Perhaps because of the city's notorious ill winds, Chicago architects have long kept its structures to lowly heights of 500 and 600 ft. while New York handily took the first eight places in the world's skyscrapers sweepstakes. But now Chicago has entered the race. Last week the John Hancock Insurance Co. announced plans to build a 100-story, 1,100-ft. skyscraper that, when completed in 1968, will be the world's second tallest building,* topped only by Manhattan's 1,250-ft. Empire State Building.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Hancock Center will taper to less than half-size at the top, stand on splayed steel legs,...
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