The Aon Center

Here is a trio of big buildings. The Prudential Building on the left used to be the tallest building in Chicago when it was constructed (1954, 601 feet), although it looks small now. Behind it is the new Pru and to the right, the Aon Center.

The Aon Center has a gleaming white appearance that comes from its granite cladding. It used to have a Carrara marble cladding but that cladding mysteriously began to curl and then pop off -- rather like it wanted to compete with the John Hancock Tower in Boston which used to pop windows and shower passers by in shards of glass. Disconcerting, to say the least. They had to take the marble off and replace it with North Carolina granite. The tour guide on the boat claimed that the recladding cost more than the original cost of the building (but a reader says, while exorbitant, it was only half the orginal cost of the whole building). She made some outrageous gaffs during the trip so this may not be correct.

Viewing a building from a distance so you can take in the whole structure and its setting in one glance is but one way to absorb a building's presence. Another is to select out details, elements, components and to view the Aon Center. The neat, geometric design is pleasing to the eye.

Yet another way to view a building is in the eyes of another building. Here is reflection of the Pru Buildings (right) and a portion of the Aon Center (left) in the reflective glass of the back of the Art Institute. Love those reflections.

Here is a reflection of the Aon Center where the distortion of the top is extreme. Fascinating.