John Hancock Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Hancock Center |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Location | Chicago United States |
| Completed | 1969 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 344 m (1,127 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 100 |
The 875 North Michigan Avenue building is a very tall skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. Many people still call it the John Hancock Center. It has 100 stories and is 1,128 feet (344 meters) high. This amazing building is located in Chicago's famous Magnificent Mile area. Its name changed from John Hancock Center on February 12, 2018.
This skyscraper was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The main designer was Bruce Graham, and the structural engineer was Fazlur Khan. When it was finished on May 6, 1968, it was the second-tallest building in the world. It was also the tallest building outside New York City. Today, it is the fourth-tallest building in Chicago. It is also the eighth-tallest in the United States.
When you measure to the top of its antenna masts, the building is about 1,500 feet (457 meters) tall. Inside, you can find many offices and restaurants. There are also about 700 condominiums, which are homes. One of these homes is the third-highest residence in the world. Only the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Trump Tower in Chicago have higher homes. The building was named after the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. This company helped build it and was one of its first tenants. In 2018, John Hancock Insurance asked for its name to be removed from the building.
From the 95th-floor restaurant, you can see amazing views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The Observatory, called 360 Chicago, offers a full 360-degree view of the city. On a clear day, you can see up to four states and over 80 miles (129 kilometers) away. The Observatory also has Chicago's only open-air SkyWalk. It offers a free multimedia tour in six languages. On the 44th floor, there is a sky lobby with America's highest indoor swimming pool.
Contents
Building History
Early Construction Challenges
The idea for this very tall building began in late 1964. It was first owned by Jerry Wolman. The John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company helped pay for the project. Building the tower faced problems in 1967. Engineers found a flaw in how they were pouring concrete. This happened when the building was 20 stories high. The ground beneath the building was settling more than expected. This made the owner stop construction until the problem could be fixed. Because of these issues, John Hancock took over the project. They kept the original design, architect, engineer, and main builder.
First Residents and Notable Events
The first person to live in the building was Ray Heckla. He was the original building engineer for the residential floors (44 to 92). Mr. Heckla and his family moved in April 1969. This was even before the building was fully finished.
On November 11, 1981, Veterans Day, a man named Dan Goodwin climbed the outside of the building. He wanted to show that it was hard to rescue people stuck on high floors of skyscrapers. He used special climbing gear to go up the building's I-beams. Firefighters tried to stop him, but Mayor Jane Byrne allowed him to continue.
The John Hancock Center was shown in the 1988 movie Poltergeist III.
On March 9, 2002, an accident happened. Part of a scaffold fell 43 stories because of strong winds. It caused damage to cars below.
Ownership and Annual Race
On December 10, 2006, the parts of the building that were not homes were sold. Shorenstein Properties LLC sold them for $385 million. A group called Golub & Company and Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds bought them. Shorenstein had bought the building in 1998 for $220 million.
"Hustle up the Hancock" is an annual race where people climb the stairs. They race up 94 floors from Michigan Avenue to the observation deck. This event happens on the last Sunday of February. It helps raise money for the Respiratory Health Association. The fastest time recorded as of 2007 was 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
Broadcasting and Recent Events
The building is home to the transmitter for Univision's WGBO-DT (channel 66). Most other TV stations in Chicago broadcast from Willis Tower.
On November 21, 2015, a fire started in an apartment on the 50th floor. The Chicago Fire Department put out the fire in about an hour and a half. Five people had minor injuries.
On February 11, 2018, a car fire on the seventh floor needed 150 firefighters to put it out. The building's sprinkler system helped to control the fire before firefighters arrived.
On February 12, 2018, John Hancock Insurance asked for its name and logos to be removed from the building. The company had not had a naming agreement since 2013. Until a new name is chosen, the skyscraper is known as "875 North Michigan Avenue".
See also
Images for kids
-
X-bracing on the tower's façade
-
As seen from the Willis Tower, with Lake Michigan in the background.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: 875 North Michigan Avenue para niños
