Donald Trump, the real estate mogul, has been criticized by architects and the public alike for placing a 20-by-141-feet, five-letter sign - which reads "T-R-U-M-P" - on Chicago's second tallest building, the Trump Towers.
In a previous interview with the Chicago Tribune, Trump compared it to the "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles. The sign, which is still in the process of being hung, will be lit up with LED lights in the night. It would cover two mechanical floors on the 58-storey tower, covering 2,800 square feet of space.
Trump was reportedly planning to put up a larger, 3,600-square-feet plus sign but the city trimmed down the size because the proposed sign exceeded set limits.
People think the sign would look "atrocious" and destroy the ethos of the crisp cityscape.
"We have one of the cleanest, sharpest looking skylines in the United States and he's gotta go and do something like this? This isn't Times Square," Westsider Tiknis, a Chicago resident walking past the Trump Towers told NPR Blog.
"It's tacky. It's big. It's obnoxious, just like Trump," Don Paul, another resident told DNAinfo.com. "He's got a big ego and he just continues to feed it wherever he goes."
Building architect Adrian Smith also thinks the sign is "kind of tasteless" due to the placement and size of the letters. However, he adds that he has nothing to do with the giant sign.
Trump argues that people really love the sign.
"It happens to be great for Chicago, because I have the hottest brand in the world," Trump told The Wall Street Journal only after slamming Smith's opinion on the sign.
"I had more to do with the design of that building than Adrian Smith did.The best thing that ever happened to Adrian Smith is Donald Trump," he added in typical Trump style.
Trump also went on to post some positive tweets about the sign and the skyscraper in his defense.
"@AndyDostal: @realDonaldTrump Don the lettering looks sharp in Chicago! pic.twitter.com/rhm2EKdwSf"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2014
"@Smurrrph: One of my favorite buildings in Chicago #TrumpHotel #TrumpTower @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/mvtzWNrBu1" Thanks! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2014
Indeed, Trump has some people's backing.
"I'm personally all for signs," Peter Exley, former president of American Institute of Architects Chicago Chapter told DNAinfo.
"They are an important and informative part of our urban landscape, are frequently used to denote patronage, civic identification, commerce, instruction, and of course, to advertise," he adds.
Love it or hate it, the sign is going to go up in a few days with only the letter "P" left to be installed. Find all coverage on Donald Trump here.
