875 North Michigan Avenue, Skyscraper in Magnificent Mile, Chicago, United States.
The tower 875 North Michigan Avenue rises to 344 meters and displays a diagonal cross-braced steel framework in aluminum across its exterior, distributing loads over 100 floors. Inside, apartments occupy the upper stories, offices fill the mid-level areas, and retail spaces line the base.
Completion took place in 1969 and delivered the tallest residential building in the world until other projects claimed that rank. Architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan developed the load-bearing system with visible diagonal bracing as a response to wind forces at great height.
The name changed several times between John Hancock Center and the current address designation, yet locals continue to use both names in everyday conversation. Visitors come mainly for the observation platform, while the upper floors have served for decades as residential addresses with views across the lake.
Access to the observation level on the 94th floor goes through separate elevators, and queues can grow longer during peak times. Anyone heading upward should come in clear weather, as fog and clouds limit visibility sharply.
A supermarket sits on the 44th floor and supplies residents of the upper stories with groceries without requiring them to leave the building. This arrangement arose from the desire to make daily life at great height as comfortable as possible.
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