New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

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ShawJ
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New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by ShawJ »

I think a lot of people on here will love this...

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009 ... tower.html
almighty_tuna
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by almighty_tuna »

ShawJ wrote:I think a lot of people on here will love this...

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009 ... tower.html
My first thought was wide angle, pressed up against the floor looking down.  Oh, and don't forget to bring a bottle of windex.  Can't wait!
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Greg S
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Post by Greg S »

Not sure I could handle that.  I had a hard time with the glass floor at the CN Tower in Toronto.

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Post by StreetsOfOmaha »

Oh my god. I got vertigo just looking at that rendering. That's pretty crazy awesome, though.
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Post by DTO Luv »

That is awesome. I'll have to go back again after it's done.
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ShawJ
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Post by ShawJ »

I've seen a few pictures on facebook of people in this new observation box. I want to get to Chicago now more than ever!
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Omababe
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Post by Omababe »

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:Oh my god. I got vertigo just looking at that rendering. That's pretty crazy awesome, though.
Jeesh! No way am I getting out on that thing!

(I'm not afraid of heights, I'm afraid of falling!)
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thenewguy
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Post by thenewguy »

they had a slide show on msn.com the other day and it freaked me out.
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Omaha Cowboy
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Post by Omaha Cowboy »

I'll be in Chicago next week for a long weekend..

I'll make every attempt to check this out in person..

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Garrett
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by Garrett »

The Sears/Willis Tower has been bought by the Blackstone Group for $1.3 billion, a record for a building outside of New York. Blackstone Tower sounds like much more pleasant of a name, if they were to rename it.... But its still the Sears Tower. ;-)
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OmahaJaysCU
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by OmahaJaysCU »

They have a lease obligation with Willis that gave it the name I believe, not ownership.
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S33
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by S33 »

Been in this tower once, and it was a terrible experience. Paid 20 bucks a piece (I think) to get to the observation deck, crammed onto the elevator with some very "rotund" chicks who's every-other word was f*ck, with one of them backing me into the corner and pushing up against me with her giant ham steak a$$, for an elevator ride that seemed like an eternity.

Once at the top, it was a sight to see. But, man, the ride up was regretful. (sorry, off topic, but that is my Sears Tower story)
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Garrett
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by Garrett »

S33 wrote:Been in this tower once, and it was a terrible experience. Paid 20 bucks a piece (I think) to get to the observation deck, crammed onto the elevator with some very "rotund" chicks who's every-other word was f*ck, with one of them backing me into the corner and pushing up against me with her giant ham steak a$$, for an elevator ride that seemed like an eternity.

Once at the top, it was a sight to see. But, man, the ride up was regretful. (sorry, off topic, but that is my Sears Tower story)

I've never been up there. I hear Hancock is actually better and cheaper anyway.
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skinzfan23
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by skinzfan23 »

Garrett wrote:

I've never been up there. I hear Hancock is actually better and cheaper anyway.[/quote]
Actually I just looked:

Sears Tower:
Adult $19 Child $12.50

Hancock Tower:
Adult $19 Child $13

So they are about the same. Of course the Sears tower deck is about 1,353 ft and the Hancock is around 1.000 ft.

I have been to both and think they are pretty comparable. Thankfully last time we were in Chicago checking into a hotel, a couple was heading for the airport and didn't get to use their Hancock tower passes, so my wife and I got to go for free.
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GetUrban
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by GetUrban »

S33 wrote:Been in this tower once, and it was a terrible experience. Paid 20 bucks a piece (I think) to get to the observation deck, crammed onto the elevator with some very "rotund" chicks who's every-other word was f*ck, with one of them backing me into the corner and pushing up against me with her giant ham steak a$$, for an elevator ride that seemed like an eternity.

Once at the top, it was a sight to see. But, man, the ride up was regretful. (sorry, off topic, but that is my Sears Tower story)
The elevators to the observation deck at the World Trade Center were the same way. I couldn't wait to get off. They held about 60 people packed in pretty tight. I was really glad we went though, back in early July 2001...the view of NYC was fantastic and of course the towers were gone two months later.
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GetUrban
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by GetUrban »

Here's some cool pics I stumbled upon of the Chicago highrises from the Hancock Tower, I believe....

http://petetsai.smugmug.com/Cloud-Chicago/
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
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TitosBuritoBarn
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

Ignorant tourists! The Hancock can be seen for free!! The Signature Lounge is a bar that's two floors ABOVE the observation deck and has no cover charge or need for reservations. You'll almost always have to wait a few minutes for a table and domestic bottles are like $7, but that's about two and a half drinks for the price of admission for the observation deck.

http://www.signatureroom.com/TheSignatureLounge
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S33
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by S33 »

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Ignorant tourists! The Hancock can be seen for free!! The Signature Lounge is a bar that's two floors ABOVE the observation deck and has no cover charge or need for reservations. You'll almost always have to wait a few minutes for a table and domestic bottles are like $7, but that's about two and a half drinks for the price of admission for the observation deck.

http://www.signatureroom.com/TheSignatureLounge
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iamjacobm
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by iamjacobm »

Some announcement about changes to the Willis tomorrow?
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TitosBuritoBarn
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

I asked a colleague who works there about it. She wasn't sure but thinks it could be the unveiling of a plan to update/expand retail offerings to "make it cool again."
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PotatoeEatsFish
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:I asked a colleague who works there about it. She wasn't sure but thinks it could be the unveiling of a plan to update/expand retail offerings to "make it cool again."
I like how it looks now, but okay I guess?
You can just walk down the street and shop...
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iamjacobm
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by iamjacobm »

Looks like a $500 million upgrade. Biggest visual change will be at street level with a multiple story retail arcade being built.
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TitosBuritoBarn
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Re: New addition to Willis (Sears) Tower

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/colu ... story.html

It looks a lot cooler than I was expecting it to. I go to the Sears Tower for meetings a couple times a month and their lobby and current offerings for restaurants and retail are pretty underwhelming for such an iconic building.

That said there used to be a huge pizza joint in the basement that I'm guessing they forced out because it wasn't hip enough. It's a little upsetting as it was my second favorite pizza in the city.
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