Why you should experience Willis Tower in Chicago.
Dominating the skyline of Chicago, the Willis Tower remains one of the most recognizable and awe-inspiring architectural achievements in the world, a symbol of the city’s daring, innovation, and relentless upward spirit.
Rising 110 stories and piercing nearly 1,450 feet into the air, the tower captures the essence of modern Chicago: bold, resilient, and unafraid to reach higher. Completed in 1973 and originally known as the Sears Tower, it stood for decades as the tallest building on Earth, a vertical city built on steel, ambition, and Midwestern grit. Its sleek, black aluminum façade and bundled-tube structure were revolutionary, redefining skyscraper design and influencing skylines around the globe. Yet beyond its engineering marvel, Willis Tower represents something deeply emotional to Chicagoans, the pride of a city that built its way out of fire, wind, and challenge. Standing beneath it, you feel that power: the hum of the elevated trains, the lake breeze, and the energy of a city that never stops climbing. And when you ascend to the top, the feeling isn’t just about height, it’s about perspective, a reminder of what human hands and hope can create together.
What you didn’t know about Willis Tower.
Though millions know the Willis Tower for its commanding silhouette, few realize how radical its design truly was for its time.
Architect Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill conceived a new architectural system known as the bundled tube, allowing the building to achieve unprecedented height and stability while using less steel than conventional skyscrapers. The result was both elegant and efficient, nine square tubes of varying heights rising together, giving the tower its distinctive stepped form. Construction took just three years, employing over 2,000 workers and reshaping Chicago’s skyline forever. Even its name carries layers of history: though it officially became Willis Tower in 2009 after the global insurance company secured naming rights, locals still lovingly call it the Sears Tower, a nod to its roots as the headquarters of the retail giant that once defined American commerce. The tower houses more than four million square feet of office space, a vertical ecosystem of business and innovation that remains among the busiest in the country. Perhaps most remarkable is its endurance, designed to sway gently in high winds, the top can move up to six inches without visitors even noticing. In 1982, it became home to the world’s highest public observation deck, and decades later, the Skydeck addition transformed that experience into something visceral, glass boxes extending four feet beyond the building’s façade, where visitors can literally step out into the clouds.
How to fold Willis Tower into your trip.
Visiting the Willis Tower is a rite of passage for anyone coming to Chicago, a moment that transforms the abstract idea of the skyline into something tangible and unforgettable.
Start at the base, where the lobby’s multimedia displays trace the story of the city’s rise from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire to its reign as the birthplace of the skyscraper. Then ascend to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor, the journey itself takes just 60 seconds, yet the view at the top feels timeless. From this height, the city spreads out in every direction: Lake Michigan glimmers like an inland sea, the grid of streets stretches endlessly west, and on clear days, you can see across four states. Step into one of the Ledge boxes if you dare, transparent glass floors that let you hover 1,353 feet above the streets below. It’s not just a thrill; it’s an encounter with pure awe. After your descent, explore the Loop district surrounding the tower, a dynamic heart of Chicago filled with public art like Picasso’s Untitled Sculpture, Millennium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago just a short walk away. For dinner, head to Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s for deep-dish pizza, a Chicago classic that pairs perfectly with the city’s towering legacy. Whether seen from the ground or from its panoramic summit, the Willis Tower stands as more than a building, it’s a living monument to Chicago’s fearless pursuit of greatness, where sky and soul meet in steel.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
“The glass floor kinda humbles you ngl… whole city stretching forever and you’re just floating up there like woah.”
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