Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconies
CHICAGO — Visitors to the Sears Tower’s new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest.
“It’s like walking on ice,” said Margaret Kemp, of Bishop, California, who said her heart was still pounding even after stepping away from the balcony. “That first step you take — ‘am I going down?’”
Kemp was among the visitors who got a sneak preview of the balconies Wednesday. “The Ledge,” as the balconies have been nicknamed, open to the public Thursday.
The balconies are suspended 1,353 feet (412 meters) in the air and jut out 4 feet (1.22 meters) from the building’s 103rd floor Skydeck. They’re actually more like boxes than balconies, with transparent walls, floor and ceiling.
Visitors are treated to unobstructed views of Chicago from the building’s west side and a heart-stopping vista of the street and Chicago River below — for those brave enough to look straight down.
John Huston, one of the property owners of the Sears Tower, even admitted to getting “a little queasy” the first time he ventured out. But 30 or 40 trips later, he’s got the hang of it.
“The Sears Tower has always been about superlatives — tallest, largest, most iconic,” he said. “Today is also about superlatives. Today, we present you with ‘the Ledge,’ the world’s most awesome view, the world’s most precipitous view, the view with the most wow in the world.”
The balconies can hold five tons, and the glass is 1.5 inch (3.8 centimeters) thick, officials said.
Sears Tower officials have said the inspiration for the balconies came from the hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week. Now, staff will have a new glass surface to clean: floors.
The balconies are just one of the big changes coming to the Sears Tower. The building’s name will change to Willis Tower later this summer.
Last week, officials announced a 5-year, $350 million green renovation complete with wind turbines, roof gardens and solar panels.
Related News
Sears pays record $6.2 million to settle charges it discriminated against disabled workersSeptember 30th, 2009 Sears pays $6.2 million to settle bias caseWASHINGTON — Sears Holdings Corp. has agreed to pay a record $6.2 million to settle allegations that it illegally fired disabled employees.
French 'Spiderman' arrested after climbing to top of Malaysia's 88-story Petronas Twin TowersSeptember 1st, 2009 'Spiderman' held after Malaysia Twin Towers climbKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Police arrested a French climber nicknamed "Spiderman" on Tuesday after he scaled Malaysia's iconic 88-story Petronas Twin Towers. Alain Robert sneaked past security early Tuesday to climb to the top of Tower 2 of the landmark buildings in Kuala Lumpur before he was detained, said city Police Chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman.
Sears, Kmart aims to help customers to save for Christmas buying by offering club cardAugust 17th, 2009 Sears, Kmart launch Christmas Club cardNEW YORK — Sears Holdings Corp. aims to get an edge over its competition this holiday season by getting shoppers to start saving for Christmas presents now through a new card that mimics an old-fashioned Christmas club account.
20 Sears toys will offer toys on Saturday from Hasbro, Mattel and other toy makersAugust 12th, 2009 Sears to offer toys in 20 storesHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp., the retail chain lead by chairman and hedge fund financier Eddie Lampert, said Wednesday it will begin to offer toys in 20 of its Sears stores starting Saturday.
What you talkin' bout, Willis? Sears Tower takes on name of British insurance brokerageJuly 16th, 2009 What you talkin' bout, Willis? Sears Tower renamedCHICAGO — The Sears Tower has officially become the Willis Tower in a ceremony in downtown Chicago. The country's tallest building and one of the world's iconic skyscrapers was renamed Thursday after London-based insurance brokerage Willis Group Holdings as part of its deal to lease 140,000 square feet of space in the tower.
Chicago's Sears Tower unveils glass balconies suspended from building's 103rd floor SkydeckJuly 1st, 2009 Sears Tower to open 103rd floor glass balconyCHICAGO — The Sears Tower is offering a new way to push your fear of heights right over the edge. A glass ledge, actually, suspended from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck.
Sears Holdings to start buyer protection program to help customers who lose their jobsJune 30th, 2009 Sears Holdings to start buyer protection programHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears said Tuesday that it plans to offer a buyer protection program for its home appliances to help consumers who lose their jobs during the recession.
Sears Tower to undergo $350 million green remodel, including wind turbines, solar panelsJune 24th, 2009 Sears Tower to undergo $350M green remodelCHICAGO — The Sears Tower will undergo a $350 million green remodeling effort at the 110-story skyscraper, including wind turbines, green roofs and solar panels. Owners and architects said Wednesday that the plan will reduce electricity use in the building by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water a year.
FTC: Sears agrees to settle claims over personal data company collected by tracking Web useJune 4th, 2009 Sears, FTC to settle personal data allegationsHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Federal Trade Commission is announcing a preliminary settlement with retailer Sears Holdings.
Five convicted in plot against Chicago's Sears TowerMay 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A federal jury in Miami found five men guilty Tuesday of conspiring with the terrorist group Al Qaeda in a plot to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower and federal government buildings, while a sixth man was acquitted in the long-running case. The purported plot against the tallest building in the US was revealed in 2006 but never went beyond the planning stages.
5 Miami men convicted of plot to topple Chicago's Sears Tower, bomb FBI offices; 1 acquittedMay 12th, 2009 5 Miami men convicted of Sears Tower attack plotMIAMI — A federal jury in Miami has convicted five men of plotting to join forces with al-Qaida to topple Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices in hopes of igniting an anti-government insurrection. A sixth man was acquitted.
Go ahead, look down: Sears Tower in Chicago to install 4 glass balconies for visitorsMay 2nd, 2009 Sears Tower to add glass balconies for a sick viewCHICAGO — Visitors to the top of the tallest building in North America soon won't be able to avoid looking straight down. The Sears Tower plans this summer to add four enclosed glass-bottomed balconies jutting out from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck — offering a view of 1,353 feet down.
Jury in Miami begins deliberations for 6 men charged with plotting to destroy Sears TowerApril 27th, 2009 Fla. jury deliberates in Sears Tower terror trialMIAMI — A federal jury in Miami is deliberating the fate of six men charged with plotting to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and bomb FBI offices around the country. The 12-person jury got the case Monday after a two-month trial.
Closing arguments begin in 3rd trial of Fla. men accused of plotting Sears Tower, FBI attacksApril 24th, 2009 Closing arguments begin in terror trialMIAMI — A federal prosecutor called six South Florida men would-be terrorists who pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden during closing arguments in their terrorism trial. The prosecutor said Thursday the so-called Liberty City Six wanted to wage war against the United States and blow up Chicago's Sears Tower.
Atlanta airport tower briefly evacuated after lightning strike; employees are resuming workApril 24th, 2009 Ga. airport tower evacuated after lightning strikeATLANTA — A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman says an Atlanta airport tower was briefly evacuated after a lightning strike, but workers are now heading back inside. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the workers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were evacuated at 8:49 p.m.
Loading ...