Have you ever heard of the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois? This skyscraper stands proudly as the second tallest building in North America, climbing 110 stories tall! Completed in 1973, the original purpose of the monstrous tower was to office 350,000 Sears employees. Willis Group Holdings now occupies the tower, hence the name “Willis Tower.”
The Willis Tower is adorned with 16,100 bronze-tinted windows, 145,000 lighting fixtures, and 76,000 tons of steel. Although these elements add to the beauty of the building, they weren’t what left an impression on me.
The unique, stand-out element that the Willis Tower provides in my opinion is the Skydeck. The Skydeck is an observation deck on the 103rd floor that provides a beautiful view to the city of Chicago. Not only is this the highest observation deck in the United States, but there is an opportunity for visitors to step out above the city…
The Ledge is clear box that visitors can stand on and “float” above the city. It is constructed of three layers of half-inch thick glass. It is allegedly capable of holding up to 10,000 pounds! As a 15-year-old, I was extremely excited to get Instagram-worthy photos on The Ledge. I did not account for the fact that I was fairly scared of heights. Despite my nerves, I stepped out on The Ledge and snapped a couple fun photos with my mother and my aunt. For a moment in time, I felt like I was on top of the world… at least on top of Chicago.
That is why this building holds a special place in my memory. The unique Skydeck and Ledge transforms the building from a large office space to an experience of bravery and adrenaline for tourists. It does attract 1.7 million tourists annually, so I can imagine many feel the same as I do!
https://www.willistower.com/history-and-facts
