Genius Pads: The Doogie Howser of Industry Builds Massive Florida Manse

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Thursday, September 29, 2011, by Rob Bear

Photo: David Albers/Naples News

When Blake Whitesell, founder and CEO of the Whitesell Corporation died tragically of cancer, his 21-year-old son Neil took over the reigns of the private manufacturing company. Over the next 25 years, the young upstart has grown the business from humble beginnings to a profitable conglomerate, at least profitable enough to build the largest home in Collier County, Fla. The Naples megamanse, currently close to completion, measures 32,000 square feet on 1.56 acres and will include six bedrooms and ten total bathrooms.
· The BIG house: 32,000-square-foot home about to become Naples area's biggest [Naples News via Homes of the Rich]

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Awards: Chicago Architect Jeanne Gang Wins MacArthur Genius Grant

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, by Sarah Firshein

Photo via Co.Design

A big congrats are due to Chicago architect Jeanne Gang: she is officially one of the world's 22 notable geniuses, according to the MacArthur Foundation, which just awarded her one of its $500K fellowship grants. Best known for designing the city's 82-story Aqua Tower (the tallest building in the world designed by a woman and one with "an unusual optical poetry"), Smarty McSmartypants Gang "is setting a new industry standard through her effective synthesis of conventional materials, striking composition, and ecologically sustainable technology," according to her MacArthur bio. Head over to Co.Design for a video interview.

· Architect Jeanne Gang gets vote of confidence from MacArthur Fellowship [Chicago Tribune via Curbed Chicago]
· A Purposely Simple Chart of Influential Architects and Designers [Curbed National]
· Jeanne Gang [MacArthur Foundation]
· Architect Jeanne Gang Wins $500 MacArthur Genius Grant [Co.Design]

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