Willis Tower

Willis Tower is a skyscraper in downtown Chicago, Illinois, originally completed as the Sears Tower in 1973 and for many years the tallest building in the world. The structure has 110 floors and remains one of the city’s signature high-rise landmarks.

The building’s public attraction is the Skydeck on the 103rd floor, which offers wide views across Chicago and, on clear days, across Lake Michigan; glass boxes known as the ‘Ledge’ extend from the façade and allow visitors to stand over the city from a transparent floor. The tower continues to serve as an office building with retail and observation components.

Designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and finished in 1973, the tower symbolized mid-20th-century corporate-scale construction and remains an important node in Chicago’s skyline and business district.

Located in the West Loop/Central Business District of Chicago near the Chicago River, the tower is readily accessible by public transit and is a short walk from other downtown attractions.

• Height and floors: Completed in 1973 as the Sears Tower, the building has 110 stories with a roof height of about 442 meters and an antenna reaching roughly 527 meters.
• Observation experience: The public observation deck is on the 103rd floor and includes glass boxes installed to project visitors approximately 4.3 meters beyond the building face.

What to See #

• Skydeck & The Ledge: Skydeck observation on the 103rd floor offering panoramic city views and the glass 'Ledge' projecting visitors over the city.