A Mother's Intuition
A child’s interest in drawing led his mother to suggest that he study architecture. That child was Chicago born architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM). Chicago-based SOM is one of the most prominent architectural firms in the world.
Mr. Smith is the primary architect responsible for more than 40 remarkable projects, according to Wikipedia. They include the 2,722-foot-tall Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) in Dubai, Millennium Park in Chicago, and the Waldorf Astoria Beijing, to name a few.
Mr. Smith also designed the Jeddah Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. When completed, it will be the tallest building in the world at an astounding 3,281 feet!
He was the principle designer when Chicago’s Trump Tower project was announced in July 2001. It was originally planned to be the tallest building in the world at 2,000 feet. The plans were scaled back that same year after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
When finished in 2009, it was the second-tallest building in the U.S at 1,362 feet. It edged out the John Hancock Center as the highest residential unit in the world. Not much later, the record transferred to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Home with a view
According to Chicago Real Estate magazine, “Perched on the 86th floor… Unit 86B sits in almost rarefied air. But dizzying views of the skyline aren’t the only mark of high living in this 2,400-square-foot penthouse unit. The two-bedroom condo, currently asking $2.2 million, also boasts sleek new finishes, hardwood floors, and a master bath flush with Calacatta marble. Plus, it comes with a parking spot.”
Nice touch that parking space.
River with a view
Dave Fox, Paul Teodo, and I picked a steamy Thursday last week to take the Chicago Architectural Boat Tour. Chicago changes so much that taking the cruise every year or two brings new sights. And the docents seem to have a fact or two you’ve never heard before.
Just before boarding below the Wrigley building, I looked up into a cloudless sky and thought black and white. This shot seemed to capture a bit of the genius that Mr. Smith’s mother noticed so many years ago.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus