Bruce Graham (1925 – 2010)
A leading architect for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Bruce Graham transformed Chicago’s skyline, designing some of the City’s most famous skyscrapers.
Bruce Graham was considered one of America’s leading designers of high-rise buildings. Although he never studied with Mies van der Rohe, he was instrumental in applying “Miesian” ideas to Chicago’s skyscrapers. Most significantly, Graham used the tubular frame principle for several important buildings.
After the 1970s, America began to look less favorably on stark architecture in the Mies van der Rohe style. Graham’s designs became more complex with greater detail.
Bruce Graham has served as a general partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) for most of his career. In addition to his famous skyscrapers, Bruce Graham helped create the 1973 urban plan for Chicago.
Notable Buildings:
1974 to 1976: Willis Tower (Originally the Sears Tower), Chicago, Illinois
1974: First Wisconsin Plaza, Madison, Wisconsin
1970: John Hancock Center, Chicago, Illinois.
