Bruce Graham
Born in Bogota, Colombia of American Parents
Practices in the USA
1925 -

Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois
© Mary Ann Sullivan Digital Imaging Project

Bruce Graham is considered one of America's leading designers of high-rise buildings. Although he never studied with Mies van der Rohe, he has been 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 and Merrill for most of his career. He received his architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1948, and worked briefly for the firm of Holabird and Roche.

Major Works:

Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois, 1974 to 1976

First Wisconsin Plaza, Madison, Wisconsin, 1974

John Hancock Center, Chicago, Illinois, 1970