#019 l John Hancock Center l CHICAGO l 344m l 100fl

[D-Mac]

John Hancock Center
Chicago, USA

HEIGHT: 344m/1,127 feet
FLOORS: 100 floors
COMPLETION: 1969
ARCHITECT: Skidmore, Owings & Merril (SOM)

Situated on prestigious North Michigan Avenue, the 100-story, 2.8 million square feet (260,000 square meters) multi-use complex includes 711 apartment units, ranging from efficiencies to four-bedroom luxury residences; 812,000 square feet of office space; and 300,000 square feet of commercial entrance lobbies. Restaurants, health clubs, a swimming pool and ice skating rink, and a transmitter for Chicago's major television stations are other features of "Big John".

The tapered form of the tower developed from programmatic and structural requirements. Commercial spaces occupy the base of the tower while parking, office, and residential zones rise above. Steel exterior columns and spandrel beams create a structural tube that is reinforced by clearly articulated diagonal steel members and structural floors that meet those diagonals and corner columns. No high-strength steel has been used, allowing less than thirty pounds of steel to support each square foot of floor area. The total result is a simple and highly efficient system for a structure of this height. The building is clad in black aluminum accented with bronze, glare-reducing glass, and bronze-colored aluminum window frames; public spaces feature travertine marble and dark granite.

[DrumCorpsAlum]

8/10. I like it but the shortened antenna looks like crap.

[RafflesCity]

9/10

I love its shape, size and colour. The cross-bracing really make it very original. The antennae dont really bother me. This is just such a BIG thing!

[Jasonhouse]

Perhaps they are repairing the antenna?


Either way, I give it an 8.5/10

[Steely Dan]

yes, j-house. y'all can go ahead and change your votes, the antena thing is temporary, not a permanent change. according to skyscrapers.com editor tom-in-chicago, the missing piece of the eastern antena will be replaced by a new one at some point in the not too distant future.

for those who have yet to vote, don't let the antena thing alter your vote, it is just temporary.



and of course i give it a 10/10, perhaps one of the most brilliant examples of exposed structural system as bold design gesture, right up there with the bank of china, or maybe i just have some strange and weird affinity for "x"s.

10/10

[Ersh]

I remember first reading about this in a National Geographic magazine a long time ago and it's always captured my interest. My fave in Chicago...9/10

[Caledon1981]

amazing tower . . i heard its gonna be on the Illinois quarter!! 9/10

[TYW]

7 / 10

nice but not good enough

[hypermount]

5/10

If this building had a twin it would have better represented the U.S's power by being our WTC!



9.5/10!

[AG]

The slanting walls of the building are good, but the antenna and colour of the building could use improvements.

8/10

[oztraelian]

I'm not a footballer, but I feel a strong urge to kick a goal between those antennas.

Gets bonus marks for age & GENUINE height. 9/10 - I'd give it a 10 if it werent for the abysmal concrete neighbour.

[Patrick]

i like it especially the double spire 8/10

good but not the best. 7.5/10

[SteelCity32]

Very good. Fits Chicago Well. 9/10

[Muse]

A Chicagoan masterpiece:

9

Just out of interest i.e. FYI, Skidmore Owings & Merrill were consultants and were involved with the design of 140 William St (BHP House) in Melbourne circa 1968; the inluences in its design are apparent eg. Cross bracing, black glass. It was completed around the same time the John Hancock Center had been.

[tayser]

8, I love it, for a reason similar to that of museumb's post above, similar designs, and 140 william is just an absolute classic in Melbourne

tays

[SUNNI]

5, its OK

[CTroyMathis]

I love this building and it's exposed structural might it displays on the Chicago skyline. I adore the article National Geographic magazine once did on the lives of people living inside the building back in either the late eighties or early nineties - whenever. There's a lot of pride with this building!

9.

Masterful really. Would get a 10 from me if it not for the ugly red/white antennas. That's the FAA for you!

9.5/10