Top of Ohio Building to Look Like Tiara

CINCINNATI — The Queen City may soon have a new skyscraper inspired by a tiara worn by a princess.

Architect Gyo Obata was flipping through books in a bookstore when he was struck by a picture of Princess Diana wearing a tiara, said Joe Robertson, project manager for the St. Louis-based architectural firm HOK.

"Gyo thought 'That's perfect. Here we have the crown of the building, and the nickname for the city is Queen City,'" Robertson said.

The city's advisory Urban Design Review Board is set to weigh in on the design for the proposed 40-story Great American Insurance Building.

The four-member review board includes three local architects. Its opinions are only advisory but could influence officials and regulatory boards that must approve project plans or authorize city financial assistance.

The new building will have about 800,000 square feet of space, with a glass and aluminum facade. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.