CHICAGO | Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) | 1,451 FT / 442 M | 108 FLOORS | 1974 - Page 26

Chicago103 · #**501** Posted **Jan 9, 2010, 9:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

And it used to be called Sears Roebuck Tower???

Its official name was always the Sears Tower but back in the 1970's so many people still called the company Sears Roebuck some sources did call it the Sears Roebuck Tower, in fact Richard J. Daley in the topping out ceremony called it Sears Roebuck Tower. However as far as I have ever read it was always officially called just the Sears Tower and certainly by the 1980's nobody really called it anything else.

emathias · #**502** Posted **Jan 14, 2010, 5:43 PM**

There is a big globe being constructed on the NW corner of the "Willis" Tower block, just north of the Wacker atrium.

So terrible, what they're doing to this classic icon. Adding a globe just seems cliche and, frankly, a stupid lack of paying attention to detail.

For example, when they added the flags that are now behind the Wacker sign, they installed brushed aluminum (or what looks like it anyway) instead of using the highly polished stainless steel used by almost all the other exerior finishes. They don't match in color OR texture.

Then there's the Willis Tower sign that replaced teh Sears Tower sign. The black granite Sears Tower was classic, understated, fit well with the modernism, but the Willis Tower sign has iluminated letters made of *plastic*, and one of them even has a cable incorrectly laid inside so that at night when it's illuminated yuo can see the shadow of the cable across the plastic. Dumb, dumb, dumb. It's like they WANT to become a Class C office space.

Nowhereman1280 · #**503** Posted **Jan 14, 2010, 8:55 PM**

^^^ Lol, whatever, all the changes are superficial so far, they didn't even bother to destroy the original Sears sign, they just slapped some boards over it and the hung the new sign on that.

I was wondering why they they lifted up those sections of granite the other day, they must have done that to install the globe. What does this globe look like? What is it made of? And what the hell is the point of installing a globe?

FlashingLights · #**504** Posted **Jan 14, 2010, 11:47 PM**

lol the globe is so tacky it's like a cliche trump tower/gordan gecko move

absolute joke the original SOM architects are rolling in their graves

viewguysf · #**505** Posted **Jan 15, 2010, 6:19 AM**

It's amazing to look back at the old Sears now and realize that they at least had some class and sense of style!

i_am_hydrogen · #**506** Posted **Jan 24, 2010, 3:51 AM**

spyguy · #**507** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 3:33 AM**

First the globe. Now this:

Ellen DeGeneres Flag Will Remain On Willis Tower For A Week

I know it's temporary and all that, but it seems like another step in the wrong direction.

The North One · #**508** Posted **Feb 1, 2010, 4:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

In his address to the Muslim world Thursday, President Obama said "American Muslims have enriched the United States."

Thats funny...

The North One · #**509** Posted **Feb 1, 2010, 4:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

First the globe. Now this:

Ellen DeGeneres Flag Will Remain On Willis Tower For A Week

I know it's temporary and all that, but it seems like another step in the wrong direction.

Gosh no, don't let them start doing that. I don't want to see her ugly face on my tower!

And why would they block the views of people who payed to get up there?

Tower6 · #**510** Posted **Mar 4, 2010, 11:02 AM**

The Willis, formerly known as Sears Tower with its head in the clouds.

i_am_hydrogen · #**511** Posted **Mar 6, 2010, 4:15 AM**

ardecila · #**512** Posted **Mar 6, 2010, 6:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by viewguysf

It's amazing to look back at the old Sears now and realize that they at least had some class and sense of style!

More like they hired one of the most dominating, controlling architecture firms on the planet (at the time).

The globe is tacky, but then again, the Wacker bustle/atrium was probably tacky when it was added in the early 90s. Same for the Skydeck canopy. Hell, while I think the cantilevered observation boxes are cool, I think they're a tacky addition to Sears.

I'm glad somebody decided to do something with the worthless plaza space instead of just letting it collect puddles and pigeons. It would have been sweet to get a full-scale replica of the Atlas from Rockefeller Center. You can't go wrong with Paul Manship.

ciorra photography

Mr Downtown · #**513** Posted **Mar 9, 2010, 3:52 AM**

Bruce Graham, the tower's designer, has died at 84.

Lecom · #**514** Posted **Mar 9, 2010, 6:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The North One

Thats funny...

How so? I don't get it, please elaborate, go on.

wrab · #**515** Posted **Mar 9, 2010, 6:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Bruce Graham, the tower's designer, has died at 84.

Thanks for that. Thread at: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...54#post4736754

wrab · #**516** Posted **Mar 9, 2010, 6:31 AM**

Hydro, I'm really liking those golden-hour shots of Willis.

george · #**517** Posted **May 8, 2010, 1:58 PM**

5-5

george · #**518** Posted **May 14, 2010, 7:25 PM**

5-14

westmc9th · #**519** Posted **Jun 12, 2010, 2:52 AM**

picture at my hotel today~

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43913970@N04/4692402078/

Chicago103 · #**520** Posted **Jul 28, 2010, 5:55 AM**

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the unveiling of the design of the Sears Tower according to a book I own.

At a public ceremony on July 27, 1970, the completed design for the Sears Tower was shown to the people of Chicago. Richard J. Daley thanked Sears "for the confidence they are showing in the future" The official Sears Tower ground-breaking ceremony took place shortly there-after, in August.

The Sears Tower by Craig A. Doherty and Katherine M. Doherty
copyright 1995 Blackbirch Press Inc.

Does anyone have any information about what exact day in August 1970 the official ground-breaking ceremony took place?