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Aon Center
[Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Daniel Kieköwer   [Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Daniel Kieköwer   [Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Paul Toczynski   [Enlarge] [Purchase] (c) Daniel Kieköwer   Photo Compilation Click here to see more files.		You are using Emporis.com and all data marked with * and additional tools are accessible through content/tools offered by Emporis.   Do you have an update for the content on this page? [Write to Emporis.com] [How to enter information] Identification Official name Aon Center Alternative names * Emporis Building Number 116756   Location Address * Bordering street #1 East Lake Street Bordering street #2 East Randolph Street Bordering street #3 North Columbus Drive Bordering street #4 North Stetson Avenue Postcode * Exact Latitude * Exact Longitude * Location Map (POI) * Zone New Eastside Neighborhood Loop District Downtown City Chicago State Illinois Country U.S.A.   Technical Data Height (struct.) 346 m 1,136 ft Height (roof) * Height (main roof) * Length (max) * Width (max) * Floors (OG) 83 Floors (UG) * Construction start * Construction end 1973 GFA * UFA * Height Floor-to-floor * Parking places *   Building in General Type of construction skyscraper Architectural style * Status completed Facts - The "Sounding Sculpture" by Harry Bertoia is found in the east and west plazas. Its metal rods make soft music in the wind. The sculpture was originally a single ensemble in front of the building. - From 1990 to 1992 the building's 43,000 marble cladding panels were replaced by two-inch-thick Mt. Airy granite panels at a cost of about $80 million. - Tallest building in Chicago from 1973 to 1974; surpassed by the Sears Tower. - A sunken plaza leads to the main entrance off East Randolph Street. Before a postmodernization in the 1990's the plaza was a secluded space with two groves of locust trees flanking a reflecting pool with the Bertoia sculpture. - Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. acquired Aon Center from The Blackstone Group for $475 million during the week ending May 10th 2003. - During the groundbreaking ceremony on April 6, 1970, a helicopter hovered 1,136 feet (346 m) over the site to demonstrate how tall the building would be. - Aon Center is the only regular "box-shaped" building in the world over 300 meters tall. - This is the tallest building in the world without any major antennae, spires, or finials at the top. - Each side of the building has 15 vertical bands of black windows, recessed between triangular white piers. - The Standard Oil Company built this tower to replace its old headquarters on South Michigan Avenue, now known as the Michigan Avenue Lofts. - This is the tallest building in the United States ever to change its name. It was originally called the Standard Oil Building (nicknamed "Big Stan"), and later the Amoco Building. - Marble removed from the cladding of the building was crushed and used as decorative stone surrounding the Amoco refinery in Whiting, Indiana. The project was referred to as the "Whiting Beautification Project". Companies involved in this Building* Design architect: Edward Durell Stone & Associates , Perkins & Will Other companies: Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., Standard Oil Company of Indiana, Standard Oil Company of Indiana, Turner Construction Company, Perkins & Will, Jacobs/Ryan Associates, STS, Midland Engineering, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., Commercial Light Company, Otis Elevator Co., Sager Sealant Corporation, U.S. Steel Corporation, American Bridge Company.