The desk was intended to bring the mid-century modern lobby into the present "subtly" without overshadowing the original 1950s aesthetic.
Gehry’s primary physical contribution to the project was a custom-designed made of fractured cast glass . frank gehry and capital properties
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 The desk was intended to bring the mid-century
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 Capital Properties purchased the building in the mid-2000s
Because of the desk's significant weight, the project required steel reinforcements to be installed beneath the lobby floor to support the piece.