CHICAGO | Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) | 1,451 FT / 442 M | 108 FLOORS | 1974 - Page 18

M II A II R II K · #**341** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 1:54 AM**

Especially changing it to such a sissy ass name like Willis Tower :o

Zerton · #**342** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 4:57 PM**

I think these things look horrible from the outside ...but I really want to go out on one.

emathias · #**343** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 5:59 PM**

It has begun ...

The blacked out the "Sears Tower" sign on the Wacker side today, and finished installing eight brushed aluminium "flag poles" behind it.

I don't know why they didn't use polished stainless steel for them to match all the other non-black metal in the building.

Dac150 · #**344** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 6:28 PM**

Name changes are not a big deal at all, as they occur very often. I think why people are so sentimental about this case is because the height and symbolism of the building. As for my city, we are no strangers to experiencing name changes on well known buildings. Pan-Am has become MetLife, Citicorp has become Citigroup, and RCA has become GE. Point is people will call buildings what they want. But as time goes on, generations will know these buildings for their name at that point of time. From the ones I listed in New York, I refer to all of them by their current names because that’s simply what I know. Just as I know ‘Sears Tower’, that’s what I will always refer to it as.

The renovations on the other hand are simply a result from the new owner of the building wanting to stay up to date in an office market that is tight. Bottom line, the building is dated, and tenants are navigating to prices that they believe or worthwhile for what they are getting in return of space. An iconic building doesn’t always attract tenants on that merit alone; therefore renovations are a fact of life for any structure. I can’t say I like all the end results, but it’s a appearance is money business.

cbotnyse · #**345** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 7:53 PM**

taken by my brother...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLew24asu

JDRCRASH · #**346** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 9:43 PM**

MiamiSpartan · #**347** Posted **Jul 10, 2009, 3:04 PM**

I think I just wet myself....

That being said, I can't wait to see it when we go to Chicago next month!

Apex · #**348** Posted **Jul 10, 2009, 11:49 PM**

Who's going to pay for office space right in the shadow of that godawful hotel? I'm all for modernization of the building, but there has to be a better way...

Scruffy · #**349** Posted **Jul 11, 2009, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbotnyse

taken by my brother...

that is the coolest thing ever!

truedaniel · #**350** Posted **Jul 12, 2009, 6:22 PM**

OK those glass boxes at the top look like zits and pimples!!
A 50 story hotel so close? WTF.

AHHH THEY ARE RAPING THE SEARS TOWER!!!!

Ordo_ · #**351** Posted **Jul 12, 2009, 8:46 PM**

I think the hotel is a great idea.

July 4th 09

Dac150 · #**352** Posted **Jul 12, 2009, 8:57 PM**

The glass boxes come off like one of those things that are cool when you're actually up there and in them, but when you see them from the street you think in the other direction.

Patrick · #**353** Posted **Jul 12, 2009, 11:12 PM**

I think the ledge's are a great idea, but they look like shit from outside, I don't understand why they didn't just put all three next to each other in the middle instead of putting them all randomly like they have now, looking incomplete, maybe there will be two more in the future?

Para · #**354** Posted **Jul 12, 2009, 11:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

I think the ledge's are a great idea, but they look like shit from outside, I don't understand why they didn't just put all three next to each other in the middle instead of putting them all randomly like they have now, looking incomplete, maybe there will be two more in the future?

There is one still to come that I believe will fill the gap.

Nowhereman1280 · #**355** Posted **Jul 13, 2009, 3:27 AM**

^^^ No, there are already four of them. The fourth on the far right is retracted and still clearly visible. I don't know why they have the fourth one retracted, but I've seen it extended before.

Patrick · #**356** Posted **Jul 13, 2009, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ No, there are already four of them. The fourth on the far right is retracted and still clearly visible. I don't know why they have the fourth one retracted, but I've seen it extended before.

Oh I see it, nevermind!

Para · #**357** Posted **Jul 15, 2009, 4:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ No, there are already four of them. The fourth on the far right is retracted and still clearly visible. I don't know why they have the fourth one retracted, but I've seen it extended before.

"the Ledge consists of four retractable boxes (three are currently open and the fourth opens this fall)"

http://chicagoist.com/2009/07/08/a_v...rs_ledge_2.php

I haven't been up there yet, so I don't know for sure if the last one is actually open yet.

Tower6 · #**358** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 9:34 AM**

They wasted no time defacing the Wikipedia page. Virtually every reference to the Sears Tower has been changed to Willis. It is actually quite painful to read.

Patrick · #**359** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 10:22 AM**

Well I'm used to the Willis Tower, I like "Big Willie", really suits the tower IMO. I'll probably still call it the Sears Tower every now and then. Like the US Bank Tower in LA, I grew up knowing it as the Library Tower and sometimes still refer to it as the Library Tower.

Overall all this drama over the name still seems pointless, Willis got it fair & square.

JManc · #**360** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 7:26 PM**

the building has been the sears tower for 35 years and will always be the "sears" tower. the library tower in LA has had several names since it was built in 1990; first interstate bank world tower and US bank.