Been to Chicago before the past week? If you answered yes, then you’ve likely seen this building:
Do you remember what this beautiful, well-designed piece of architecture is? Well, now you won’t be allowed to forget. Why, you ask? Remember when you were in school and your mom wrote your name inside your clothing or your jacket or your backpack? Well, the owner of this building has “written” his name on his building, like all his others.
T-R-U-M-P
Yes, that’s right. It’s the Trump Tower in Chicago!
And many Chicagoans are in an uproar about it. Why? Because we are passionate about our architecture. And the more embedded into our skyline, the more passionate we get.
There seem to be two pools of argument on this building’s new LED label, the one against it is rather polarizing and the one for it seems to be only in the mind of the owner. Donald Trump seems to have shrugged off any nay-sayers in the home he built a skyline-topper in. (Read Article)
What are my thoughts about it?
It would be nice if Mr. Trump, a building mogul himself, would show some empathy and respect for the fact that Chicagoans are passionate about their buildings rather than being so crass. It would also have been nice, professional and just plain good sense to have consulted with the building’s original architect. Going one step further, knowing he puts his name on all his buildings, why not have included it in the original design plans?
At first, I was with the nay-sayers. Then, reality set in and I realized this is neither the first nor the last Chicago building to have an ugly sign deface its host’s facade. This is a practice that dates back to the city’s early days. I think the reason I, and possibly others, are upset about this sign defacing the Trump Tower is that the sign wasn’t installed at the building’s completion (similar to The Drake) showing the building and sign go hand-in-hand. We’ve been allowed a few years to become accustomed-to, accept and even appreciate this building nestled in the midst of our skyline, unadulterated.
Do I like it? Eh. Not really. There could have been better choices for the typeface and white background. I haven’t yet seen it ‘lit up’ at night and not sure I’m looking forward to that. All in all, it’s not as bad as expected and could be better.
The silver lining? It’s mounted on the lower levels of the building and cannot be seen once you leave the Chicago River’s main branch area. Even better, it cannot be seen in the skyline photos.
So cherish your pre-labeled photos of this wonderful, reflective piece of architecture. It’s still a photographically interesting building that we will explore on a Tour Through A Lens tour.
