Here stands the Aon Center. Its sleek design pierces the Chicago skyline. Let’s delve into the story of this iconic skyscraper.
The Aon Center has dominated Chicago since the 1970s. It sits just east of the Chicago Loop. Don’t confuse it with the Aon Center in Los Angeles. This one’s special.
Upon its completion in 1974 the Aon Center was Chicago’s tallest. It stood 1,136 feet tall. It was also the world’s tallest without an antenna until 2007. The Aon Center boasts 83 floors above ground. It also features five below. Fifty elevators whisk people up and down.
Edward Durell Stone and Perkins+Will designed the Aon Center. Stone also designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Perkins and Will are known for schools worldwide. The Aon Center’s design resembles New York’s former Twin Towers. Its steel frame and V-shaped columns help it withstand strong winds.
Originally the Aon Center was clad in Italian Carrara marble. This proved to be a misstep. The marble slabs were too thin. They started cracking almost immediately. One slab even fell through the Prudential Center’s roof on Christmas Day 1973. Between 1990 and 1992 the marble was replaced with Mount Airy white granite. The renovation cost over half the original construction price.
What happened to all that discarded marble? Much of it became landscaping decoration at an oil refinery in Whiting Indiana. Amoco owned the tower then. They called it the “Whiting Beautification Project”. Some marble went to handicapped workers. They carved it into desk clocks and pen holders.
The Aon Center has had three names. It was first the Standard Oil Building. Then it became the Amoco Building in 1985. It officially became the Aon Center in 1999.
The Aon Center’s plaza is being renovated. It will become a public space. Also an observation deck is planned for the top floor. It will feature a thrill ride called the “Sky Summit”. A new entrance pavilion will be built. It will house the world’s tallest exterior elevator.
The Aon Center forms a backdrop for the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This concert venue is in Millennium Park. It seats 11000 people.
The Standard Oil Company of Indiana commissioned the building. It wanted its headquarters downtown. The building earned the nickname “Big Stan.”
Replacing the marble with granite was costly. The Aon Center occupies only a quarter of its lot. A two-level plaza surrounds it.
The Aon Center stands as a testament to architectural ambition. It shows resilience in the face of challenges. Its story is etched into Chicago’s skyline.