Click on the pictures to get a larger sized one!

SEARS TOWER

442 metres/1,450 feet
108 stories
Completed: 1974
Tallest building in the world (1974-1996)
Tallest building in the United States (1974 - 2006)
4th tallest building in the world
(behind 101 Taipei, and Petronas Towers)


Sears Tower: upon its completion in 1974, it became the tallest building in the world,
but these days it's 'no more' than America's tallest skyscraper, and #4 in the world: Sears tower.
The 108 stories tower reaches 442m/1,450f, while the twin antennas atop the building
bring its total height to 527m/1,729f.
Construction on Sears Tower took three years, and during peak times, some 1,600 people worked on the project.
In the Sears Tower, nine contiguous tubes, in essence nine towers 23m square,
make up the fifty-story base of the building. Their frames are interlocked;
thus each tube helps to support its neighbour. The density of the building decreases as tubes drop off,
two at the 50th floor, two more at the 66th, and three at the 90th, leaving only two to reach the 108-story apex.


Some more facts:
- the tower was the world's tallest from 1974-1996, when it was surpassed by
Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers;
- despite losing this title, the building still holds the title of tallest building in the world including
antennas or spires that are not part of the architectural design (527m/1,729f).
- the building has an observatory (skydeck) at the 103 stories level (413m/1,353f level).
It attracts about 1,5 million visitors each year. Costs to go up are US$ 11,95.
But beware, although it's really worth it to go up and find breathtaking views,
it might take 1 to 2 hours or more to reach the actual skydeck;
the waiting lines are long (because of the many people wanting to go up and tight security measurements;
- the elevators to the Skydeck will take you up at a speed of 488 metres per minute.
They are among the fastest in the world.
- the tower took three years to build. The costs were over US$ 150,000,000.
- the tower has about 16,100 windows
- there are 2,232 steps to the top,
- and the building weighs about 222,500 tons.










Click here to go (back) to the city page of Chicago

Or click here to go (back) to the Top 25 of tallest buildings in the world

The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information are courtesy of
EMPORIS.COM, one of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings.

All pictures copyright (c) 1999 - 2005 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.

Home