Building Tall

In this memoir, University of Michigan graduate John L. Tishman recounts the experiences and rationale that led him to create the entirely new profession now recognized and practiced as Construction Management. It evolved from his work as the construction leader of the “owner/builder” firm Tishman Realty & Construction, and his personal role as hands-on Construction Manager in the building of an astonishing array of some of the world’s tallest and most complex projects. These include:

• The world’s first three 100-story towers—the original “twin towers” of the World Trade Center in Manhattan and the Hancock Tower in Chicago.
• The EPCOT Center at Disney World.
• The Renaissance Center in Detroit.
• New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Tishman interweaves the stories behind the construction of these and many other important buildings and projects with personal reminiscences of his dealings with Henry Ford, Jr., Disney’s Michael Eisner, casino magnate Steve Wynn, and many others into a practical history of the field of Construction Management, which he pioneered.

This book will be of interest not only to a general public intrigued by the stories and personalities behind many of the most iconic construction projects of the post–World War II period in the United States but to students of engineering and architecture and members of the new field of Construction Management.

“John Tishman is a true pioneer in the Construction Management industry. Through his CM leadership, some of America’s most well-known buildings have been brought to successful completion.”-—Bruce D’Agostino, president and chief executive, Construction Management Association of America

“Building Tall will provide readers with insights into John Tishman’s career as a visionary engineer, landmark builder, and great businessman. Responsible for some of the construction world’s most magnificent projects, John is one of the preeminent alumni in the history of Michigan Engineering. His perspectives have helped me throughout my time as dean, and his impact will influence generations of Construction Management professionals and students.”-—David C. Munson, Jr., Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, University of Michigan

John L. Tishman serves as Chairman Emeritus of Tishman Realty & Construction, now a division of Aecom. Mr. Tishman was personally in charge of such landmark projects as the World Trade Center in New York, the renovation of Carnegie Hall, the John Hancock Center in Chicago, the Century Club Theme Center in Los Angeles, and the Walt Disney Company’s EPCOT in Orlando. On the board of trustees for The New School University since 1981, he served two terms as the board’s chairman. He has also served on the boards of New York University Medical School, Carnegie Hall, and the Central Park Conservancy. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan College of Engineering.