Acclaimed architect Helmut Jahn being remembered by local architects for his impact

Famed architect Helmut Jahn is being remembered by local architects for the impact he made on the Chicago-area landscape.

The St. Charles resident, who designed the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, the futuristic looking United Airlines terminal at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and numerous other projects, was killed May 8 in a bicycle crash in Campton Hills after he failed to stop at a stop sign and was hit by two vehicles. It is not known why he failed to stop.

Jahn was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the Campton Hills Police Department. He was 81.

Nick Manheim, owner of St. Charles-based Manheim Architecture, once interviewed for a job at Jahn’s firm.

“I was always impressed with his work,” Manheim said. “If you lived in the Chicago area and you’re an architect, you knew who he was.”

Manheim said he liked that Jahn’s work was so diverse.

“Sometimes architects get caught up in a style,” Manheim said. “He kind of bucked that trend a little bit. He kind of just did things that, to me, he liked and met with the client’s goals and everything.”

Manheim lauded the United Airlines terminal for being “unique and different.”

“It takes you away for a moment because I think sometimes you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of travel,” Manheim said. “You are almost forced to kind of stop and enjoy it for a few minutes.”

Former St. Charles architect Mike Dixon, who now lives in Florida, also admired Jahn’s work.

“While the Thompson Center building may be controversial, Helmut’s work is an inspiration,” Dixon said in an email. “In the mid ’80s, I was an artist in residence with a program of the Illinois Arts Council and took students from Downers Grove North and South High Schools on tours of Jahn’s State of Illinois Center [the Thompson Center]. Even in the Peace Corps when I did PowerPoint presentations on “American Architecture from One American Architect’s Point of View,” I always included some views of the State of Illinois Center. The work always got a ‘wow’ response from the college students in Ukraine, Armenia and Kosovo. Some day the history of mid-century modern architecture will be written and the State of Illinois Center in Chicago will be highlighted. Jahn’s buildings truly are a product of their time … and truly inspirational work.”

This year, Landmarks Illinois named the James R. Thompson Center one of the most endangered historic places in Illinois.

“The state-owned and neglected 1985 Helmut Jahn-designed building in the heart of Chicago’s Loop is the best-known icon of post-modern architecture in Illinois, but it is being prepared for sale as a redevelopment site and should be marketed as a reuse opportunity,” the statewide nonprofit organization said recently in announcing this year’s list. “This is the fourth year since 2017 that Landmarks Illinois has included this site on its most endangered historic places in Illinois.”

In a statement, Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois, said that Jahn “was a groundbreaking designer and his charismatic, lively spirit will be missed.”

“Our sympathies go out to his family, friends and colleagues,” McDonald said. “Landmarks Illinois was proud to partner with Jahn for many years on reimagining a creative and sustainable reuse of his one-of-a-kind masterpiece, the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. We have called attention to the threatened, post modern building on our Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois four times since 2017, most recently on our 2021 “Most Endangered” list published just last week. Landmarks Illinois also commissioned the building’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, which is currently under review with the state historic preservation office. We are as committed as ever to advocating for rehabilitation and reuse of the Thompson Center to honor Jahn’s legacy and vision and what we view as one of the most iconic post modern designs in the nation. We also believe there are many talented architects and developers who would be eager to join us in these efforts and carry out Jahn’s wishes for retaining the iconic building in any future redevelopment of the property.”

Jahn renovated Seven Oaks Farm near St. Charles, which is owned by his wife, Deborah Jahn. Seven Oaks Farm trains and breeds horses. The facility includes a farmhouse that was built circa 1863.

About 3:29 p.m. May 8, officers from the Campton Hills Police Department responded to the crash at Burlington and Old Lafox roads. The driver of one of the vehicles was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva with injuries that were not life-threatening, the release stated.

Another driver and his passenger were not injured, the release stated.

Jahn was riding his bicycle north on Old Lafox Road approaching Burlington Road and failed to stop at the posted stop sign, the release stated.