Local Legends Program Spotlights Tall Building Designer

The Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Historical Society will honor Adrian Smith as its 2011 Local Legend recipient on Oct. 29 at the in Lake Forest.

The event will begin at 4 p.m.

Smith will provide insights as one of the leading experts in skyscraper design. Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a man about to build the world’s tallest building? How do you create an elegant, uber tall structure when dealing with constraints such as wind and multiple elevator waiting times?

Lake Forest resident Adrian Smith has solved those problems and just been awarded the contract to build the tallest structure on earth, to be called Kingdom Tower, in the waterfront town of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

This structure is planned to stand at least one kilometer tall, or 3,280 feet, more than twice the size of Chicago’s Willis Tower, the tallest building in the United States.

Smith’s largest completed building to date is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai which stands at 2,717 feet.

This one-on-one interview, led by Chicago’s renowned journalist Bill Kurtis, takes place in an intimate setting that encourages the sharing of anecdotal stories and behind-the-scenes plans not readily available in standard biographies.

Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased by calling the at (847) 234-5253, or visiting www.lflbhistory.org.

Doors will open at 3 p.m. and seating is on a first come, first serve basis. A wine and cheese reception will follow the program.

Proceeds benefit the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society.

• Also read about last year's Local Legend: Lovell, Kurtis Take Gorton Audience on Apollo 13 Mission