the crain communications building is a 39-story, 582 foot (177 m) skyscraper located at 150 north michigan avenue in downtown chicago, illinois. it was also known as the smurfit–stone building and the stone container building and was formerly called the associates center. construction began in 1983 and was completed in 1984. the building, noted for its unusually slanted facade, was designed by sheldon schlegman of a. epstein and sons. the building has 39 floors of tenant space and the two spires at the top cover the main roof and hvac equipment.