Helmut Jahn, World-Famous Architect, Killed While On Bike Ride

CAMPTON HILLS, IL — Helmut Jahn, the world-famous German architect who designed Chicago's Thompson Center, among other famous buildings, has died. Jahn was the fatal victim of a bicycle crash with two cars Saturday afternoon in west suburban Campton Hills, near St. Charles and Geneva. He was 81.

Police in Campton Hills said Jahn was riding his bicycle north on Old Lafox Road toward Burlington Road around 3:30 p.m. and did not stop at the stop sign, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.

Jahn was stuck by a car headed east on Burlington Road, and died at the scene, according to the report. A second car that was headed west on Burlington also struck him.

The famed architect designed the Thompson Center at age 39, and was also behind the Sony Center in Berlin, One Liberty Place in Philadelphia and the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, among other famous structures around the world.

The Thompson Center, just last week, was sought for redevelopment proposals as the 17-story, glass building on West Randolph Street in The Loop is in need of millions of dollars worth of repairs.

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Jahn also designed a number of libraries, including the one an hour east of Chicago in Michigan City, Indiana. His work includes corporate headquarters, residential properties and transportation centers across the world.

Across Chicagoland, his list of competed projects includes the United States Post Office in Oak Brook, the Shure headquarters in Niles and one of the terminals at O'Hare International Airport.