John Tishman, 90, has Passed Away

John Tishman personally oversaw the development of several iconic projects nationwide.

BEDFORD, NY—GlobeSt.com has confirmed that John Tishman , chairman emeritus of Tishman Realty and Construction Co ., died of respiratory failure at his home here on Saturday. He was 90 years old, the New York Times notes. Credited with reshaping the skylines of New York City, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles, Tishman is “credited with the creation of the construction management practice was responsible for the construction of some of the highest profile buildings and developments in the country, resulting in the Tishman name being associated with construction on a grand scale,” according to a background statement furnished to GlobeSt.com by his company. He personally oversaw the construction of the first three of four 100- and 100-plus-story buildings in the world: the original 110-story World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York and the 100-story John Hancock Center in Chicago. Other landmark projects he was responsible for include the Century City complex in Los Angeles, Renaissance Center in Detroit, and Walt Disney Company’s EPCOT Center in Florida as well as the renovation and restoration of Carnegie Hall and the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. Tishman was named a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Committee and created Tishman Research Corp ., which led the development of innovative construction methods and the use of new products to adapt to a more energy-conscious and efficiency-driven age. He also served as chairman of The New School . “John Tishman left an indelible mark on the skyline of New York and other major cities,” says John Vickers, chairman and CEO of Tishman. “He was a larger than life builder who leaves a larger than life legacy. That legacy is evident all over the US in iconic projects that are recognizable to hundreds of millions of people. “His commitment to improving the human condition through philanthropic, educational and political endeavors further made him a ‘landmark’ in his own right. Everyone at Tishman will miss his wisdom and leadership, and the entire company joins the family in mourning his loss.” Tishman is survived by his two children, Daniel Tishman and Katherine Blacklock , and three grandsons, the Times notes. His wife, Suzanne Weisberg , pre-deceased him.