A large chunk of aluminum cladding fell off the Hancock building earlier this week, frightening neighbors. The piece of cladding fell about 3 p.m. Wednesday, landing atop a planter on the building’s south side off Chestnut Street. No one was injured. — Block Club Chicago
The incident is eerily reminiscent of the tragic 2019 death of architect Erica Tishman in Manhattan, which has resulted in recent criminal charges in addition to a host of lawsuits brought against the property developers and city by the architect’s family and Department of Buildings.
Engineers have temporarily given the okay to the building’s property manager and 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins in lieu of a more detailed inspection, which they say will take place as soon as the weather allows.
“This is the first time anyone can ever recall a piece of this aluminum cladding material coming off the building. It simply hasn’t happened,” Hopkins said. “We don’t think this is an indication of a trend that pieces are suddenly going to start falling off the building. We have no reason to believe that.”
6 Comments
Wow. Scary, seriously.
hashtag don't look up?
maybe more properly #look up and run
Double play!
I remember when the HUGE glass windows/glass facing started to pop out and crash to the ground from the Cobb/ I.M. Pei Hancock building in Boston. Almost all the glass fell out within a few weeks and the entire building was then covered with plywood. Now that was what I would call a scary thing!
Not exactly true that almost all the glass fell out ... but point made. My favorite thing about that building is the fact that despite that glass (and other) issue(s), the AIA still awarded it a National Honor Award.
can you say 'deferred maintenance' boys and girls? Buildings don't last forever :(
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