The John Hancock Tower is one of the more distinctive and recognizable buildings in Chicago and indeed the world. Located on Chicago's North Michigan Ave. (The Magnificent Mile), this multi-use skyscraper with offices, commercial functions, and residences tapers from top to bottom rising to more than 1000 feet above the ground. The tapering is not only aesthetically pleasing but functional since it allows the upper stories with residential apartments to be smaller and illuminated with natural light. The exterior is of black anodized aluminum with tinted bronze glass. The cross-trussing is part of the exterior design but also provides bracing and rigidity for such a tall building in the "windy" city. It eliminates the need for support beams, greatly increasing the amount of usable floor space.
Architects: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; Bruce Graham and Fazlur Kahn,
1965-70.
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