HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > Buildings & Architecture > Never Built & Visionary Projects > Cancelled Project Threads Archive


    Willis Tower Hotel in the SkyscraperPage Database

Building Data Page   • Chicago Skyscraper Diagram

Map Location
Chicago Projects & Construction Forum

 

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #101  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 2:08 AM
wrab's Avatar
wrab wrab is offline
Deerhoof Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,670
Gotcha - the Loop (and the few outer blocks N & W to the river) are sort of like what you'd get if you transposed Downtown Manhattan onto Midtown's grid. Very tightly packed.

One big exception though is S Wacker, the street on the other side of Willis from Wells - S Wacker is comparatively broad and feels more like Ave of the Americas (plus, you have a set-back plaza on this face).

-----

Then you've got the landscaped parcel lot on the Jackson side (originally a placeholder for a second smaller tower), and just across the street another landscaped plaza (which was also originally a placeholder for a second (and third!) tower). So a whole lotta open space on this side.

Last edited by wrab; Dec 28, 2009 at 2:36 AM.
     
     
  #102  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 2:12 AM
Dac150's Avatar
Dac150 Dac150 is offline
World Machine
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NY/CT
Posts: 6,749
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrabbit View Post
^ Gotcha - the Loop (and the few outer blocks N & W to the river) are sort of like what you'd get if you transposed Downtown Manhattan onto Midtown's grid. Very tightly packed.

One big exception though is S Wacker, the street on the other side of Willis from Wells - S Wacker is comparatively broad and feels more like Ave of the Americas (plus, you have a set-back plaza on this face).
I see, now you’re speaking my language. In any case then it should have a pretty cool dense effect. What I do like about the whole idea though is the much apparent architectural contrast that these two structures have with one another. Something modern, yet a tad futuristic.
__________________
"I'm going there, but I like it here wherever it is.."
     
     
  #103  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 2:33 AM
wrab's Avatar
wrab wrab is offline
Deerhoof Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,670
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dac150 View Post
I see, now you’re speaking my language. In any case then it should have a pretty cool dense effect. What I do like about the whole idea though is the much apparent architectural contrast that these two structures have with one another. Something modern, yet a tad futuristic.
Darn - you got back into it before I finished editing my post! - I was going to say that a better comparison to the base at Jackson might be Chrysler from Lexington (which is Midtown, I know...but we're talking Chicago here...)

Last edited by wrab; Dec 28, 2009 at 3:22 AM.
     
     
  #104  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 2:50 AM
Dac150's Avatar
Dac150 Dac150 is offline
World Machine
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NY/CT
Posts: 6,749
Yeah, it’s all about visualizing the placement I suppose. Eventually when I’m able to visit Chicago I’ll get a clearer idea; hopefully by then this project will have amounted to something. In the meantime I think I have a good visual by comparing it to what I know.
__________________
"I'm going there, but I like it here wherever it is.."
     
     
  #105  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 1:40 PM
SapphireBlueEyes SapphireBlueEyes is offline
Honored Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago-John Hancock Center
Posts: 206
ha!

I think that the planned plazas enhance the architecture of the building they front (and others). This is becoming an unsettling trend - maybe next we can build in the plazas in front of Equitable and IBM.....Oh Please, make it so...crying out to all developers and architects...destroy the IBM plaza and build, build, build, and make it high, high, high. Surround its ugliness with futuristic Jetsons designed structures.
__________________
[CENTER][FONT=Impact][SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Ornamentation is the principal part of architecture, considered as a subject of fine art.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Impact][SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] - [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Impact][SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][URL="http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/authors/john_ruskin_a001.htm"]John Ruskin[/URL], [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Impact][SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][I]True and Beautiful--Sculpture[/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER]
     
     
  #106  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 2:06 PM
northbay's Avatar
northbay northbay is offline
Sonoma Strong
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Cotati - The Hub of Sonoma County
Posts: 1,882
a beautiful tower - maybe too beautiful.

adrian smith did a good job with the challenges of the site. a must-build for chicago.
__________________
"I firmly believe, from what I have seen, that this is the chosen spot of all this Earth as far as Nature is concerned." - Luther Burbank on Sonoma County.

Pictures of Santa Rosa, So. Co.
     
     
  #107  
Old Posted Dec 28, 2009, 3:07 PM
the urban politician the urban politician is offline
The City
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago region
Posts: 21,375
Quote:
Originally Posted by northbay420 View Post
adrian smith did a good job with the challenges of the site. a must-build for chicago.
^ Agreed that this is a must-build.

Plus it's actually realistic, unlike the Spire, which I have a feeling is......a goner
__________________
Supercar Adventures is my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4W...lUKB1w8ED5bV2Q
     
     
  #108  
Old Posted Dec 30, 2009, 12:05 AM
Chicago103's Avatar
Chicago103 Chicago103 is offline
Future Mayor of Chicago
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,060
The best thing that this project will do to the site and the immediate area is that it will bring vibrancy to an area that is very very dead late at night. This hotel coupled with the existing nearby W hotel, the Marriott in the rehabbed old building at Wells/Adams that will open next year and the new residential highrise at VanBuren/Franklin will make this southwest corner of the loop a happening place.

Also the Sears/Willis Tower block is arguably the best situated site in the entire city of Chicago when it comes to transportation. It is near almost every CTA line, many bus routes, it is roughly equidistant to all downtown Metra/South Shore stations, near Megabus and Greyhound stations and it is near the Circle Interchange, the nexus of Chicago's expressway system.
__________________
Devout Chicagoan, political moderate and paleo-urbanist.

"Auto-centric suburban sprawl is the devil physically manifesting himself in the built environment."
     
     
  #109  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 11:35 AM
DURKEY427 DURKEY427 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 212
Is this still a proposal or is it cancelled
     
     
  #110  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 1:31 AM
harryc's Avatar
harryc harryc is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Oak Park, Il
Posts: 14,989
Sears II

[edit] looks like the plan is for a bigger lobby - not the uber cool tower.

Feb 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...c-willis-tower
March 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...lass-ledgewalk
__________________
Harry C - Urbanize Chicago- My Flickr stream HRC_OakPark
The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. B Franklin.
     
     
  #111  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 1:44 AM
Fvn Fvn is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 694
Quote:
Originally Posted by harryc View Post
[edit] looks like the plan is for a bigger lobby - not the uber cool tower.

Feb 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...c-willis-tower
March 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...lass-ledgewalk
Yea, demolition of existing Sky deck entrance/courtyard is underway

EDIT: Just saw your other post
     
     
  #112  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 2:21 AM
aaron38's Avatar
aaron38 aaron38 is offline
312
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Palatine
Posts: 4,127
Both of those ideas in the link are horrible.
     
     
  #113  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 2:51 AM
KWillChicago's Avatar
KWillChicago KWillChicago is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,113
L.A. just put that tacky glass slide in the u.s. bank tower. Keep that tacky crap in the tacky cities aka l.a. and vegas.
     
     
  #114  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 6:53 AM
BraveNewWorld's Avatar
BraveNewWorld BraveNewWorld is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 346
Quote:
Originally Posted by harryc View Post
[edit] looks like the plan is for a bigger lobby - not the uber cool tower.

Feb 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...c-willis-tower
March 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...lass-ledgewalk
I like the first idea, not a huge fan of the second. I’d love if they’d go in more of a Wilshire Grand route. It’d be amazing if they put a rooftop bar towards the top of the building instead of adding more attractions to the observation deck.
     
     
  #115  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 7:45 AM
AMWChicago's Avatar
AMWChicago AMWChicago is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 202
Quote:
Originally Posted by harryc View Post
[edit] looks like the plan is for a bigger lobby - not the uber cool tower.

Feb 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...c-willis-tower
March 2017 Update: http://skyrisecities.com/news/2017/0...lass-ledgewalk
What a way to respond to Hancock's Tilt. They aren't playing games lol
     
     
  #116  
Old Posted Feb 23, 2018, 12:41 PM
rgarri4's Avatar
rgarri4 rgarri4 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,018
Ugh please don't do the repelling or stair attractions. Why are they trying so hard.
__________________
Renderings, Animations, VR
Youtube
     
     
  #117  
Old Posted Feb 25, 2018, 4:18 AM
Mr Saturn64's Avatar
Mr Saturn64 Mr Saturn64 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Philly
Posts: 1,040
Quote:
Originally Posted by AMWChicago View Post
What a way to respond to Hancock's Tilt. They aren't playing games lol
When I was in Chicago last summer, I went to both the SkyDeck and 360 Chicago. (Thank God for CityPass) And honestly, I found the Ledge at SkyDeck to be a thousand times better than Tilt. Maybe it's because when I arrived in Chicago I went straight for Willis and did Hancock on my last day, and I was in that "I'm in Chicago for real!" kind of mindset, but I thought Tilt was pretty lame. I did like that thing at Hancock where you stepped out and the wind blew at you, and the fact that there are smaller crowds, but Willis definitely doesn't need that staircase. It looks like crap. I don't know about the entrance, though. I used CityPass to get from the street to the top in 5 minutes, but I think waiting outside in the July heat would suck. I think Willis should be like Top of the Rock in NYC where its three stories and you can get the same views from all of them. That would ease the crowds a lot better.
__________________
Go Phillies!⚾ 🦅Fly Eagles Fly!🦅 🏀Trust the Process!🏀 🏒Go Flyers!🏒

Save the SS United States!
     
     
  #118  
Old Posted Feb 25, 2018, 4:22 AM
marothisu marothisu is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,877
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64 View Post
When I was in Chicago last summer, I went to both the SkyDeck and 360 Chicago. (Thank God for CityPass) And honestly, I found the Ledge at SkyDeck to be a thousand times better than Tilt. Maybe it's because when I arrived in Chicago I went straight for Willis and did Hancock on my last day, and I was in that "I'm in Chicago for real!" kind of mindset, but I thought Tilt was pretty lame. I did like that thing at Hancock where you stepped out and the wind blew at you, and the fact that there are smaller crowds, but Willis definitely doesn't need that staircase. It looks like crap. I don't know about the entrance, though. I used CityPass to get from the street to the top in 5 minutes, but I think waiting outside in the July heat would suck. I think Willis should be like Top of the Rock in NYC where its three stories and you can get the same views from all of them. That would ease the crowds a lot better.
You mean like the 2 entire floors at the John Hancock Tower that has a restaurant and lounge/bar? I know it's not outside, but...you can get a 360 degree view and the views are incredible from pretty much all angles. Tilt is an interesting idea, but you would have been better off just going up to the lounge area (also a better deal than the Observation Deck). In my opinion, the 96th floor lounge offers the best views from a super high up place in Chicago - I prefer it hugely to Willis Tower's views any single second of the year.
__________________
Chicago Maps:
* New Construction https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...B0&usp=sharing
     
     
  #119  
Old Posted Feb 25, 2018, 4:31 AM
KWillChicago's Avatar
KWillChicago KWillChicago is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,113
Agreed. Nothing like seeing the whole cities grid system at night via street light while drinking a $10 beer.
     
     
  #120  
Old Posted Feb 25, 2018, 4:51 AM
marothisu marothisu is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 6,877
Quote:
Originally Posted by KWillChicago View Post
Agreed. Nothing like seeing the whole cities grid system at night via street light while drinking a $10 beer.
LOL - the place is not cheap, but in all honesty it's by far my favorite high altitude observation area in the city. Even if you have to pay $10 for a beer, it still beats what you pay for the observation deck or Tilt or the SkyDeck in both potential price and the views.
__________________
Chicago Maps:
* New Construction https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...B0&usp=sharing
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
 

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > Buildings & Architecture > Never Built & Visionary Projects > Cancelled Project Threads Archive
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 6:47 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.