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On October 8, 1871, a great fire destroyed most of the "Western"
city of Chicago. Over 18,000 buildings were lost. Industrializing America had too much invested in Chicago's development,
and the features that made that development possible--the city's location and resources--were still in place.
Chicago's movers and shakers emphasized that the fire had done nothing to
damage the city's most important quality--its remarkable potential for growth.
During the rebuilding of the city, better materials were sought for construction. At first, brick and stone were
used. Those were later replaced by steel, the fundamental tool for the construction of skyscrapers. |
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In the city that invented the skyscraper, the Sears Tower dominates the Chicago
skyline, and held the title of the World's Tallest Building for almost a quarter of a century. The tower, seen
in the foreground, is actually nine 75'x75' steel tube towers bundled together. This innovative concept was conceived
by the tower's architect, the late Fazlur Kahn of the renowned firm--Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. In the background
of the picture is the John Hancock Center. Also designed by Kahn, the Hancock is the tallest mixed-use building
in the world. It sits on the glamorous Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) and stands as an icon for the life and
tempo of Chicago. In addition to being an icon of Chicago, the Sears Tower is symbolic of the economic power of
America. |
| The John Hancock Center, pictured at right, is one of Chicago's most beloved
skyscrapers. It is the third tallest building in Chicago, and the tallest mixed-use structure in the world--containing
offices, apartments, and retail stores. The distinctive shape and the recognizable steel 'X' braces lend to the
building's uniqueness. Unlike the Sears Tower, the Hancock has a large open plaza off of Michigan Avenue, encouraging
passerby to peer in and visit the shops and restaurants. Conversely, the Sears Tower has two heavily guarded lobbies
for building tenants only, and a separate building for the 104th floor--"SkyDeck." The John Hancock Tower
is truly a building for the people of Chicago and is iconoclastic of the Post-Modern Period. |
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