The John Hancock Tower During construction (1972-1976) the form of John Hancock was highly contoversial. Designed by world renowned architect I. M. Pei , the Tower was labelled flamboyant, too abstract, or simply just too high-tech. There was major expressed concern that the Tower would overshadow the nineteenth-century masonry Trinity Church and Boston Public Library, also in Copley Square. John Hancock Tower - Reflections Copyright © Mary Ann Sullivan     Today, the tallest building in Boston, the 62-story John Hancock Tower is an accepted part of the Boston skyline -- but not before resolution of a major technical problem.     Before this all-glass facade building was even completed, dozens of the windows were already falling to the street below. Then available technology was inadequate to the design requirements. By the time the problem was finally solved, more than 10,000 panes of glass had had to be replaced.     Today, the smooth curtain of glass reflects nearby buildings with little or no distortion - and it worth noting that Pei used the corrected technique when he subsequently built the similarly controversial Pyramid entrance to the Louvre in Paris.     Sadly, given increased security following 911, the 60th floor observation deck, which had been previously accessible by the public, was permanently closed. By careful choice, we have opted to locate this important event in an historic building now known as the John Hancock Conference Center 40 Trinity Place Boston, MA 02116 Voice: (617) 933-7700Behind the famous John Hancock Tower - see inset - and steps away from Copley Square in the center of Boston's famous Back Bay, this elegant space is small and almost intimate. Though the size of the main rooms limits the numbers we can accommodate - maximum around 180 - the space supports well the type of event we like to run -- working sessions: live cases, clinics, role playing, interactive panel discussions and considerable personal interaction - never more important than when the focus is on creating business contact and opportunity.         As long-time SBIR advocate, through the years we have organized many of these smaller-scale Awardee-only events. Our long-standing reputation is that these are crafted to open up people's thinking and experience and, to the extent possible, which engage them directly. As group SBIR awardees are seriously bright and capable people. They need to have the business issues they're dealing with, and the ramifications of the choices they might make be discussed and considered in the same thought-provoking ways as would be the scientific and technical challenges they address. How to get to John Hancock Conference Center: By Car from Logan Airport Follow signs to Sumner Tunnel. After exiting the tunnel take second right onto Rt. 93 north. Exit at Cambridge/Storrow Drive. Follow Storrow Drive signs to Back Bay and exit at Copley Square (a left exit). Turn right at the lights onto Beacon Street. At the second set of lights, turn left onto Clarendon Street. Follow Clarendon St. through (7) sets of lights and look for the Hard Rock Cafe on your left. Parking is available in the John Hancock garage, 1/2 block past the Hard Rock Cafe on the right. By Car from West of Boston Follow the Mass Pike (Rt. 90) East towards Boston and take Exit 22 (Prudential Center/Copley Square). Bear right to Copley Square. This will bring you onto Stuart Street. At the second set of lights, take a right onto Clarendon Street and look for Hard Rock Cafe on your left. The parking garage (John Hancock Garage) is a 1/2 block beyond the Hard Rock Cafe on the right-hand side of Clarendon Street. By Car from the North/South Follow Route 93 towards Boston and take Exit 26 (Storrow Drive/Cambridge). Follow signs onto Storrow Drive/Back Bay. Follow Storrow Drive signs to Back Bay and exit at Copley Square (a left exit). Turn right at the lights onto Beacon Street. At the second set of lights, turn left onto Clarendon Street. Follow Clarendon St. through (7) sets of lights and look for the Hard Rock Cafe on your left. The John Hancock parking garage is 1/2 block past the Hard Rock Cafe on the right. By Subway/Commuter Rail Back Bay Station - Orange Line or Commuter Rail. Turn right on Dartmouth Street. Make first right onto Stuart Street. Make first right onto Trinity Place. We are on the left. Copley Station - Green Line. Walk diagonally across Copley Square towards Trinity Church. Walk between Copley Plaza Hotel and John Hancock Tower onto Trinity Place. We are one block down on left.