#nbc tower

Skyscraper Appreciation Day 

Skyscraper Appreciation Day is the birthday of the famous architect William Van Alen, who is the genius behind the construction of the Chrysler Building, which is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks.

Skyscraper Appreciation Day was initiated and founded by Dr. Tom Stevens. Interestingly, it was created so that the general public could admire the structural and architectural brilliance of skyscrapers. Furthermore, it also celebrates the triumph of reason and man’s ability to construct industrial masterpieces.

You can celebrate Skyscraper Appreciation Day by undertaking one of the following activities:

Research the topic of skyscrapers on the internet and compile a detailed factfile.

Venture to a skyscraper close to where you live and marvel at its architectural beauty.

Sort through your favourite skyscraper photos and add them to the “Photos” section of the Skyscrpaer Appreciation Day Facebook page.

Have skyscraper themed day where you and your friends dress up as famous skyscrapers from around the world.

Clouds (No. 108)

Lincoln Park, Chicago (five pics)

NBC Tower, Chicago

Tribune Tower, Chicago

Smiley Water Tower, Atlanta IL

Grace Lutheran Church, Springfield IL

NBC Tower Chicago Art Deco Facade by David Oppenheimer NBC Tower in Chicago, with the Art Deco-influenced postmodern facade and stepped upper tower of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s office skyscraper at 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive. The Cityfront Plaza landmark houses NBC Chicago and WMAQ-TV near the Magnificent Mile and Chicago River – © 2026 David Oppenheimer – Performance Impressions photography archives 

Chicago fine art photography prints: https://1-performance-impressions.pixels.com/collections/chicago

 Image licensing and art gallery requests: 

Created in 2005 by the Union International des Architects (UIA), World Architecture Day is a day to show appreciation for the work architects do and to celebrate some of the great global architectural works.

Architecture is incredibly important and architects have the potential to shape all of our lives through their hard work. In addition, architecture plays an essential role in planning for the future, sustaining population growth and tackling a number of social problems.

Events are held in different locations every year, bringing architects, engineers, planners and developers together to showcase their work, discuss future projects, debate current issues and plan new business ventures. So if you work in the industry, why not go along and join in?

For those who do not work within the field of architecture, simply take a few moments out of your day to appreciate the architectural feats that you usually take for granted during your everyday life.

NBC Tower, Chicago

The NBC Tower is an office tower on the Near North Side of Chicago, located at 454 North Columbus Drive (455 North Cityfront Plaza is also used as a vanity address for the building) in downtown Chicago's Magnificent Mile area. Completed in 1989, the 37-story building reaches a height of 627 feet (191 m). 

The design, by Adrian D. Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is considered one of the finest reproductions of the Art Deco style. It was inspired by 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, NBC's headquarters. The tower is further enhanced by the use of limestone piers and recessed tinted glass with granite spandrels. The building takes additional cues from the nearby landmark Tribune Tower with the use of flying buttresses. A 130 ft (40 m) broadcast tower and spire tops the skyscraper. WMAQ and WSNS have STL and satellite facilities on the roof; the STLs link to WMAQ and WSNS's transmitter facilities atop the Willis Tower. WMAQ radio/WSCR studios and STL were located in the building until 2006 when they relocated to Two Prudential Plaza.

The building, located in the Cityfront Plaza area, contains 850,000 sq ft (79,000 m2) of space and three floors of underground parking with 261 spaces. Connected to the main tower is a four-story radio and television broadcasting facility where popular shows such as Judge Mathis, Steve Harvey and WSNS's newscasts and WMAQ's newscasts are currently taped, and was the former recording facility for The Jerry Springer Show and The Steve Wilkos Show before their tax credit-influenced move to Stamford, Connecticut in 2009. It was also home to the 90's syndicated improv/sketch show Kwik Witz, and The Jenny Jones Show until its cancellation in 2003.

NBC Tower, Chicago