Located in the center of Los Angeles, this concert hall is a step down or two from that of Sydney’s Opera house. It has one of the most spectacular looks to a building that I have seen. Like my previous blog I have actually never set foot in the hall. I also have actually never seen it with my own eyes either. I chose the building because I have always found the physical structure of the building quite fascinating. It seems like every part of it is loose from the rest and there is no solid base. I hope one day I could visit and maybe even see some sort of show there.

I was 11 years old when I first fully visited Chicago instead of just passing through like my family always did on our way to Michigan. We walked the streets and saw the sights and it was exciting. Then my uncle said we had to see the Willis Tower and since I was 11 and in a strange city with an upsettingly large crime rate, I didn’t object. We got to the building and I could instantly tell it was the tallest of any other in Chicago. The building looked like it was stacked on top of itself like Legos as far up as the eye can see. I assume the interior lobby was underwhelming because I don’t remember it in the slightest, however that wasn’t the memorable part. We took an elevator that climbed to the 103rd floor as my ears popped from the changing pressure as I reached higher and higher elevations. Then the doors opened and there I was. A room of glass that clearly emphasized just how elevated I really was. I could see the entirety of the city from the other side of Lake Michigan to the next state over (maybe a bit of an overdramatization) but the view felt infinite. As I reached the windows, I noticed one of the coolest things that still has me astonished to this day. There were these glass boxes that were attached to the edge of the building but extended beyond the building itself, this meant that when you stepped out onto the glass box, you could see not only straight out in front of you including left and right, but you could look straight up, and the best part, straight down. If you have ever been 103 stories up and been able to look straight down, you would know that it’s nerve-racking but easily the most thrilling sight you could imagine. Just a few inches of glass between you and a very very long fall. I’ll always remember that building and I especially look forward to going back someday

This blog is related to the Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam, which has influenced me in a positive manner. This museum has meaning to me because my mother’s side of the family is from the Netherlands, and they would frequently take me here when I would visit in the summer or over a school break.

This meaning affected me in a way that it showed me both a different type of architecture, which the building has, and a different type of culture within the architecture at a very young age. The encounter was one in that I visited it and explored it slowly, as I also took in the works of art inside the building along with the architecture of the building itself. My thoughts and feelings towards it at the time were astonishment because it was a very new style of architecture to me.

The Devon Tower is easily the tallest building in Oklahoma City, and one of the tallest buildings in the Midwest.  It dominates OKC’s skyline.  Having grown up in OKC my entire life, I have been here long enough to see the building planned and built.  I was lucky enough to participate in many events in this building during high school.  I was a part of an Oklahoma City Teen Board for two years, and we would have our meeting in downtown OKC and in the base of the tower.  The tower holds memories for me because of this.  I also believe that the tower was part of the reason so much money and new businesses came to the OKC area, helping it prosper and become alive again.  Even if the tower was not the cause of this boom, it was certainly a part of it.  For that reason, this building hold economic and cultural significance for the city of Oklahoma City.

Walker Tower is one of the dormitories on the University of Oklahoma’s Campus in Norman.  The building has 12 floors and a basement.  Most of the building is comprised of dorm rooms, but there is also an area for laundry in the basement, and a convenient store in the lobby.  I lived in Walker Tower during my Freshman year, and the building hold more memories than I could even begin to explain.  I had so many good times in this building and I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.  Interestingly, my dad also lived in this dormitory when he went to OU many years ago.  I suspect the building will not last much longer, as it has had many problems with black mold recently.

When I was a young child, my family and I traveled to Chicago.  We went there because my dad was completing a stair climbing race in the Willis Tower.  At the time, the building was known as the Sears Tower.  While at the tower, we visited the skydeck.  The skydeck is an observatory at 103 stories above the ground.  There is a box you can walk out into which hangs over the street below.  This entire box, including the floor, is made of glass (or at least a see-through material) which makes for an exciting time.  The sheer height of this building is amazing to see in person, especially from 103 stories looking down.  All the people and cars look like little dots or ants on the ground.  This building is a must see for anyone visiting Chicago.

Two summers ago, my family and I took a trip to Italy.  While we were there, we spent some time in Florence.  Naturally, we had to visit the Cathedral.  I was surprised and amazed by the sight.  The sheer size of the dome is enough to blow you away.  Add to this the fact that the entire Cathedral is ornately designed and decorated and it becomes one of the most impressive buildings in the world.  More than this, the Cathedral was completed in the 1400s, and is thus a feat of engineering as well.  This Cathedral is a must see for anyone who appreciates great architecture.

The Philbrook Museum in Tulsa is a very cool place. It showcases a handful of art all in the beautiful setting of a former Oklahoman’s very large home.  I love how detailed the facade of the building is, but also how charming the inside is. The yard (park, garden, etc.) that surrounds the building is marvelous as well. It is cool to see such a pretty museum in such a residential setting and I’m glad it exists in such a cool city like Tulsa.

Being an OU student for the entire duration of my college career, naturally, I have spent countless hours in this library building. Whether I am studying for a big test with some friends or just doing some homework between classes, the OU library is a hub for me. I have learned that it is also vital to my academic success, as the more time I spend here, the better I seem to do in my classes.

The Biz is one of the main reasons I chose to attend the University of Oklahoma in the first place, as it really stuck out to me on my tour as a remarkable building both in size, history, and beauty. It is one of the oldest buildings on campus and easily the most notorious other than the football stadium. I very much enjoy being able to use it and its amenities on a frequent basis.