Editing John Hancock Center (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:John Hancock Center, Chicago, Illinois. Exterior. Night view (1974).jpg|thumb|John Hancock Center in 1974]]
[[File:John Hancock Center 2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[X-bracing]] on the tower's façade]]

One of the most famous buildings of the [[High-tech architecture|structural expressionist]] style, the skyscraper's distinctive [[X-bracing|X-braced]] exterior shows that the structure's skin is part of its "[[tube (structure)|tubular system]]". This is one of the engineering techniques which the designers used to achieve a record height; the [[tube (structure)|tubular system]] is the structure that keeps the building upright during wind and earthquake loads. This X-bracing allows for both higher performance from tall structures and the ability to open up the inside floorplan. Such original features have allowed 875 North Michigan Avenue to become an architectural icon. It was pioneered by Bangladeshi-American structural civil engineer [[Fazlur Khan]] and chief architect [[Bruce Graham]].

The interior was remodeled in 1995, adding to the lobby [[travertine]], black granite, and textured [[limestone]] surfaces. The elliptical-shaped plaza outside the building serves as a public oasis with seasonal plantings and a 12-foot (3.7&nbsp;m) waterfall. A band of white lights at the top of the building is visible all over Chicago at night, and changes colors for different events. For example, at Christmas time the colors are green and red. When a Chicago-area sports team goes far in the playoffs, the colors are changed to match that team's colors.

The building is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. It has won various awards for its distinctive style, including the Distinguished Architects [[Twenty-five Year Award]] from the [[American Institute of Architects]] in May 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twenty Five Year Award Recipients|url=http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/AIAS075247|publisher=American Institute of Architects|access-date=July 3, 2013|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119035829/http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/AIAS075247|url-status=dead}}</ref> In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, the John Hancock Center was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldinger|first=Mike|title=The proud history of architecture in Illinois|url=https://springfieldbusinessjournal.com/2018/01/the-proud-history-of-architecture-in-illinois/|access-date=January 30, 2018|newspaper=Springfield Business Journal|date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> by the [[American Institute of Architects]] Illinois component (AIA Illinois) and was recognized by USA Today Travel magazine, as one of AIA Illinois' selections for Illinois 25 Must See Places.<ref>{{cite news|title=25 Must See Buildings in Illinois|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2017/08/09/25-must-see-buildings-illinois/551011001/|access-date=January 30, 2018|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 9, 2017}}</ref>

The building is only partially protected by a fire sprinkler system,<ref>John Hancock Center [http://www.johnhancockcenter.info/pdf/contractors.pdf "Contractor & Vendor Rules and Regulations, June 2013"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053826/http://www.johnhancockcenter.info/pdf/contractors.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> as the residential floors do not have sprinklers.<ref>Fire Sprinkler Times [http://www.firesprinklerassocnewsletters.org/index.php/residential-floors-of-john-hancock-center-not-protected-with-fire-sprinklers-2/ "Residential Floors of John Hancock Center Not Protected With Fire Sprinklers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824010341/http://www.firesprinklerassocnewsletters.org/index.php/residential-floors-of-john-hancock-center-not-protected-with-fire-sprinklers-2/ |date=August 24, 2017 }}</ref> Including its antennas, the building has a height of {{convert|1500|ft|m|0}}, making it the thirty-third tallest building in the world when measured to pinnacle height.<ref name="dominate">{{Cite news |title=Asian Skyscrapers Dominate A New List Of The World's Fastest Elevators |language=en |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-8-fastest-elevators-in-the-world-2013-1 |access-date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>