The desk was intended to bring the mid-century modern lobby into the present "subtly" without overshadowing the original 1950s aesthetic.
The Inland Steel Building, located at in Chicago, is a pioneer of the International Style. Capital Properties purchased the building in the mid-2000s and sought Gehry’s expertise to modernize the space. Rather than redesigning it, Gehry worked closely with the original firm, SOM, to ensure the updates respected the building's status as a historic monument. Frank Gehry Helps Preserve Inland Steel Building in Chicago frank gehry and capital properties
In 2010, Frank Gehry collaborated with to revitalize the lobby of Chicago’s landmark Inland Steel Building . While Gehry is often celebrated for his own "Capital-A Architecture," this project was a subtle act of stewardship, where he acted as an advocate for the original design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) rather than imposing his own signature sculptural style. The Intervention: A Fractured Glass Desk The desk was intended to bring the mid-century
Because of the desk's significant weight, the project required steel reinforcements to be installed beneath the lobby floor to support the piece. Rather than redesigning it, Gehry worked closely with
Gehry’s primary physical contribution to the project was a custom-designed made of fractured cast glass .