Aon Center in Chicago, Illinois

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Well known in Chicagoland but not so well recognized beyond its borders the Aon Center stands as a dignified supertall in the Chicago skyline. It eschews flashy spires like Sears and Hancock opting instead for vertical stripes that add visual height to its already impressive stature from a distance the building appears as just another mundane grey 1970's stone block but up close it reveals itself as a masterpiece deserving of appreciation. The building's unique design is best appreciated by walking right up to it and craning your neck to take in the top fortunately this is made possible by a sunken plaza in front of the building featuring extensive fountain work which creates an inviting oasis for people on hot summer days while simultaneously protecting the building from potential threats. From its elevated vantage point tenants of the Aon Center enjoy breathtaking views in all directions those with south-facing windows gaze out over Grant Park while those with west-facing views can take in The Loop residents with eastern exposures are treated to stunning Lake Michigan sunrises and boating activities meanwhile those on the northern face get to marvel at the Magnificent Mile and Chicago's coastline. Despite its many charms the Aon Center has not been immune to criticism in fact it has faced routine malignment in print media initially critics panned the building's design as bland and uninspired later things took a turn for the worse when the building's marble facade began to buckle stainless steel straps were hastily applied to prevent large chunks from falling off but ultimately the facade was replaced with white granite at a cost of $60,000,000.00 roughly half what it had originally cost to build. The unwanted marble was repurposed in various ways some was turned into trinkets like paperweights while other pieces were donated to a company that manufactures trophies a significant amount was used in landscaping projects at Governors State University and Amoco facilities nationwide. Quick Facts Construction start: 1970 Construction finish: 1972 Designed by: Edward Durell Stone & Associates and Perkins and Will Corporation Cost: $120,000,000 Type: Skyscraper Stories: 83 Maximum Height: 1,136 feet / 346 meters Statistics Stories above ground: 83 Stories below ground: 5 Rentable floor space: 2,700,000 Timeline 1972: Construction completed. 1973: The Sears Tower surpassed the Aon Center as the tallest building in Chicago. 1974: A slab of marble from the facade came crashing down through the roof of the Prudential Center Annex. 1989-1992: All 43,000 marble panels comprising the building's facade were replaced with granite from North Carolina due to buckling and loosening caused by harsh Chicago winters. The replacement cost between $60- and $80,000,000. November, 1991: A routine inspection revealed that two steel columns in the lobby needed reinforcement although officials claimed there was no danger additional steel plates were welded to the columns. 1998: This building changed hands with the exact price remaining confidential but estimated to be between $430,000,000 and $440,000,000. January 1, 2001: The building's name was officially changed to Aon Center. May, 2003 : The Aon Center was sold for $465,000,000.00. March, 2007: Plans emerged to convert the top 13 stories of this tower into residential apartments or condominiums. September, 2010: This building ranked #20 on Chicago Magazine's list of Top 40 Buildings in Chicago. July, 2015: The Aon Center was purchased by Piedmont Office Realty Trust for $712 million. (Credit; Chicago Architecture) This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures artworks and landmarks from around the globe accessible free of charge. Scan the World is an open source community effort if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can get involved. Scanned : Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)