Sears Tower in Chicago Opens New Skydeck Bays
Glass Balconies Offer Unparalleled View of the Windy City
Jul 2, 2009
For decades, the Sears Tower has been a must-see attraction for any visitor to Chicago, Illinois. Now, the attraction offers visitors to the city an even more stand-out experience...literally.
An Amazing Feat of Construction
The Sears Tower is an actual office building that opened in September 1973. It is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing at a record 1,450 feet in height. According to the building’s owners, the tower cost more than $150 million to build and has over 16,000 bronze-tinted windows.
On the 103rd floor, 1,353 feet above the ground, visitors to the building can experience spectacular views that can reach nearly 50 miles on a clear day, including views of four states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
This visitor center, also known as Skydeck Chicago, not only offers these birds-eye views, but interactive and educational exhibits on the city of Chicago. These displays cover everything from the Windy City’s history to its major attractions. Even the elevator ride, which covers all 103 floors in a matter of minutes (expect the ears to pop), has an informative narrative on the building and its history in Chicago.
Now visitors to the Skydeck can take in the views in a whole new way.
Introducing the The Ledge at the Sears Tower
On July 2, the Sears Tower will open up a series of glass bays that extend out from the building, called The Ledge.
These bays, located on the tower’s west side, are actually glass boxes that jut out from the building more than four feet. This allows unobstructed views of Chicago from five sides, including both up and down, as the bottom of each bay is glass, too. The bays are reportedly sturdy enough to hold more than a ton of weight and are designed to retract back inside the building, to allow for the tower’s external robotic cleaning system to do its job.
“The Skydeck has evolved to challenge our visitors’ curiosity,” said Randy Stancik, general manager of Skydeck Chicago, in a press release. “You only need to see the forehead prints on the windows to know that visitors are constantly trying to catch a glimpse below. The Skydeck attracts more than one million visitors annually who enjoy views of up to 50 miles and four states. Now, they have a fifth view right at their feet.”
Visitor Details for Skydeck Chicago
Skydeck Chicago is located downtown at 233 S. Wacker Dr. and is open year round. From April to September, hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from October to March, hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission to Skydeck Chicago is $14.95 for ages 12 and up, $10.95 for ages 3 to 11. Access to The Ledge is included in this price. Tickets may be purchased at the Skydeck Chicago website or at the box office on premises. They can also be reached by phone at 312-875-9696.
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