CHICAGO | Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) | 1,451 FT / 442 M | 108 FLOORS | 1974 - Page 22

Dylan Leblanc · #**421** Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkrause

Please keep in mind that you are talking about the CTBUH who refuses to even acknowledge that the original 25-foot diameter cylindrical bases (which don't broadcast anything whatsoever) are integral to the superstructure and therefore should be included at least in the building's architectural height.

--Randall

How integral to the superstructure are the antenna mounts?

I've always said that the case could be made for counting the antenna mounts as spires on the tower. When the Sears Tower was built it was during the less-is-more architectural design era, where extra ornamentation was not applied to buildings. It was purely form follows function, that was the architectural philosophy. So, could not the antenna mounts then be considered as part of the architectural design of the tower, as they had a definite function? They may not have been spires in the traditional sense but they did and still do contribute considerably to the look of the building. There have even been double-spire buildings built since. Look at the AT&T Building next door, and the Bank One Center in Indianapolis. The John Hancock tower and IDS Tower in Minneapolis have double antenna mounts as well. Additionally, all of these double spires/antenna mounts sit on the top of rectangular towers. It's an architectural design feature as far as I am concerned. Should I change the building in the database here to include the antenna mounts in the official height of the building?? Screw the CTBUH, we make our own rules here!

As for the name change I am cool with it. Isn't out with the old and in with the new part of American Capitalism? Get over it, chumps.

Duffstuff129 · #**422** Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 10:58 PM**

I agree, Dylan.

And further, what happens when the antennae stop broadcasting? Are they spires then? If a spire is defined as "function-less" (which it seems to be) it must be. And even that little technicality is ridiculous.

The way I see it, height is height.

Tom In Chicago · #**423** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 2:27 PM**

^I don't know why people are even talking about the antennas "not broadcasting". . . they're being used and will continue to be used as long as there's a need for telecommunications broadcast communication. . . which, unless people stop watching television or listening to the radio, will be indefinitely. . .

. . .

Nowhereman1280 · #**424** Posted **Aug 20, 2009, 3:07 AM**

^ Not necessarily Tom. I always point to Prudential Tower as an example of this. The old antenna is no longer used, but still remains on the tower. Thus I believe Pru's antenna is now a spire and should be counted as such. Its very possible that we could see buildings or transmission towers built in the next couple decades that render the antennas on Sears and Hancock obsolete.

Tom In Chicago · #**425** Posted **Aug 20, 2009, 6:19 PM**

The old Pru antenna is not being used? Since when?

. . .

Nowhereman1280 · #**426** Posted **Aug 21, 2009, 4:59 AM**

^^^ I don't thinks its been used for anything major for years. I mean I'm sure they still have some minor little doohickys in use, but I'm fairly certain that there hasn't been a major broadcaster using it since WGN moved to JHC decades ago...

Tom In Chicago · #**427** Posted **Aug 21, 2009, 4:44 PM**

Well when I was working for an ISP back in 1997 we used it for line of sight signalling between the Taste and our equipment which was co-located at the Pru. . . I'm sure someone is still using it for one reason or another. . . I just dont' see any logical reason to think that we're not going to need antennas in the future. . . they just erected another antenna on Aon Center a few weeks ago. . .

Ordo_ · #**428** Posted **Aug 22, 2009, 1:41 PM**

Duffstuff129 · #**429** Posted **Aug 22, 2009, 2:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

^I don't know why people are even talking about the antennas "not broadcasting". . . they're being used and will continue to be used as long as there's a need for telecommunications broadcast communication. . . which, unless people stop watching television or listening to the radio, will be indefinitely. . .

. . .

I was asking a hypothetical question, I am not suggesting that people will stop listening to radio, etc.

I just think that an non-functioning (people still watch TV, I know, I know) is a spire, since it serves no real purpose, so then by that logic, I believe that an antennae is a spire.

jc5680 · #**430** Posted **Aug 31, 2009, 2:44 AM**

Wheelingman04 · #**431** Posted **Sep 3, 2009, 10:17 PM**

Are they actually going to paint this tower silver? Or is it just one of those stupid rumors?

ethereal_reality · #**432** Posted **Sep 3, 2009, 10:43 PM**

Since you're all talking transmission and broadcasting.
What the heck goes on in the two floors immediately below the skydeck?

posted by eventhorizon5

Is it normal to have that many satellite dishes INSIDE a building?
Maybe I'm naive, but I would expect them to be on the roof.

Zapatan · #**433** Posted **Sep 9, 2009, 9:18 PM**

Willis Tower Shmillis Tower, Sears sounds way better, I for one will never call it Willis Tower, ever.

Such a great building

arlekin_m · #**434** Posted **Sep 9, 2009, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

Which building is that?
Looks cool.

Tom In Chicago · #**435** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 4:35 PM**

600 Fairbanks designed by Helmut Jahn

Kamatzu · #**436** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 5:39 PM**

The North One · #**437** Posted **Sep 19, 2009, 12:22 AM**

george · #**438** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 11:10 PM**

9-14-09

george · #**439** Posted **Sep 23, 2009, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality

Since you're all talking transmission and broadcasting.
What the heck goes on in the two floors immediately below the skydeck?

posted by eventhorizon5

Is it normal to have that many satellite dishes INSIDE a building?
Maybe I'm naive, but I would expect them to be on the roof.

Do satellite dishes work behind glass?
I'm amazed at all the boxes and crap piled against the windows, on so many floors. WTF.

FlashingLights · #**440** Posted **Sep 24, 2009, 12:04 AM**

Can we please get an expert on the Sears(Willis) Tower to explain what's going on in the upper floors? I have the some of the same questions as George and the OP asking the question. Also what are the two floors immediately above the skydeck used for? The two black ones above that were the service floors I thought.