World-renowned German architect Helmet Jahn was killed Saturday in a traffic accident in Campton Hills.
He was 81 years old.
According to multiple witnesses, Jahn failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Old LaFox Road and Burlington Road and was struck by a silver Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV headed southeast on Burlington. A second vehicle, a silver Hyundai Sonata, headed northwest on Burlington Road, then struck him as well, according to a police press release.
Jahn was a disciple of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but rejected certain applications of van der Rohe’s modernist doctrines. His works were prolific, ranging from his signature State of Illinois Building in downtown Chicago to his more recent projects including the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Qatar and the Shanghai Convention Center in Shanghai, China.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted a statement upon hearing of Jahn’s death:
Jahn was one of the most inventive Chicago architects whose impact on the city – from the skyline to the O’Hare tunnel – will never be forgotten. His architectural footprint will be felt & seen across the globe for generations to come.
I extend heartfelt prayers to his family.
Funeral services for Jahn have not yet been announced.
