With
its distinctive shape and colour, this
100 story building is easily one of the
largest in the world. Designed by the
engineer Fazlur Kahn and architect Bruce
Graham, the building was completed in
1969 and was given a unique design, with
X-braces serving both reinforce the building
structurally and a give it a distinct
visual style.
When the building was first constructed
extensive wind tunnel tests were preformed
to make sure that the pressure inside
the building, along with the building’s
extreme height, would not cause any safety
hazards. It was decided that diagonals
connected to the exterior columns would
making if possible for the forces to be
carried over from the braces to the columns
and back; this resulted in a 50% decrease
of required steel compared to skyscrapers
built with interior columns. Because the
stress is passed to other parts of the
building this makes it less fragile and
less likely to wear over time.
John
Hancock Center has quite a list of amenities,
including 827481 square feet of office
space, 144462 square feet of retail space,
a 16947 square foot observatory on the
94th floor, and a 33,527 square foot TV
and radio broadcast facility. There are
also 49 floors of residential condominiums
for those lucky enough to live in such
a fantastic building. Some condominiums
are so high that the inhabitants sometimes
have to call the doorkeeper to ask what
the weather's like down on the ground.
The inside of the building is just as
lavish: “JOHN HANCOCK CENTER's interior
incorporates rich travertine and marble
surfaces with textured limestone. The
elliptical-shaped outdoor plaza has become
a favorite meeting spot for North Michigan
Avenue office workers, shoppers and tourists.
This community oasis is enlivened with
plantings, a 12-foot waterfall and seasonal
outdoor dining.”
On the top, The Hancock Observatory is
open during the week and is an excellent
place to experience spectacular views
spanning up to 80 miles and 4 states.
Every year thousands of people go to the
top of this world famous building to enjoy
a breathtaking view of one of the worlds
largest cities.
John
Hancock Travel Links |
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