Willis Tower
Chicago, United States

Willis Tower in Chicago - Sears Tower (New York) - skyscraper

Where is located Willis Tower?

Address of Willis Tower is 233 South Wacker Drive. Chicago, Illinois, USA
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When was built Willis Tower?

Built date of Willis Tower is 1974 - 1976

Willis Tower

Facts, informations and history of Willis Tower

Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world. Built in the heart of Chicago, this skyscraper attracted tourists for years and was a symbol of American architecture and engineering. In this article, we will present the history, construction and interesting facts related to this extraordinary building, as well as discuss its height records and compare it to other world skyscrapers.

 

History and construction of Willis Tower

Willis Tower, which proudly stands at 443 meters, is one of the tallest buildings in the United States. Its structure consists of nine structures with a square cross-section, which together create an unusual and characteristic silhouette of the skyscraper. These structures rise to the 50th floor, after which the building narrows, giving it a sleek and modern look. It is worth adding that two TV antennas on the top of the skyscraper increase its height to an impressive 527 meters.

The construction of Willis Tower was a gigantic undertaking. It used 76,000 tons of steel, which was enough to produce about 52,000 cars. Telephone cables installed here could wrap around the Earth twice. The entire building weighs 222,500 tons, which gives you an idea of ​​the scale of this project. The construction involved as many as 2,400 workers who worked for years to create this impressive skyscraper.

 

Unique technical solutions

One of the most fascinating aspects of Willis Tower is its technical infrastructure. The skyscraper is served by 104 lightning-fast elevators, which enable quick movement between floors. In addition, the building has 18 escalators, which makes it much easier to move around its huge area. It is worth mentioning that two of these elevators are express and take tourists to the observation deck on the 103rd floor in less than a minute, reaching a speed of 1,600 feet per minute.

Willis Tower is covered with black-tinted aluminum, which gives it an elegant and modern look. It has over 16,100 windows that not only provide an excellent view, but also play an important role in regulating the temperature and lighting inside the building.

 

Rename

Initially, the building was called Sears Tower, derived from the Sears, Roebuck & Co. chain, which acquired the rights in 1970. In 2009, the building changed its name to Willis Tower when the British insurance company Willis Group Holding Ltd. leased its large space for its 5,000 employees. Despite the name change, many people still associate this skyscraper with its original name.

 

Skydeck and tourist attractions

On the 103rd floor of Willis Tower there is the Skydeck, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago. The Skydeck offers incredible views of the city skyline, and glass balconies, known as "Ledges", allow visitors to literally stand above the city. This attraction brings in over $25 million in revenue annually, proving its enormous popularity among tourists.

From the observation deck at the top of Willis Tower you can see as many as four states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. It is an unforgettable experience for everyone who visits this place, especially in good weather when visibility is at its best.

 

Curiosities and anecdotes

The construction of Willis Tower was quite a challenge not only because of its enormous size, but also because of logistical and legal problems. To build the skyscraper, Sears had to purchase 15 buildings from 100 owners. The most problematic street turned out to be Quincy Street, which divided the plots on which the building was to be built. Ultimately, Sears paid the city $2.7 million for the street, showing the company's determination to pursue this project.

An interesting fact is that the telephone cables installed in the building could wrap around the globe twice. It's amazing how much technology and engineering is hidden in this skyscraper, making it one of the most advanced buildings in the world.

 

Altitude records

Over the years, Willis Tower has held three of the four height records. In the years 1974 - 1996 it was the tallest building in the world excluding the antenna, the tallest building to the top of the roof and the building with the highest inhabited floor. Although it is no longer the tallest today, these achievements have made it an icon of architecture and technology around the world.

In terms of height records, Willis Tower is currently behind buildings such as Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is the tallest building in the world with a height of 828 meters. Despite this, Willis Tower still remains one of the tallest buildings in the United States, ranking just behind One World Trade Center in New York, which measures 541 meters (including the antenna ).

An interesting comparison is also the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which measure 452 meters and were the tallest buildings in the world in 1998-2004. Although they are taller than the Willis Tower, they are inferior to it in terms of total height, including the antennas. Another skyscraper, Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which measures 509 meters, also exceeds the Willis Tower in height, but its structure is different and less slender than the one in Chicago.

 

Willis Tower today

Today, Willis Tower is not only an icon of Chicago, but also an important business and tourist center. It is visited by approximately 1.5 million tourists annually who come to admire its architecture and amazing views. The skyscraper still plays a key role in the city's landscape and is one of the most important landmarks in Chicago.

 

Summary

Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, is not only an impressive skyscraper, but also a symbol of technological progress and determination. Its unique structure, rich history and fascinating curiosities make it a place that everyone should visit. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a tourist looking for amazing views, or simply a curious person, Willis Tower is sure to delight you. Therefore, it is worth going to Chicago and seeing this architectural masterpiece with your own eyes.

Architect of Willis Tower

Architect of Willis Tower is Bruce Graham, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Bruce Graham, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

How many meters have Willis Tower?

Height of Willis Tower is 443.18 m
527 m - together with the antenna

how many meters have Willis TowerScale

Construction/building type

Building Willis Tower is of type Skyscraper, Office building

Architectural style

Architectural style of Willis Tower is Contemporary

The contemporary architectural style is characterised above all by modern solutions and the latest technologies. It is a style that focuses on minimalism and simplicity of form, but at the same time does not sacrifice high quality and functionality. In the case of residential buildings, the contemporary style is characterised by large glazings, which allow for optimum interior lighting and create an impression of spaciousness. In the case of public buildings, the contemporary architectural style pays attention to the comfort and convenience of the users and the adaptation of the building to the needs of people with disabilities. ... czytaj więcej.

Other dimensions, parameters and frequently asked questions

Willis Tower

What area have Willis Tower?

Willis Tower have area of 320 171 m² - all floors

What material is the building made of?

Willis Tower is made of the following materials: Steel, colored glass

Cost

Build cost of Willis Tower is Over 175 million dollars

Other names

The building is also known by other common names or in the original language, i.e. Sears Tower

Official website

The official website of the building, where up-to-date information can be found, is http://www.willistower.com

Comments to Willis Tower (146) Average rating: 4,0 Add comment    /    Rate building

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Based on 146 comments
Kazimierz
#146
Kazimierz
5 years ago
Kazik .Byłem na 104 piętrze dwa razy 41 lat temu
Redakcja Budowle.pl
Redakcja Budowle.pl [https://www.budowle.pl]
5 years ago
Ja byłem już 4 razy, no ale nie 41 lat temu, tylko w przeciągu 8 lat. Ciekawe czy dużo się zmieniło od tych 41 lat?
marecki
#144
marecki
15 years ago
zajebiste widoki bedac w Chicago bylem na 99 pietrze gdyz remontowali pietro na ktorym jest taras widokowy chyba 106 pietro
Marisz
#143
Marisz
15 years ago
Od 16 lipca 2009 Sears Tower nosi nazwe Willis Tower, od zachodniej strony na tarasie widokowym zostaly dobudowane szklane balkony. Polecam wszystkim! Niesamowite wrazenia!!! http://www.theskydeck.com/theledge.asp
Arek
#142
Arek
15 years ago
hmmm Drogi Jenny, powiadasz ze jedyna? ups, to nie byles widocznie nigdy w Chicago.
wojto
#141
wojto
16 years ago
Jest przecież jeszcze John Hancock Center :P A dla miłośników niższej zabudowy, to polecam Oceanarium oraz Navy Pier.
Jenny
#140
Jenny
16 years ago
ja tez polecam haha bo to jedyna atrakcja Chicago!!!
Pralinka
#139
Pralinka
16 years ago
to prawda widoki piękne na całe Chicago.Watro sie wybrać będąc w Chicago. polecam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel CJ
#138
Daniel CJ
17 years ago
Moim zdaniem i tak najlepszy drapach chmur świata. Taipei 101, czy Two Finance International Towers się i tak przed nim kryją. A widok z niego jest po prostu fenomenalny. To trzeba zopbaczyć i poczuć na własnej skórze...
Marko from Tychy
#137
Marko from Tychy
17 years ago
Man of the Year 1976 - Jimmy Carter, prezydent USA. Pisalem z glowy bez sprawdzenia u zrodel. Przepraszam wszystkich, ktorych wprowadzilem w blad. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Marko from Tychy
#136
Marko from Tychy
17 years ago
Konstruktor tego kolosa zostal "Czlowiekiem roku" magazynu Time bodaj w 1976 r.
krzysztof (strewian)
#135
krzysztof (strewian)
17 years ago
Niech ten wielki budynek wszadza glebok w dupe bo ameryka to jest taki duzy kraj i ludzie ameryki to sa idiocisa tam tylko jest wyszczig szczurow ktory do nicego nie doprowadza tylko kazy wie do czego na drugi swiat nic wiecej ale ludzie juz sie natym kraju poznalii nik tam niechce jezdzic adlamnie Ameryka to bagno iniech sobie pracuja po 12godzin az im zyczie przeleci Zegnam wszystkich
mmmm
#134
mmmm
17 years ago
jest wspaniały i w spaniałym mieście
sister
#133
sister
17 years ago
trzeba to zobaczyć bedąc w Chicago. Można się gapic na miasto godzinami. Poleca wszystkim
Tomek
#132
Tomek
17 years ago
Oczywisie ze tam bylem ! Kiedy przylecjala do mnie siostra z polski musielismy to zwiedzic.To nie zapomniane wrazenia polecam to kazdemu kto odwiedzi chicago.Do zobaczenia na 103-cim pietrze
Kari
#131
Kari
18 years ago
Wtc z antena było wieksze o 60 z sears tower z anteną noii teraz napiszcie wtc bło lepsze !
maciek
#130
maciek
18 years ago
Je st pienknym wizowcem
Walker
#129
Walker
18 years ago
chyba najslynniejszy wiezowiec na swiecie.bardzo pieknie sie prezentuje,ale mysle,ze ladniejszy jest Bank of china
waldek
#128
waldek
18 years ago
JUPIIII!!!!!!!!! Byłem tam gorąco polecam to tylko 103 piętro a jakie widoki niezapomniane chwile:)))))))))))) jak jesteś lub będziesz w CHICAGO to musisz tam być na 103:)
SAr
#127
SAr
18 years ago
A ja polecam jesli juz cos trzeba zaliczyc a nie ma czasu na obydwa - zobaczcie lepiej Hancock. Wjazd na 93 pietro jest bezplatny a na Sears kosztuje od 13$ do 18$. Za ta kase na Hancock'u mozna zjesc lody i wypic kawe siedzac i nigdzie sie nie spieszac oraz o wiele ciekawsze doznania przezyc. Na Sears od miejsca ogladania do szyby jest przestrzen za barierka ok. 1m wiec trudno popatrzyc prosto na dol. Bylem na Sears 3 razy i wiecej nikogo juz tam nie zabiore...
Kamil
#126
Kamil
18 years ago
bylem na sky decku w sears, widok przepiekny, polecam jak ktos bedzie zwiedzal chicago
pixie
#125
pixie
18 years ago
jeszcze nigdy nie bylam tak wysoko i nie widzialam tak wielkiego obszaru ziemi (nie mowiac o widoku z samolotu). ale jazda windą trochę przerażająca
Olka
#124
Olka
18 years ago
Bylam na Sears Tower na samej gorze!!moim zdaniem jest najwyzszy:D!!!
bogoosh
#123
bogoosh
18 years ago
sears jest piekny... bylem na nim 2 tyg temu:) superrr, piekne widoki i wogle... CHICAGO RULEZZZ a byl ktos w shedd's aquarium i na navy pire w nocy w sobote???? zrombiscie:D
Kamil
#122
Kamil
18 years ago
kasia ja też tam byłem tylko że na 90 piętrze

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Redakcja Budowle.pl
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Today (18 June)
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