Chicagoing.net

After writing a post about The Chicago Spire, I thought it fitting that I find out a bit more about Chicago’s current champion of high-rise buildings, The Sears Tower.

Completed in 1973, The Sears Tower was the world’s tallest building until 1998. Today the tower still lays claim as the tallest structure when measured from sidewalk level of the main entrance to the top of the antenna. Reaching 1,400 Feet and 110 stories into the Chicago sky, The Sears Tower was built by Sears, Roebuck & Co. to house all of their business offices in a central location. At the time, Sears was the largest retailer in the world and had offices in 30 buildings scattered around the Chicagoland area. The original cost of the building was $175 million, and would cost aproxamately $1 billion to replicate today.

Perhaps the most loved aspect of The Sears Tower is the lighting of the antennas. The two antennas that sit atop The Tower are usually lit to represent the colors of an event that is taking place in Chicago. For much of the month of October they were lit pink for Breast Cancer Awareness. The antennas are also often lit with the colors of Chicago’s sports teams, holidays such as Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day, or can be rented out and lit with your favorite colors – for about $10,000.

As Sears saw a decline in revenues the company eventually vacated the Sears Tower in 1995, moving to a new location in Hoffman Estates. The building has been sold several times, with Sears retaining the naming rights to the world famous tower. I do wonder if someday the naming right might be sold to the highest bidder, much in the same way that the naming rights are sold for stadiums.

Chicago Summer Events
Lollapalooza 2008
Pitchfork Music Festival 2008
Looptopia 2008
Taste of Chicago
2008 Chicago Air Show
Red Bull Flugtag Chicago