The John Hancock Project

(CBS News 2 Chicago, Nov. 2001-Dec. 2002)

 

Hey yall, I am putting this story up cause I helped in the process back in 2001. (all the red text is mine)

 

2002-11-14

 

 

 John Hancock Center to replace antenna

Chicago:  Engineers are retrofitting one of the two massive antennas, which reach skyward almost 350 feet from a perch atop the 1,127-foot tall John Hancock Center in Chicago. The new antenna will accommodate digital broadcast equipment and provide additional capacity for the local CBS affiliate WBBM. When completed the antenna will reach slightly higher than its counterpart, and both structures will be painted completely white. Chicagoans have noticed over the past few months the east antenna has been almost completely dismantled. The retrofit should be finished by the end of this year according to a column in Red Streak, a new Chicago daily newspaper published by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

 

Click on John Hancock Center in Chicago for more information.

 


 

These are both Pictures of the John Hancock Building In Chicago. I was helping WBBM-TV (CBS News 2 Chicago) With the Installation of the newer (and bigger) antennas for their broadcasting in November of 2001.

 

CBS 2 Chicago (Reception Article)

In the earliest days of TV, the only sources of programming were the local TV stations. These broadcasters set up transmitters on tall towers or skyscrapers, and sent their signals through the air, to your TV set. Many viewers continue to receive their TV signals in this way. Channel 2 operates a transmitter facility on the John Hancock Center for both analog and digital TV.

 

Random Facts* (more through Emporis Research)

 

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The eastern antenna was elevated to its full height on Thursday, December 5th, 2002. The top of the antenna now reaches just higher than the roofline of the Sears Tower across town.

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This was the first trussed-tube skyscraper ever built. The idea was developed by Fazlur Khan, based on a project of Illinois Institute of Technology graduate student Mikio Sasaki.

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In order to fit the structural frame, the floors at the top of each X have extra-high ceilings (adding significantly to their property value).

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Remodeled in 1995, the lobby features rich travertine marble and textured limestone surfaces.

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The five X's on each side go from floors 2-20, 21-37, 38-55, 56-74, and 75-91. A half-X extends from 92 to 97.

 

News

 

 

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John Hancock Center to replace antenna (2002-11-14)

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Scaffolding falls from Hancock in Chic.. (2002-03-09)

 

2002-03-09

Reported by Marshall Gerometta

 

 

 

News: Scaffolding falls from Hancock in Chicago, killing 3 on street

Chicago:  Three people were killed and four others critically injured today after scaffolding fell 43 stories at the 100-story John Hancock Center in Chicago. The scaffolding broke loose after being torn loose by 60 mph wind gusts crushing several cars. The area around the building was blocked off while glass and debris continued to fall.

 

 

Click on John Hancock Center in Chicago for more information.

 

 

I remember that day, My dad was called into work immediately for the scaffolding accident. Oddly enough, This is when security spiked for the Hancock, instead of after 9/11.  My dad had an office on the 15th Floor, we could see damage across the street. This building looks really cool, and is, because there are some things you will never know about the secrets it holds, and the expertise of the builders and engineers.

 

Pics:

Two Cars Crushed by the scaffolding that was blown of the Hancock by 60+ Miles Per hour Wind Gusts

 

Firefighters helping a victim who is trapted in their car.

 

 

Damage left on the building (boarded windows and some of the scaffolding still hanging from the side of the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 DSD Press