Area allocation model for Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, USA, by Adrian Smith, design partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), 2001 thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Area allocation model for Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, USA, by Adrian Smith, design partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), 2001

Architectural Model
2010
Artist/Maker
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Adrian Smith (architect)

The property-developer Donald Trump selected Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to design the Trump International Hotel and Tower in 2001. Construction began on the 98-storey building in 2005, and completion was in 2009.

The model was made late in the design stage. Made of clear and coloured perspex, each sheet representing a storey, the model is thus colour-coded as to area allocation: clear, dark blue, white, blue, pink and green.

Object details

Object type
Architectural model
TitleArea allocation model for Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, USA, by Adrian Smith, design partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), 2001 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
plexiglass
Brief description
Area allocation model for Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, USA, by Adrian Smith, design partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), 2001
Dimensions
  • Width: 180mm
  • Height: 650mm
  • Depth: 90mm
Gallery label
(2021)
The race ever-upward

The ability to build skywards redefined urban architecture in the 20th century. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is a major architecture firm with some of the world’s tallest buildings to its name, including the 423-metre-tall Chicago skyscraper built for the Trump Organization. In 2013, engineering company KONE developed a carbon fibre rope enabling lifts to travel uninterrupted for 1000 metres, doubling what was previously attainable. Although the new material innovation makes the next generation of super-tall towers possible, careful design consideration needs to be given to the urban enivronment they create, as seen here in the Russian poster.

Model for 98-storey building
Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, 2001
Designed by Adrian Smith for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, USA
Stacked acrylic
Given by Adrian Smith
Museum no. CD.25-2017

Carbon fibre rope
UltraRope, 2014
Designed and manufactured by KONE, Finland
Polymer-coated carbon fibre
Given by KONE Corporation
Museum no. CD.25:1 to 4-2014

Russian poster calling out changes to the urban environment
‘We are Surrounded Less and Less by Nature and More and More by Buildings’ (translated title), 1989
Designed by J. Zlatopolsky
Issued by Plakat, Russia
Colour offset lithography on paper
Museum no. E.2053-1991

The object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
Credit line
Given by Adrian Smith
Summary
The property-developer Donald Trump selected Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to design the Trump International Hotel and Tower in 2001. Construction began on the 98-storey building in 2005, and completion was in 2009.

The model was made late in the design stage. Made of clear and coloured perspex, each sheet representing a storey, the model is thus colour-coded as to area allocation: clear, dark blue, white, blue, pink and green.
Collection
Design, Architecture and Digital Department
Accession number
CD.25-2017

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Record createdApril 11, 2017
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1389347/area-allocation-model-for-trump-architectural-model-adrian-smith/
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