The Nation's Largest Retailer wanted the largest headquarters in the nation, and they got it -- in spades. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the 110-story, anodized aluminum-clad Sears Tower occupies three acres in the West Loop. The bundled-tube construction allowed for more windows and more corner offices per square foot. The total area within the Tower is 4.4 million square feet; the Sky Deck on the 103rd floor offers tremendous views and welcomes more than 1 million visitors yearly. When SOM realized that their design was only ten stories short of what was supposed to be the record-breaking height of the World Trade Center then under construction (1,368 feet), they broke the record, coming in at 1,454 feet. The move of Sears and Roebuck employees into the Tower was the biggest corporate move in American history. In the late 1980s Sears and Roebuck left the building, but it continues to thrive, a timeless monument to American ingenuity.

Shamus Award–winning author Michael Sears brings Queens, New York, to literary life in this crime series debut featuring a somewhat seedy lawyer with a heart of gold (or at least gold plate). Queens, New York—the most diverse place on earth. Native son Ted Molloy knows these streets like the back of his hand. Ted was once a high-powered Manhattan lawyer, but after a spectacular fall from grace, he has found himself back on his home turf, scraping by as a foreclosure profiteer. It’s a grubby business, but a safe one—until Ted’s case sourcer, a mostly reformed small-time conman named Richie Rubiano, turns up murdered shortly after tipping Ted off to an improbably lucrative lead. With Richie’s widow on his back and shadows of the past popping up at every turn, Ted realizes he’s gotten himself embroiled in a murder investigation. His quest for the truth will take him all over Queens, plunging him into the machinations of greedy developers, mobsters, enraged activists, old litigator foes and old-school New York City operators.

Building Chicago presents the best of this country’s first city of architecture. Colloquially known as America’s "second city," Chicago is widely regarded as this country’s crown jewel when it comes to architecture. The roster of masters who have helped shape its skyline and streetscape stands as a who’s who of the architectural pantheon from the last two hundred years, from Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, and Frank Lloyd Wright to Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry. Lavishly illustrated, this volume compellingly displays the masterworks of Chicago architecture—from the Chicago Tribune Tower (1925) and the Rookery (1888) by Burnham & Root to the Trump International Hotel and Tower (2008) by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the residential skyscraper Aqua (2009) by Jeanne Gang. It features the city’s beloved masterpieces by Wright, including the Robie House, such milestones as the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Building, Gehry’s Pritzker Bandshell, as well as a wealth of little-known treasures from Chicago’s early days culled from the vast collection of the Chicago History Museum.

"Architectural photographer Ezra Stoller provides a unique record of the building both during its construction and after its completion. His photographs of workmen casually moving about the nascent structure recall Lewis Hine's classic portraits of the Empire State Building and provide a stark contrast to his images of the finished project, with its luxurious apartments and commercial spaces." "An introduction by Yasmin Sabina Khan, the daughter of the building's celebrated engineer, provides a behind-the-scenes account of the design, construction, and reception of this landmark of modern architecture and engineering."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Soaring high into the sky, giants of glass, metal, steel, and mortar revolutionized urban architecture in the twentieth century. From classics (the Empire State Building) to more recent constructions such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, nearly fifty world-class skyscrapers--including the World Trade Center--are celebrated in a vertical volume that emulates its subject matter. Led by an expert on architecture and urban development, travel around the world from Hong Kong to Moscow, and dozens of destinations in between to pay tribute to such imposing structures as San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid, Riyadh's Kingdom Center, Tokyo's Town Hall, Paris's Tour de Montparnasse, and Frankfurt's Messe Turm. Photographed in crisp color, these architectural icons are captured from every angle: distant shots establish stature within a skyline; breathtaking views from the ground skyward emphasize the awesome height; and artistic close-up shots reveal an elegant, abstract, geometric beauty. Take your place on the observation deck of the Sears Tower. Marvel at the Rialto Towers in Melbourne. Watch as death-defying workers navigate beams high above the city to construct these modern wonders. Imagine what skyscrapers of the future might be like. From the comfort of your armchair, you'll enjoy an unsupassed view.

Offers encouragemet to amateur writers who want to support themselves by writing. Describes the process from idea, research, query letters, and proposals to agents, contract negotiations, and promotion.

This annotated bibliography of more than 500 recommended books meets the needs of teachers and librarians for reading materials for young adults for whom English is a second language. Laura McCaffery, who has many years of experience with collection development of ESL materials for young adults, has selected the best books on a variety of topics to meet curriculum and personal interest needs of young adults. Most of the books selected were published between 1992 and 1998. The bibliography is organized by topic: adventure, mystery, and suspense; biographies; career, workplace, life skills, and parenting; folktales, myths, poetry, and classics; ethnic diversity; history and geography; nature and science; and sports. Indexes by author, subject, title, and ethnic group make searching easy. Mainstreamed ESL students can use these books to better understand and make use of regular textbooks. Special ESL classes can use the recommended books as part of regular instruction. Most of the books recommended are for the intermediate or advanced beginner reading level in English, but some very easy books are also included. Most of the books are suitable for all learners from grades five through adult. Each entry contains a complete bibliographical citation, Fry Reading Level, Interest Level, Library of Congress subjects for cataloging, and a 50 to 200 word annotation describing the book and how it can be used by the librarian or teacher who is working with patrons or students. A list of distributors of print and nonprint ESL materials completes the work.