Two (the northwest and southeast tubes) ascend to the building’s 50th story two (northeast and southwest) to its 66th three (north, south, and east) to its 90th and two (west and center) to the Sears Tower’s peak on the 108th story. The “tubes” share a uniform width, measuring to 75 feet square, but are diverse in height. Check out the attached video to learn more about the intricate design of Willis Tower’s glass-floor observation box.Unlike fellow giants like the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center, the Sears Tower was actually constructed as a collection of nine separate buildings, planted together in a unifying square. The Ledge, opened in July, 2009, was in engineering design for one year and then took six months of construction to complete. The low-iron, clear glass is fully tempered for durability. Each box is composed of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit. MTH Industries is a 120-year-old Chicago-based glass and architectural metal contractor that installed the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park-and they also installed The Ledge’s 1,500 pound glass panels. Beginning with the architect’s original concept, the engineers took the design one step further by eliminating all perimeter structural steel at the sides and along the floor of the glass enclosures, creating a near-invisible support system. The original Sears Tower architecture firm, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), designed The Ledge so that the fully enclosed glass boxes retract into the building, allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance.Įxperts in international structural glass design, Halcrow Yolles, fully designed and detailed all the glass and steel components. Whether you come on vacation or visit during one of our special events, your time at Skydeck is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. From the moment visitors arrive, they enjoy interactive and educational attractions that highlight the iconic building and celebrate Chicago’s sports, architecture, pop culture, history, food, music and people. Now they have a unique, unobstructed, and unforgettable aerial view of Chicago.Īn unmatched view is not all the Skydeck offers. Whether you come as a family or come to get engaged, one thing is certain: you’ll definitely want to catch a glimpse below. Some come to replicate the memorable scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, while curious children often go right up to the window.
#SEARS TOWER WINDOWS#
The inspiration for Willis Tower’s glass-floor observation box came from the hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week. Now, Skydeck dares visitors to attempt a new Chicago experience: stand on The Ledge and feel the city hum from 103 floors above Wacker Drive and the Chicago River. Opened in 1974, the Skydeck attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually who enjoy views of up to 50 miles and four states. The Ledge brings an exhilarating new experience to Willis tower. Skydeck is also open for special events-and on the way up to the top, you can explore our completely unique, one-of-a-kind museum filled with interesting Chicago facts. The eighth-tallest building in the world, it remains the third tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall.
The tower itself is a world-renowned building, a Chicago icon, and a marvel of engineering. Willis Tower’s glass-floor observation box is just one of the attractions that draw people from all around the world to visit Skydeck. In fact, it’s safe to say that The Ledge offers Chicago’s best aerial view-and we know you’ll want to see it in person. At 1,353 feet up, The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, providing never-before-seen views of the city. The Ledge transforms how visitors experience Chicago.
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