The Willis Tower, also known as The Sears Tower, is a major landmark in Chicago. It is located at 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606. It’s actually the world’s tallest building by structural height. The Willis Tower stands at 1,729 feet tall, which is about half a mile high. If you can get over the fact you’ll be in one of the most famous cities in the world from some random tourist angle and if you can just put up with its tacky souvenir shops and tourists that take pictures every five seconds of you. Who hasn’t taken pictures of themselves against a landmark? If you have time and are interested in history, though, The Willis Tower is an absolute must-visit! There are so many cool facts about this iconic structure that any architecture fan or history buff won’t want to miss out on! Here are some things you might not know about this Chicago landmark
How was The Willis Tower built?
The Willis Tower was built as the world’s first all-glass high-rise building. Before the Willis Tower opened, architects explored the possibility of building with glass. But, “back in the 1930s, all of the building materials were made of steel and concrete,” says architecture historian Eric Zenser. “Glass, as we know it now, was still in its infancy.” The building was designed by architect William LeBoeuf in 1974 using a revolutionary new technology: the then-uncommon transparent copper panels. This system allowed architects to add in additional floors without increasing construction costs. The building’s original design involved a twisting shape, with the main tower and spire tapering from the base to the top. But, city and business leaders convinced the architect to make some changes. “LeBoeuf would have preferred a sharp, non-twisty finish,” Zenser explains. “But the city of Chicago insisted that the building be non-twisty. So, he designed a sharper curve, which is what you see today.”
Willis Tower: A major business hub, an event space and a hotel
However, the hotel conversion is not the only thing happening inside the building. The Willis Tower currently also serves as a major business hub in the Chicago area. “It was built in the early ‘80s and it’s probably one of the last buildings that was built downtown,” says Zenser. “A lot of big corporations got their start in the ‘80s in that area, which is why it became a hub for corporate America.”
Final Words: What you need to know about the Willis Towers before visiting
If you have time and are interested in history, though, The Willis Tower is an absolute must-visit! There are so many cool facts about this iconic structure that any architecture fan or history buff won’t want to miss out on! Here are some things you might not know about this Chicago landmark.
The Willis Tower is also a skyrise tower, but not for long. The building is currently being converted into a hotel. However, a few months after the completion of this conversion, the owner of the building, the Blackstone Group, declared bankruptcy. Additional info
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