The Willis Tower may soon have to say goodbye to its title as the tallest building in the Windy City. Two competing designs for a redevelopment of the Helmut Jahn-designed James R. Thompson center stretch high above the tower. One, by Jahn himself, would preserve the original, curving structure while adding a 1,340-foot hotel and residential skyscraper besides it. Another, by Chicago architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, would demolish the Jahn building and build a 1,700-foot mixed-use tower. Apparently, Governor Bruce Rauner is in favor of demolishing the older building.
According to the Chicago Tribune, it’s not clear if any of these plans will actually be realized. Budgetary disputes between Dems and Republicans in the state government may preclude any action.
5 Comments
looks like an undergrad at IIT did that Jahn one.
the most ephemeral of titles
The AS+GG proposal looks to me like wishful thinking. Its much more likely that a developer would buy the Thompson Center, demolish it, and build something short and dull like Block 37.
the atrium in Jahn's Thompson Center is one of the most unusual and inspiring interior public spaces in he city, it would be a shame to have it demolished, and it is a shame for a widely used public plaza to be removed for the sake of development.
http://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/23/14354898/chicago-james-thompson-center-historic-preservation
Republicans strike again.
Over and OUT
Peter N
Isn't it 'tall-enough' by now?
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