I am so saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend, Helmut Jahn, who passed away in a tragic bicycle accident. He was truly one of the great architects of the world, and also one of my greatest inspirations.

By designing iconic buildings like Terminal 1 at O’Hare International Airport and the James R. Thompson Center, Helmut played an important role in shaping Chicago’s architectural landscape, as well as its continued growth and future. Helmut also designed one of my all-time favorite projects, The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at The University of Chicago. He had a personality as big as the scope of his buildings, and he was definitely a “star-chitect” who brought so much joy and light into the lives of all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

I’ll always remember Helmut as an inspiration, a mentor, and a great neighbor to me in the Jewelers Building, and he touched so many lives with his creative spirit. I offer my deepest condolences to all of his friends and loved ones and hope that honoring his memory will bring some measure of comfort and peace at this difficult time.