Helmut Jahn leaves a remarkable legacy. I hope his work is appreciated more as its bold postmodernism ages past the inevitable & dangerous period of seeming outmoded & into the acclaim that comes to superlative buildings of distinctive style. Some favorites: 120 N LaSalle (1992).
Michigan City Public Library (Helmut Jahn for CF Murphy Architects, 1977)
Michigan City Public Library (Helmut Jahn for CF Murphy Architects, 1977)
Michigan City Public Library (Helmut Jahn for CF Murphy Architects, 1977)
Michigan City Public Library (Helmut Jahn for CF Murphy Architects, 1977)
Addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Interior atrium of the addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Interior atrium of the addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Interior atrium of the addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
Interior atrium of the addition to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, completed in 1983.
One South Wacker, completed 1982. Supposedly there are private atriums in the setbacks; anyone ever seen inside one of them? I only have this one picture, taken repeatedly over the years.
500 West Madison, atop the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and variously known over the years as the Northwestern Atrium Center, Citigroup Center, and now Accenture Tower. Completed 1987.
500 West Madison, atop the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and variously known over the years as the Northwestern Atrium Center, Citigroup Center, and now Accenture Tower. Completed 1987.
500 West Madison, atop the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and variously known over the years as the Northwestern Atrium Center, Citigroup Center, and now Accenture Tower. Completed 1987.
500 West Madison, atop the Ogilvie Transportation Center, and variously known over the years as the Northwestern Atrium Center, Citigroup Center, and now Accenture Tower. Completed 1987.
Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, a delicate glass bubble atop a subterranean tub full of books. By the time it was completed in 2011, HVAC technology had caught up to the climate control demands of such a glassy structure.
Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, a delicate glass bubble atop a subterranean tub full of books. By the time it was completed in 2011, HVAC technology had caught up to the climate control demands of such a glassy structure.
Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, a delicate glass bubble atop a subterranean tub full of books. By the time it was completed in 2011, HVAC technology had caught up to the climate control demands of such a glassy structure.
Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, a delicate glass bubble atop a subterranean tub full of books. By the time it was completed in 2011, HVAC technology had caught up to the climate control demands of such a glassy structure.
You can't talk about Jahn without O'Hare, which despite my aversion, is an attractive gateway to the city for so many. I can't be bothered to learn the names of any of these buildings, but they do look nice.
You can't talk about Jahn without O'Hare, which despite my aversion, is an attractive gateway to the city for so many. I can't be bothered to learn the names of any of these buildings, but they do look nice.
You can't talk about Jahn without O'Hare, which despite my aversion, is an attractive gateway to the city for so many. I can't be bothered to learn the names of any of these buildings, but they do look nice.
You can't talk about Jahn without O'Hare, which despite my aversion, is an attractive gateway to the city for so many. I can't be bothered to learn the names of any of these buildings, but they do look nice.
A ride on this underground moving walkway at O'Hare is worth the price of a plane ticket all by itself.
A ride on this underground moving walkway at O'Hare is worth the price of a plane ticket all by itself.
A ride on this underground moving walkway at O'Hare is worth the price of a plane ticket all by itself.
A ride on this underground moving walkway at O'Hare is worth the price of a plane ticket all by itself.
Jahn's masterful design of functional underground spaces at O'Hare famously extends to the colorful CTA Blue Line terminal (and a spiritually related but separate underground passageway elsewhere, which I can't place but which must have been Jahn's work).
Jahn's masterful design of functional underground spaces at O'Hare famously extends to the colorful CTA Blue Line terminal (and a spiritually related but separate underground passageway elsewhere, which I can't place but which must have been Jahn's work).
Jahn's masterful design of functional underground spaces at O'Hare famously extends to the colorful CTA Blue Line terminal (and a spiritually related but separate underground passageway elsewhere, which I can't place but which must have been Jahn's work).
Jahn's masterful design of functional underground spaces at O'Hare famously extends to the colorful CTA Blue Line terminal (and a spiritually related but separate underground passageway elsewhere, which I can't place but which must have been Jahn's work).
The CTA shared a heartfelt remembrance today too. https://twitter.com/cta/status/1391829579254444033
Sixteen stops away on the Blue Line, we find the Thompson Center. I'm not sure I have anything to say about it that others haven't already said better.
Sixteen stops away on the Blue Line, we find the Thompson Center. I'm not sure I have anything to say about it that others haven't already said better.
Sixteen stops away on the Blue Line, we find the Thompson Center. I'm not sure I have anything to say about it that others haven't already said better.
Sixteen stops away on the Blue Line, we find the Thompson Center. I'm not sure I have anything to say about it that others haven't already said better.
It may have failed as a state office building - in large part because the state failed it - but the Thompson Center is a vital crossroads in downtown Chicago.
It may have failed as a state office building - in large part because the state failed it - but the Thompson Center is a vital crossroads in downtown Chicago.
It may have failed as a state office building - in large part because the state failed it - but the Thompson Center is a vital crossroads in downtown Chicago.
It may have failed as a state office building - in large part because the state failed it - but the Thompson Center is a vital crossroads in downtown Chicago.
Jahn's ambitions for the building soared beyond the technology of the time and the client's ability to pay, as happens all too often with important works of architecture.
Jahn's ambitions for the building soared beyond the technology of the time and the client's ability to pay, as happens all too often with important works of architecture.
Jahn's ambitions for the building soared beyond the technology of the time and the client's ability to pay, as happens all too often with important works of architecture.
Jahn's ambitions for the building soared beyond the technology of the time and the client's ability to pay, as happens all too often with important works of architecture.
The Thompson Center is lively and audacious. Open and accessible. Gritty and democratic. It speaks to a moment when the city and state felt the need to place a huge wager on the future of downtown Chicago. A bet that wasn't guaranteed to pay, but did.
The Thompson Center is lively and audacious. Open and accessible. Gritty and democratic. It speaks to a moment when the city and state felt the need to place a huge wager on the future of downtown Chicago. A bet that wasn't guaranteed to pay, but did.
The Thompson Center is lively and audacious. Open and accessible. Gritty and democratic. It speaks to a moment when the city and state felt the need to place a huge wager on the future of downtown Chicago. A bet that wasn't guaranteed to pay, but did.
The Thompson Center is lively and audacious. Open and accessible. Gritty and democratic. It speaks to a moment when the city and state felt the need to place a huge wager on the future of downtown Chicago. A bet that wasn't guaranteed to pay, but did.
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