Bruce Graham, architect behind nation's tallest building, dies at 84 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/midwest/view/20100309bruce_graham_architect_behind_nations_tallest_building_dies_at_84/srvc=home&position=recent Legendary Architect Bruce J. Graham Dies http://www.som.com/content.cfm/030810_legendary_architect_bruce_j_graham_dies Chicago Tribune Profile: Bruce Graham [pdf] http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/files/brucegrahamstory.pdf Biography and oral history: Bruce Graham http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/research/specialcollections/oralhistories/graham.html Willis Tower http://www.willistower.com/ Chicago Landmarks http://egov.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/ American architects who came of age professionally after World War II had much to grapple with as they started a career. The presence and legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright loomed large on the horizon, and there was also a greater movement towards what is known as Modernism. Architect Bruce Graham was one of these post-war masters, and he passed away this past Saturday at his home in Hobe Sound, Florida. Graham was born in Bogotá, Columbia and grew up in Puerto Rico. After serving in the US Navy during World War II he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1948. He joined the prodigious firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), and some of his notable works during the next three decades included the Inland Steel Building, the John Hancock Tower, and the Sears (Willis) Tower. Graham extended the 19th century ideal of the "Chicago School of Architecture", as his work reflected his belief that buildings should reflect their cities and that they should also stand the test of time. The first link will take visitors to an obituary of Graham which originally appeared in the Chicago Tribune this Tuesday. The second link leads to an official press release from SOM that talks about Graham's work at the firm and his many civic contributions to Chicago. Moving on, the third link leads to an excellent profile of Graham written by Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn back in 1981. The fourth link leads to a biography of Graham and a very extensive interview which was conducted by the Art Institute of Chicago. The fifth link leads to the official homepage of the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower when it was completed in 1973. The last link leads to the homepage of the Chicago Landmarks Commission, which contains information about all of the protected buildings and districts in the Windy City.