John Hancock Center
The John Hancock Center is a 344 meter tall skyscraper along the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The building has a total of 100 floors; his address is 875 North Michigan Avenue, 175 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL.
History and Architecture
Designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Khan, both from the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM ). The construction of the building was begun in 1965 and completed in 1969. For the construction of the New York-based Tishman Construction was responsible.
After its completion, the John Hancock Center was the second tallest building in the world after the Empire State Building in New York City with an altitude of 344 meters. By 1973, the Aon Center was completed, it was Chicago's tallest skyscraper, (still Sears Tower then) in 1974 but again within Chicago by the Willis Tower surpassed, and 2009 by the Trump Tower. In consideration of its antennas, bring it to a total height of 457 meters, the John Hancock Center was also nine years, the overall highest skyscraper in the world, its antenna peak towered over by its completion in 1969 until 1978 and that of the Empire State Building. Unlike other skyscrapers, the masts were on the John Hancock Center is not set up several years later, immediately after the completion of and. It was not until 1978, the antenna was installed on the north tower of the World Trade Center, which brought down the 417 -foot tower to a total of 527 meters, this record was broken. After also the Willis Tower was equipped in 1982 with antennas, this also gained the status of the highest building for absolute height of the city of Chicago.
Today, the John Hancock Center, the fourth- tallest building in Chicago and the seventh- tallest building in the United States. With antenna that no part of the building's architecture, however (unlike spiers ), it is 457 meters high, making it the 13th -tallest freestanding structure in the world ( television towers with enclosed ). It towers so that even the Petronas Towers (452 meters) by five meters and the Empire State Building ( 443 meters) by 14 feet. Nevertheless, it is not the tallest building in the city: the 527 -meter-high Willis Tower is located in Chicago. The John Hancock Center is also the third- tallest free- standing structure in the United States after the 541 -meter-high One World Trade Center in New York as well as the Willis Tower. Characteristic of the building are the visible lying in the facade of outcrossing of the steel frame, the upwardly tapering shape of the building and the dark anodized aluminum facade. This is also evident when also located in Chicago Willis Tower. This was also designed by the same architect, but opened five years later.
Located on the prestigious North Michigan Avenue in close proximity to Lake Shore Drive, the resulting wind loads the " windy city " and the desired slenderness of the structure were a challenge for the engineers. The inclined struts brought the necessary bracing. When completed, the John Hancock Center came because of his black, repellent facade on rejection, today it is among the landmarks of Chicago.
The name of the building derives from the builder ago, the insurance company John Hancock Insurance named after the President of the Continental Congress and first signer of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock (* 1737, † 1793).
Use
The John Hancock Center was one of the first major skyscraper and residential units housed. Until the 43rd floor are offices. In the 44th floor there is a swimming pool, a fitness center, the entrance hall and a small shop for the residents. The swimming pool on this floor is the highest in a building across North America and is considered an attraction. The floors 45-93 are occupied by individuals and form the so-called "resident -area" that can only be accessed by the residents and their guests.
In his 94th floor of the observatory, the observation floor is located. From here offers itself in clear weather, a 100 km wide view over Chicago and Lake Michigan. In the 95th and 96th floor is the restaurant Signature Room. In February 2013, the highest skating rink in the world was opened in 300 meters as a new visitor attraction on the 94th floor. The surface of the ice rink at the John Hancock Center is 80 square meters and allow visitors a view over Chicago.