I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by some pretty remarkable people in my life. That includes my family (most of all), my clients, but also my past employers & coworkers. A few weeks ago, through a series of emails initiated by my friend Duane Fisher, I found myself sitting at Wrigley Field watching the Cubs & Pirates play baseball - one less thing on my bucket list.
I attended with a former employer/supervisor and co-worker from my early post-college days at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) in Los Angeles. Our host was Bruce Toman, now a principal at Perkins and Will. Not only did he get us tickets for the game (4th row behind the dugout!), but also shared with us his knowledge of Chicago's rich architectural history.
We arrived on Friday morning and made our way to the hotel, just a few blocks from Bruce's office. We had a lunch and then were off. First was the river tour by boat; an EXCELLENT opportunity to see a lot of the skyline without straining your neck. It is run by the Architectural Foundation and they do a commendable job of teaching architectural style and history. I was sitting next to Bruce and that is where it got really interesting. It was like I was an intern again. Not only did Bruce know all the stuff the guide was telling / teaching, but he also knew the people behind the buildings. Bruce shared with us the names and sequences of the designers and projects - much more insightful than just dates and firms. Bruce knows the facts and the legends. We finished the day with a wander through Millennium Park and a beer.
Saturday was the game. The Cubs lost, I was disappointed. I felt like a real Cubs fan in that respect. The stadium was great and such a different feel from the stadiums built in the 70's - 90's. The heredity of our own Citizen's Bank Park is evident.
After a short stroll through Wrigelyville, we made our way to the Miracle Mile area and saw some pretty spectacular assemblies of glass and steel. Bruce took us to one of Mies van der Rohe's (Mr. Less-is-more) projects and it was like I was sitting in my dorm room studying for a history exam. You know when you see a painting after looking at the art history books and it hits you - WOW. That was it. We went to the Hancock Tower and learned about how the project transitioned from 2 buildings originally, how the double helix parking ramp came to be, and how it became known as the "Hancock Tower". According to "legend", the GC had a problem with one of the caissons and it ruined him. Apparently his bonding company was John Hancock Insurance Company. Bruce also shared how he had been mentored by senior architects involved in the Hancock & Willis (formerly Sears) Tower projects as a young lad right out of the University of Minnesota and working at SOM in Chicago.
Sunday began as Duane and I started off for the Willis Tower. It is amazing how hard it is to find a 110 story building, but finally we managed. From that point we began a 6 mile "running" tour of the architectural offerings of the Loop. The only thing missing was a sketch book.
I have to close with some recommendations. If you should ever find yourself in Chicago.... First, visit Millennium Park. The stainless steel "kidney" (Cloud Gate), Laurie Garden (Green Roof) and the Pritzker Pavilion by Frank Gehry are inspiring. You will also get a great view of the skyline. Secondly, if you get the chance, take the boat tour. Ask which building was Mies's last; it is the black glass and steel tower next to Marina Towers. Then look up to the 36th floor and wave to Bruce. If you get really lucky, you will run into him at the Public House for lunch and he will spend the afternoon with you. He has an enamoring view of the city which will make you come home completely inspired and excited about all things Architect.
- John W. Lister
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