Never Built Many tall buildings are proposed, only a small fraction ever become reality. These are some of the projects that didn't make it. The Illinois was radical, but height wasn't the only reason. The Illinois forever broke the mold and gave architects the freedom to try more daring designs. While many dreams on paper end up on the trivia pages of history, Wright's vision remains relevant with each passing year.
Designers continue to dream and reach for the mile-high standard.
Y1.6 Trillion Japanese Yen, this structure would house a resident population of some 50-thousand people. It would have taken 10 years to build the tower, four years for engineering and preparation and six for actual construction. Vibration control technology would protect the tower from seismic shock and wind vibration. At 181 stories, this structure would not only have been 850 feet taller than the Sears Tower, it would have been a second-generation Sears. Plans called for offices, a hotel, convention facilities, theatres, condominiums, and a rooftop restaurant.