Crain Communications Building in Chicago, Illinois

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One of Chicago's signature skyscrapers, what the Smurfit-Stone building lacks in height, it more than makes up for in style. Its gleaming white exterior is accented with dark pinstripes of windows. Its orientation perfectly captures Lake Michigan just a few hundred yards away, while at the same time its characteristic slanted roof mimics the sailboats crowding Chicago Harbor. The Citicorp Center in New York and other skyscrapers have experimented with slanted roofs. What makes the Smurfit-Stone building truly special is the orientation of the slant. The architects didn't simply take a square and cut a wedge out of it like a children's block. They cleverly cut it on an angle, using a simple subtractive motion to create a diamond shape in the sky. Closer examination reveals that it isn't even a simple diamond, but rather two nearly identical triangles, which is a detail often lost on observers. What they delight in is the notion that the building continues to evolve and grow with a leading angle like a massive lily sprouting on the lakeshore. Others fail to see the beauty and whimsy intrinsic to this building. Instead, they view it as an affront to the other classic Chicago architecture on Michigan Avenue. But if not for those buildings that stand out, would not the Avenue's marble cliff seem even more ordinary and underappreciated? Quick Facts Construction start: 1983 Construction finish: 1984 Designed by: A. Epstein and Sons Type: Skyscraper Stories: 41 Maximum Height: 575 feet / 175 meters Statistics Rentable floor space: 625,205 square feet. Timeline 2010: The building's name was changed from Smurfit-Stone Building to 150 North Michigan Avenue. 2011: Smurfit-Stone moved out of this building after being acquired by a company in Georgia. March, 2012: The building's name was changed to Crain Communications Building. Notes The building that previously occupied this site was the John Crerar Library. The 14-story building was erected in 1920 and designed by Holabird and Roche. One of the widespread "facts" sometimes presented by Chicago tour guides is that this building's sloping roof was designed to keep its shadow from falling on a nearby beach. This claim is entirely incorrect. There isn't a beach anywhere near this building. There was a controversy over a building on Lake Shore Drive casting a shadow on the Ohio Street Beach in 2006, but that building was erected anyway without any alterations to its plan. The top five floors of this building are currently unoccupied and are not included in its official floor count. (Credit: Chicago Architecture) This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)