Archinect - News

The Willis Tower turns 50

2023-05-05T12:24:00-04:00

Now called Willis Tower, the building has been a trendsetter since its debut. After starting life as a headquarters for Sears, Roebuck & Co., the building saw its namesake tenant relocate to the suburbs. Along with the rest of downtown, it suffered other blows, including fears raised by the terrorist attacks of 2001 and the Great Recession. It’s always bounced back. But the tower now faces what might be its biggest test.

SOM won the commission from the Sears corporation in 1970 at a time when office parks and the desire to project a stronger image of America against the backdrop of the Vietnam War were separately prevailing forces in the AEC industry. Sears eventually sold the 110-story building, which was the world’s tallest for 22 years, for more than $1 billion in 1988. More recently it has turned into a focal point of the city’s office vacancy crisis, and new owners Blackstone are now looking forward to returns from a $500 million-plus renovation led by Gensler with optimism.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)'s CEO Javier Quintana de Uña agrees. As he said, "It always keeps ahead of everything else."

The Tribune has historic photos of the tower under construction here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (@skidmoreowingsmerrill)

Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge celebrates 90th birthday

2022-03-21T15:53:00-04:00

It started as a way to connect two sides of Sydney Harbour but, over 90 years, has become an iconic part of visiting Australia. It’s an icon of Australia and a beacon to tourists around the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is celebrating 90 years since it opened to the public on March 19, 1932.

The City of Sydney recently published a fascinating delve into the history of the 1,650-foot span bridge, including the Coachella-like program of festivities that surrounded its original opening ceremony. This past weekend’s celebration included the symbolic interchange of a vintage 1920s F1 electric rail car and modern Waratah set in addition to historic and ferry bus tours coupled with other period-specific to give residents a sense of the atmosphere nine decades ago.

Pressure from Sydney’s then-1.2-million-strong populace during the Great Depression was instrumental in the creation of the bridge, whose existence is now associated with notions of equity and progress that came at a time when Australia as a society was going through a process of desecularization and modern change.

For Le Corbusier's Birthday, we've rounded up some playful pics of the pioneering modernist

2017-10-06T12:30:00-04:00

Today is everyone's favorite modernist architect Le Corbusier's birthday. Well, almost everyone's that is...

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Kris might find him to be a bit boring, but over here, he is one of the most revered architects of the 20th century. In honor of what would be his 130th, here are some celebratory pics of the Swiss-born French architect and funnyman.

Le Corbusier / Photo by Letburii

Le Corbusier in the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, May 10, 1928.

Le Corbusier in Saint-Tropez bay, 1938.

Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret relaxing on the Shukna Lake on a pedal boat manufactured by Pierre Jeanneret, c. 1950. Photo by Sureh Sharma.

Le Corbusier in C...

In celebration of I.M. Pei's 100th birthday tomorrow, the National Gallery of Art revisits his legacy

2017-04-25T13:19:00-04:00

Harmonizing with architect John Russell Pope's neoclassical West Building, the award-winning East Building, which opened in 1978, was designed by Pei in the modern idiom of its time. Magnificently realizing the long-term vision of Gallery founder Andrew W. Mellon and his children, Paul Mellon and Ailsa Mellon Bruce, the East Building has taken its place as one of the great public structures in the nation's capital. — National Gallery of Art

I.M. Pei's 100th birthday is tomorrow! In celebration of the legendary architect's birthday, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. will host a public talk in the Pei-designed East Building featuring architect Perry Y. Chin – a longtime associate of Pei's — and Susan Wertheim, the Gallery's chief architect and deputy administrator for capital projects.

Learn more on Bustler.

Daniel Libeskind turns 70; designs Musical Labyrinth for Frankfurt Opera

2016-05-12T13:29:00-04:00

Preparations are still running for various events around Daniel Libeskind's 70th birthday, among them the concert project "One Day in Life." Libeskind has designed the project for Frankfurt's Old Opera. A total of 75 concerts are to be given on May 21 and 22 at 18 different locations spread over the city of Frankfurt. Libeskind's idea was to bring music to places where hitherto no music had been played, for example hospitals, public baths or hidden bunkers.

Via @daniellibeskind on Instagram: "In Frankfurt installing the Musical Labyrinth for One Day in Life that opens May 20th. #onedayinlife"

Other recent Libeskind stories in the Archinect news:

How Jane Jacobs continues to be an influential force in city planning

2016-05-04T14:19:00-04:00

She would ask us to look at the consequences of these sub-economies for the city – for its people, its neighbourhoods, and the visual orders involved...Talking with Jacobs, it became clear that community battles were, for her, simply part of a wider inquiry as she sought to better understand, and develop concepts for, the role of cities in the economy.

And if you haven't already noticed it, there's a special Google Doodle celebrating Jacobs' 100th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Zaha Hadid!

2012-10-31T18:42:00-04:00

Today is the birthday of Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid. Known for her sculptural designs and commanding demeanor, the renown female artist is turning 61 years old this Halloween.

Google celebrates Mies' 126th birthday

2012-03-27T12:38:00-04:00

To celebrate 126 years since the the father of modernism was born, Google is honoring Mies with a Google doodle tribute, referencing the classic IIT Crown Hall building.

It's Ray Eames Birthday today too!

2011-12-15T13:51:00-05:00

As Cube would say, "today was a good day". Not only does Oscar Niemeyer turn an astounding 104 years old today, but the late/great Ray Eames was also born 99 years ago today. Somebody get my credit card, I need to buy some candles.

Oscar Niemeyer turns 104 today

2011-12-15T12:24:00-05:00

The man who was awarded the 1988 Pritzker Prize continues to devote his afternoons to working on new projects, including a theatre with a capacity for 2 500 people on Flamengo Park, near Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain. "I came up with a solution that is capable of prompting surprise and attracting the public: a magnificent dome which would be built before the Sugarloaf Mountain," he recently wrote.