box and u see it everywhere these days i rate it a 4:)

Looks nice,nothing special though.
6.0/10

8/10

7/10.

4/10
It's just a common box. It's tall, and the colour could be worse, but this building is still far from inspiring.

to be in the shade of TTC in the future ...

Awesome modernist building... my 3rd favorite Mies building after Seagram and 860-880 N. Lake Shore.


Originally posted by Labrador

4/10
It's just a common box. It's tall, and the colour could be worse, but this building is still far from inspiring.
See, it's not a common box at all. That's the point. It's an extremely elegant, well-finished, well-proportioned box.

Originally posted by Chi-town

Awesome modernist building... my 3rd favorite Mies building after Seagram and 860-880 N. Lake Shore.



See, it's not a common box at all. That's the point. It's an extremely elegant, well-finished, well-proportioned box.

This is indeed very well proportioned, detailed elegance.....

I guess that if seen in real, it's even more impressive.

10/10

7/10

Looks like the seagram bldg.

i fact is almost the same, obviously designd by Mies Van Der Rohe

8/10

Is better alive, one good box.

8/10

4.5/10 :)

It's an elegant box, with a great shape IMO. 9/10

6

I like the color and shape. but not really.

7.5/10


elegant box

I am so sick of people just throwing up default answers like "ugly box," or "just a common box," or "nothing special," or "see it everywhere."

This is not just any box. It's a superbly executed box by Mies, the master of boxmaking: the proportions, the preciseness of the curtain wall, the pallette -- all of that work towards the sheer, severe elegance of this building.

Sure, this isn't as good as Seagram nor as groundbreaking as 860-880 LSD -- and I'm no architectural expert -- but dismissing this as just another box is simply ignorance. If you can't get excited about these pictures, and how something can be so dramatic within the constraints of a box, you really need to spend some time refining your tastes -- as this is not just a matter of subjectivity:

http://www.hampel.net.au/gallery/data/38/1111_1175s-med.jpg http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/ibmchicago/ibm1.jpg

There are plenty of boxes to hate in this world. This is not one of them. The fact that so many people on a forum for skyscraper enthusiasts can't distinguish between them makes me wonder if this forum is just a waste of time -- as in "nothing special," and "see it everywhere" on the web.

You know, it doesn't take an architecture degree to be a little informed and make somewhat meaningful, well-written posts.

Nice looking, but nothing special about it

I like this kind of whole black colour building

8/10

7/10

7/10. Just for the height.

This agressively beautiful black-beauty is one of the most fare-well attraction in Chicago. Standing tall representing the most prestigious-period of the 70's architecture-era. The overal facade and shape are just phenominon. It's the truely-pitch-Perfect to be The "Marina city' twins" 's Partner.............8.5/10

In my coverage of the entire ROT 1 to 300, this is the only 10/10 !!

less is more 10/10

Almost as good as the Seagram. People definitely notice it in its location. It will take a big hit when Trump's building is built.

8.5/10

8/10 I love this building!

its ok...7

nice shiny box 7.5/10

5.5

I don't like this Wall at all. It's also too Boxy to me.

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Images/NearNorthSide/IBMBuilding-002.jpg

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Images/NearNorthSide/IBMBuilding-003.jpg

Such a huge monolith! I´ll give it an 8

6.5/10

8

This is indeed very well proportioned, detailed elegance.....

I guess that if seen in real, it's even more impressive.

10/10
Yes, it is flat out beautiful at night when viewed from the Hancock Observatory.
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=2332966&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1
(to the left of Marina Cities and in front of the Uniturn Building).
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=2348347&outx=600&oq=0

boxy...........6

5/10..boxy..

Utilitarian box and Seagramesque - but good.

6/10

Nice hard and dark
but still box
5

10/10
Its tall, wide and the color is great...what else can any one ask for?
:wallbash:

4.5 a boring black box

it's got seagram's facade and the xyz buildings' shape. could do better, esp for a chicago building. it looks like a nyc skyscraper that somehow landed in the middle of chicago.

6

Tough powerful building. 9.0

One of my favorite boxes. 9.

10/10

simply the most elegant skyscraper in the city, i cant get enough of it. i walk by it all the time, and yet i always have to take a moment to stare at it. it is so well proportioned, so professional, its everything a modern skyscraper should be. and at night, it doesnt have the cheezy neon lighting, its just the lights left on by workers. now thats class.

I am so sick of people just throwing up default answers like "ugly box," or "just a common box," or "nothing special," or "see it everywhere."

This is not just any box. It's a superbly executed box by Mies, the master of boxmaking: the proportions, the preciseness of the curtain wall, the pallette -- all of that work towards the sheer, severe elegance of this building.

Sure, this isn't as good as Seagram nor as groundbreaking as 860-880 LSD -- and I'm no architectural expert -- but dismissing this as just another box is simply ignorance. If you can't get excited about these pictures, and how something can be so dramatic within the constraints of a box, you really need to spend some time refining your tastes -- as this is not just a matter of subjectivity:

http://www.hampel.net.au/gallery/data/38/1111_1175s-med.jpg http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/ibmchicago/ibm1.jpg

There are plenty of boxes to hate in this world. This is not one of them. The fact that so many people on a forum for skyscraper enthusiasts can't distinguish between them makes me wonder if this forum is just a waste of time -- as in "nothing special," and "see it everywhere" on the web.

You know, it doesn't take an architecture degree to be a little informed and make somewhat meaningful, well-written posts.


beautiful post, it blows my mind how people can be some amazed by a cheezy postmodern tower is hong kong, but when a true skyscraper comes up they bash it and call it ugly.

7/10

8/10

I am so sick of people just throwing up default answers like "ugly box," or "just a common box," or "nothing special," or "see it everywhere."

This is not just any box. It's a superbly executed box by Mies, the master of boxmaking: the proportions, the preciseness of the curtain wall, the pallette -- all of that work towards the sheer, severe elegance of this building.

Sure, this isn't as good as Seagram nor as groundbreaking as 860-880 LSD -- and I'm no architectural expert -- but dismissing this as just another box is simply ignorance. If you can't get excited about these pictures, and how something can be so dramatic within the constraints of a box, you really need to spend some time refining your tastes -- as this is not just a matter of subjectivity:

http://www.hampel.net.au/gallery/data/38/1111_1175s-med.jpg http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/ibmchicago/ibm1.jpg

There are plenty of boxes to hate in this world. This is not one of them. The fact that so many people on a forum for skyscraper enthusiasts can't distinguish between them makes me wonder if this forum is just a waste of time -- as in "nothing special," and "see it everywhere" on the web.

You know, it doesn't take an architecture degree to be a little informed and make somewhat meaningful, well-written posts.


I couldn't have said it better. I swear because its exactly the way I feel. (On both the building and many of the posts I see on here)

I think IBM is a great example of "less is more". There's subtle boldness to it (if that makes sense) that can be learned and should be appreciated into future buildings and skyscrapers. Everything doesn't have to be flashy or gaudy or have colorful lighting all over it to be beautiful. IBM is a classic. Enough said.

I think the above post is the most well-written pro-'box' argument on here...it sickens me as well that folks can call things like AlFaisaliah Center, or Kingdom Centre "amazing" yet look at IBM and bash it to shreads...this is one of my favourite towers in Chicago and looks amazing next to Marina Place...sure you can have an opinion on the architectural design and if you "like" it or not, but have the common sense to see the building for what it is ...

I think there is a lot of American-box hatred on here...if you look at the top100 pool, thje Cheung Center in HongKong is praised as an amazing wonder...yet the Aon Center or WTC was derrided as "just another box." Self-hating american boxes ;-)~ lol


We need to start a "box" alliance to educate folks

oh yeah!

8/10

^ 100% agreed, anything designed by Pelli is a Godsend, while anything designed by van der Rohe is treated as a bland piece of shit.

8.0
Looks like Chicago is crowded with black buildings.

7

Ordinary but attractive..... good location

It's a box, but not bad....

7/10

8/10

Ehhh I like it but its generic...7

Looks like a taller version of St Helens in London.

I like the international style, the clean facade, and its sleek appearance.

And I agree with the "pro-box" comments above.

8.5

hmmmm, I don't like it!! Maybe because it's too fat and doesn't soar high enough for it's plain ugly boxiness?? I like it's colour though but other than that I really don't like this building. 4/10

6/10

A black box, but a good black box at that. I give it a 7/10.

dark box, good, effort, 7

10/10 Mies. Less is more!

8/10

Quality design and facade as well.

It has enormous presence :eek: 8.5/10

hahaha looks like our AS400 box in the computer lab :laugh:

5/10

7\10.

one big brown box. I don't like it. 5/10.

6/10

7- black and a box with an interesting bottom

Classic box :cool: 8/10

7/10

6/10

boring box 6/10

7/10

7/10

10/10 Love it.......

Chicagostyle indeed. 7/10

elegant. 7.5/10

6/10

Old me no like, 6/10

Of all boxes, this has one of the cleanest, neatest looks. the windows match perfectly to the dark paneling. good height over the river. this is a great building. 9/10

rip off the seagrem building lol

http://www.ou.edu/class/arch4443/50's%20Minimalism/Seagram%20Building.jpg

It totally rips off the seagram but improves on it. they are virtually identical except for height which IBM improves on. But the setting for IBM is better, along the chicago river, very scenic, and there aren't taller buildings surrounding it to dwarf it. Until Trump finishes his new one that is.

8.5/10

8/10

rip off the seagrem building lol

Well every International style box is. At least this one was actually done by Mies.

^so was Seagrem. IBM, IMO is Mies's finest work. Very tall and beautifly porportioned, right down to the placement of interoir lights. Very clean lines, both inside and out provide elegance that is hard to achieve in so amny other buildings that so many amiture forumers gloat over. A perfect 10/10. Anyone who rates this less than 6 while calling it a stupid box needs to pick up and read a book on architectural history.

6.5/10

8/10.

7/10.

Everyone rating below a 7 has a total disregard for architectual history. Shame on you! Mies shaped what skyscrapers are today...give him some credit for being one of the main forefathers of modern architecural high rises... :ohno:

...3/10

7/10

I like black skyscrapers 9/10

7/10

8/10

7/10

7/10

6/10 too many of this kind of buildings in the world

7/10

elegant facade, but only a box....8/10

6/10 too dark.

The architect always does the same building....but I like them.

8.5/10

10/10. It may look today like "an ordinary big box" to some, but that's mostly because the other's copied Mies' style (or attempted to, with many bad results). You can't say you hate this building, then turn around and adore buildings such as the Sears Tower or Hancock Building. They are from the same lineage, only this one is more perfect. My second favorite Mies building, first being Crown Hall (lit up at night).

7/10 It is like an ominous BEAST!

8/10

7.5 too plain though.

5/10 box.

a big black box

4/10

ccool. love it black. 8/10

5/10

6 / 10

a dark chocolate bar? not great but no major screw ups either. so ...

7/10

6,5/10 classic

7/10, built in the 70's... It can't be helped but to look like giant box

Power in simplicity. Black and beautiful. From me 9/10

Love this black facade and this .. hmmm ... classic, it's an appropriate word, shape. It deserves at least 7/10.

8/10

A box, 5/10.

9/10

One of the better box shaped buildings around. Any other colour than black and i wouldnt like it.

7/10

8/10:)

I like the black color and the glass, a 8 out of 10.

10/10

i love the black

5/10

7/10

6/10

4/10 bfff... just a box.

1/10

Too black for me... 5/10

6/10

1/10

BOX!!!!

10/10 :cheers:

boxy,black.bore.

ugly + icon = 6.5

If you look at it carefully, you notice that it is well proportioned and uses harmonic colors and materials. All in all this building is really much more than a common box, I think it is one of the best boxes in the world!
10/10

7.5/10

Good stuff with elegant proportions and very nice reflectivity on the materials.
Ground level is hopelessly outdated but I guess that was the trend at that time... :-/
6.5/10

cool design 8/10

9/10
I originally was not a fan of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's work.
The excesses of the post modern era have resulted in a reassessment of the elegant simplicity of this design. The proportions both overall and of each element such as the windows are very pleasing; they were not matched in the many imitation glass boxes that were built after this one.

5/10

that's what i like:)!9/10

7/10

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Images/NearNorthSide/IBMBuilding-002.jpg

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Images/NearNorthSide/IBMBuilding-003.jpg

7/10

7,5/10

8. Good building. Regards.

8/10

6.5/10

7/10

ok my vote is 8/10

8/10

10/10:)

7/10

8/10

8/10

6/10