Architest Gyo Obata was looking for inspiration for the building in Cincinatti – nicknamed ‘Queen City’ - when he came across a picture of the late royal wearing a diamond tiara.
Joe Robertson, project manager for the St. Louis-based architectural firm HOK, said: “Gyo thought 'That's perfect. Here we have the crown of the building, and the nickname for the city is Queen City!” Obata’s tiara design will top the 40-storey Great American Insurance Building if it is approved by the city’s Urban Design Review Board – made up of four members including three local architects.
While the board’s opinions are only advisory, they could influence other boards who have the final say on whether or not the building can go ahead.
If everything is approved, construction on the building, which will have around 800,000 sq ft of space with a glass and aluminum façade will start in the spring.
At 660 ft, the building is set to be the city’s tallest skyscraper, as it is 86 ft taller than the Carew Tower, which has been unchallenged for the position since the Great Depression.