When Chicago built the Tallest Building in the World | The story of Sears Tower

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Chapters:
2:32 - How the Sears Catalogue lead to the Sears tower (A)
5:16 - How the Sears Tower Transformed the loop (A)
7:45 - How was the Sears Tower designed?
9:32 - The Sears Tower changed Chicago’s zoning rules
10:08 - How long did the Sears Tower take to build? (The construction process)
12:22 - How many people died while building the Sears Tower?
13:05 - How tall is the Sears Tower?
13:34 - What happened to Sears?
14:24 - Why is Willis Tower Not Sears Tower?
15:07 - How many elevators does the Sears Tower have?
16:50 - Does Sears Tower have an observation deck?
18:30 - Has anyone climbed the Sears Tower?
19:39 - What’s in the basement of Sears Tower?
21:20 - Why Sears Tower is Chicago’s best building
The Willis Tower (originally the Sears Tower) is a 108-story, 1,451-foot (442.3 m) skyscraper in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, United States. Designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), it opened in 1973 as the world's tallest building, a title that it held for nearly 25 years. It is currently the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the 23rd-tallest in the world. Each year, more than 1.7 million people visit the Skydeck observation deck, the highest in the United States, making it one of Chicago's most popular tourist destinations. The building occupies a site bounded by Franklin Street, Jackson Boulevard, Wacker Drive, and Adams Street. Graham and Khan designed the building as nine square "tubes", clustered in a 3×3 matrix; seven of the tubes set back at upper floors. The tower has 108 stories as counted by standard methods, though the building's owners count the main roof as 109 and the mechanical penthouse roof as 110.The facade is made of anodized aluminum and black glass. The base of the building contains a retail complex known as the Catalog. The lower half of the tower was originally occupied by retail company Sears, which had its headquarters there until 1994, while the upper stories were rented out. The structure was known as the Sears Tower from its construction until the naming rights were included in a 2009 lease with the Willis Group. Local area residents still refer to the building by its old name. As of April 2018, the building's largest tenant is United Airlines, which occupies around 20 floors. Other major tenants include the building's namesake Willis Towers Watson and law firms Schiff Hardin and Seyfarth Shaw. Morgan Stanley became the building's fourth-largest tenant in 2017.
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Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[@ITSHISTORY]

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[@mikewallace8087]

Columns stand, vertical. Beams attach perpendicular to columns. You were calling columns in the basement Beams .

[@carculturenation2166]

i live in milwaukee and will never car that building anything but the sears tower. same as our Miller Park for the Milwaukee Brewers. Now called American Family Field. I had fam that built Miller park. And the color of the stadium and the yellowish gold of the MILLER PARK signs made it what it was even when the team still sucked. It was the first of its kind and i went to the old stadium often as a kid and eatched it slowly built and even went after the crane collapsed while building miller park killing workers. I remember braking news going on all day all night when BIG BLUE which i believe was the tallest crane of its type collapsed. qould make for a great story. eventually the stadium was finished and with so many advancements in a stadium i remem water pouring in months after it opened i went to a game. And happen to live a 1/4 mile from it during the all star game. being a 17 yr old i would take my lil brother up there to look through the glass because we couldnt afford it and i still remember the blimp for the movie triple X buzzing above our house for days lol crazy what our lives and minds seal in our heads. i remember seeing that stadium from my street amd forever it will be Miller Park like us milwaukee ppl will always call Sears tower the Original name

[@dbeaus]

@@carculturenation2166 There are several videos on the internet about the collapse of Big Blue. I have seen at least 2.

[@bernardosolis6157]

To me always going to be SEARS TOWER!!. IS LIKE MY NAME IS JOE! AND tomorrow I be Peter. Etc. If the building was name. SEARS. Is going to live like SEARS 👍.

[@jonathanhancock8134]

I live in Chicago for 35 years. It was called Sears Tower back then & I will always call it Sears Tower. When you think about the first thing people know about Chicago, It's the Sears Tower. And I stand by it.

[@ntatenarin]

@Jonathan Hancock And 875 N. Michigan Ave will always be the John Hancock building to me!

[@jonathanhancock8134]

@@ntatenarin That's Right

[@GeneralJackRipper]

I've never even been to Chicago and I agree.

[@joegordon5117]

Totally I'm not from Chicago but even to me it's the Sears Tower, that's just how it's known round the globe (and how it should be!)

[@CSDonohue11]

Well… I’d say it’s The Cubs and or Wrigley Field But Sears Tower is definitely an icon

[@jerrycomo2736]

It's still The Sears Tower, Triborough Bridge, Tappen Zee Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, and of course, Shea Stadium. If Willis wants a tower named for their company, go build one.

[@janbell609]

Pan Am Building, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel

[@brianjoy3407]

Hell yeah Jerry!

[@peterjamesfoote3964]

And it’s Comiskey Park! Not Gauranteed whatever….

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

And Squaw Butte.

[@chonddak]

New York State Theater at Lincoln Center

[@kylexy1223]

It's crazy being 30 miles south and still being able to see the Sears Tower on clear days

[@jaybrewer3920]

Exactly u can see the Sears Tower all the way in the far south suburbs, shows how tall the building is

[@xbmpr]

I worked in Addison and would see it almost every morning on my drive to work.

[@deejayimm]

I remember about 15 years ago, standing on the beach at Michigan City Indiana and you could the skyline from across the lake. That was pretty neat.

[@MrTontowatkins]

Yep. Can also be seen from O'Hare airport

[@supertuber120]

Back when I was still in that area I remember being on the top of some of the rollercoasters at Great America and seeing the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Building and the Aon Center for a split before it went over the drop. Almost in Wisconsin and you can still see 'em.

[@mackpines]

I’m just like you. I always refer to it as the Sears Tower. Never the Willis Tower. Always loved this building. It’s one of the things that makes Chicago an incredible city.

[@jonathanhancock8134]

That's right. It still is despite the name change.

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

What chu talkin' 'bout, Willis Tower?

[@paologonzato5202]

Even John Hancock centre

[@AnixCo1990]

Fun fact Sears was going to make the tower even bigger, around 5.5-6 million square feet. But since the faa limited the height of the building to 1,450 ft, Sears was forced to cut back the square footage to just 4.5 million square feet.

[@jameswilson5165]

Darn FAA, Elon Musk can relate. 🤣

[@ChatGPT1111]

Leave it to the gubermint to throw a wrench in anything grand in our country smh

[@josephsierzengaIV]

Renaissance Center (GM Building) in Detroit is 5.5MSQFT only 750ft tall at its highest point.

[@dbeaus]

Fun fact. When Sears sold the building it was around 60% empty.

[@AnixCo1990]

@@josephsierzengaIV B1m made a video about the world’s largest skyscrapers. Singular buildings were the only ones on the list, the building in Detroit is a group of buildings connected to one another. Just like the Al Bait towers in Saudi Arabia, Sears Tower was the largest skyscraper on earth till 2017, when a skyscraper in China surpassed it.

[@PAPO9609]

Fun fact. We still have a lot of Sears stores open and working here in Mexico. They're pretty good actually.

[@geoffroberts4267]

I believe Carlos Slim has a big finger in that pie...-

[@FernandoTRA]

But they are not owned be Sears. They are are owned and operated by Grupo Carso why pays a fee for the use of the Sears name, logo, colors, store design, etc.

[@PAPO9609]

@@FernandoTRA I know that but it's still pretty cool.

[@mikevanderkolk9593]

Dude I know I went to a small town 30 minutes south of can cun for vacation last year and was shocked you guys had sears stores and kmarts still there lol

[@PAPO9609]

@@mikevanderkolk9593 Yeah man. And we also have Radioshack stores in some places still

[@kevinoneill2551]

Born and raised in Chicago, and still live in a Chicago suburb. It will always be Sears Tower!!!

[@dbeaus]

Who the hell is Willis anyway? Willis is a Canadian Insurance company that only got the building, they were actually outbid by the Japanese, because Sears wanted to keep the name for one year and the Japanese wanted to change the name immediately.. The Canadians didn't seem to care and that was that. Hard to believe isn't it but I knew a big time broker who was somehow involved. Petty? To you and me sure. But I heard of other deals that went south for less. And it will be the Sears tower forever. I was in Chicago, I am a southside native, 2 years ago and asked some young folks where the Willis Tower was and got blank stares and some said, "Oh you mean the Sears Tower". Maybe it should the Sears/Willis? And by the way, don't go on a foggy day to the deck, you can't see anything. You wouldn't believe how many people do that. Once a Chicagoan, always a Chicagoan, doesn't matter where you are.

[@METALFACEDOOMXXXX]

Its the Willis tower

[@freetolook3727]

Sears even sold houses through a catalog. You got everything to build a complete ouse (except for the foundation) and Sears even sold furnishings so your house could be completely turn key, literally. Curtains, pianos, sinks, furnaces, carpets, wallpaper, different door & window styles were all available in the catalogs!

[@wlbyrd1]

They sold cars and motorcycles too.

[@3rdFloorblog]

Imagine the postman's face on the day of delivery!! #ROFLMAO

[@topcat1255]

One of those Sears kit homes still exists...in Old Town off of Wells.

[@freetolook3727]

There are many in my area of upstate NY in The Great Industrial Northeast! Most were located in towns along railroads as that was the primary source of transportation before WWII. They were sold 1907-1940. I have two books on Sears kit houses and it's very fascinating how they were designed, engineered and built.

[@astrataway7077]

What's insane about Sears is they would put Amazon to shame even today and nobody younger than 30 seems to remember as if it never existed. Amazon owes Sears their left nut.

[@denali9449]

In 1970 a friend who owned a construction company in Waukegan hooked me up with SOM as an engineering intern. SOM assigned me to work with Fazlur Khan, the structural engineer for Sears Tower. My future job opportunities instantly quadrupled.

[@ginaroberts2964]

This building went up when I was 8 years old, it will always remain Sears Tower for me!! It's such a beautiful building and a true icon of Chicago!

[@3rdFloorblog]

FOREVER SEARS...

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

What about those Marina City towers that are on the back of the first Styx album?

[@AbeValdo312]

I was born when The Sears Tower was only 1 year old 😝 I remember all thru grade school I would draw the Sear Tower numerous times. I would also draw the John Hancock building , Standard Oil building, Marina Towers, Old Water Tower building and the Tribune building. The whole skyline with Star-wars characters 🤦🏻😝

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

I'm obsessed with Chicago right now. Chicago content is greatly appreciated!

[@giovannigomez1136]

come vist chicago in the summer, the skyline view from the paddler planetarium is jaw dropping if you are a first timer.

[@DW3010]

Bang bang bang!

[@InflatablePlane]

Same! If you want even more good history of the city and the products it made, I highly recommend visiting the website of the Made In Chicago Museum. They write some of the best stories about Chicago and it’s many many manufacturers I’ve read so far

[@PRHILL9696]

You should come visit Chicago, especially in the fall and winter it is SO beautiful here

[@johnodo764]

Nah!

[@ronque23]

Born and raised in Chicago. When I was in grade school in the 80s we took a field trip to the top. Still one of the coolest experiences. If I ever hear a person living in Chicago call it Willis, I immediately correct them. Only tourists call it that.

[@wannawatchu66]

I grew up on the West Coast. It's the Sears Tower to me. Period.

[@semajreed3423]

I Call It Da Willis Tower Tho & I Was Born & Raised Rh Inna City Of Skyscrapers Chicago😭😭😁😄🤫🔥💯

[@DardanellesBy108]

I’m also from the West Coast and will never call it by any other name but SEARS TOWER. I got to visit it several years ago. Been to Chicago three times and hope to go again.

[@ChomoBidensMules]

They'll flip you the bird and keep calling it Willis.

[@Mrd9960]

​@@DardanellesBy108Same here man, been there 3 times and will definitely go back there again at some point, went inside the Sears and up to the skydeck, AMAZING!

[@hugolopez5515]

I remember when I was in 3rd grade in Chicago. Our project for history was to choose a building to make at home and bring it in to school. Nobody knew any buildings, but I knew the Sears Tower and chose it. I made it out of a bunch of shoe boxes. Pretty cool project for class.

[@KLTRF]

Hey

[@robertlee6781]

Grew up in Chicago. Me and two buddies went to Sears Tower after the SkyDeck on the 103rd floor had just opened. The building wasn’t fully complete. We somehow snuck up to the 108th floor. It was windy as heck since some of the glass hadn’t been installed.

[@indianastan]

"" somehow "" ? Snuck up to 108 a huh🤫🤐

[@VidGirl88]

It's interesting to think that we went from ordering from a catalog/telephone to in-store purchases and now we've looped back to ordering for home delivery. Also yes, it'll always be Sears tower to me as well!

[@gabrielhowardMKE]

Sears was Amazon 100 years before Amazon existed

[@WhiteTrashMotorsports]

@@gabrielhowardMKE Yes, if they would have only embraced the internet early, they would have been what Amazon is today.

[@Montoya2005]

What are you on about? We haven’t looped back, buying online and delivery is just an extension. Catalogues still exist. So does the phone and shops. It’s not a big jump or step back.

[@gabrielhowardMKE]

@@Montoya2005 Maybe you are too young to remember but catalogues DID die, they used to incredibly popular and every company had them. Now, they may still be around but they are rare and the few that are left are usually Christmas catalogs

[@Punkthedog]

As a Chicago construction worker who's been in the tower a lot I can tell you that behind the scenes this is one of the weirdest and most unique buildings downtown. That and I remember as a kid being able to see this monster from all the way from Wauconda on clear summer days.

[@jtsholtod.79]

Interesting note: United Airlines has their Network Operations Center (NOC) on the 25/26 double floor originally used as a trading floor. There they coordinate and monitor all of their flights, including aircraft, crew, weather and scheduling. They even have a secure area for flights that they operate for the US government.

[@chrismoody1342]

I visited Sears Tower in the early 80’s. As we drove approaching the building, it got harder and harder to see the top of the building. You’d have to lean forward and peer out the top edge of the windshield. As you got closer it became soon impossible. Standing at street level you’d crane your neck so far back trying to see the top you’d topple over backwards. At the observation deck looking down onto 60 story buildings surrounding it, they look like little Lego bricks far far below.

[@MondoMiami]

You need to get out more often.

[@daniellinehan63]

Macy's......No ! Marshall Fields.......yep

[@skendermakota7244]

I also used to go for rides downtown, open up the sunroof, smoke a doobie on the way from uptown where I lived, then my buddy would drive, as I collapse the seat and gaze through the sunroof at night, watching the buildings tower over me and change shapes.... from beautiful to more beautiful, to scary awesome!Chase building for ex tapers in such a cool way, when you are laying in your seat and look up from the bottom, it looks as if the building had sterted toppling over, coming at you! Chicago has always been my number one archtecture capital of all time, unlike modern newer cities with mostly glass mess all over, Chicago has history laid out in front of you - the history of not only architecture and engineering, but many firsts which basically directed the rest of the world - elevator (Otis) being one examnple... before elevator, top floors were undesirable, after elevator the world changed as the real estate adjusted and bidlings were starting to be built high - all thanks to Chicago again. I lived x street of Monadnock building, look it up, maybe one of the most important junctions of industrial (r)evolution, when limestone became to heavy, switch was made to steel and has never stopped since

[@kct1975]

To me as well, it will ALWAYS be the SEARS TOWER of CHICAGO. My parents and I lived in the Chicagoland area in the late `70's (1976 to 1980) and I visited the Sears Tower a at least a couple of occasions. It was impressive then and it is still impressive.

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

I went to the observation deck near the top of that tower in 1995 and no one can ever change that!

[@METALFACEDOOMXXXX]

Its the Willis tower lmao 🤣

[@markmh835]

Even though I live in a western city of barely 34,000 people, we are a regional retail hub for a vast area. We were blessed in my growing up years with a Sears, Montgomery Wards, a JCPenney's and a Macy"s. This made us feel part of the national landscape. Later came Kmart and Walmart, which drove Wards to close. Our Sears store closed after the merger with Kmart. The Kmart and Macy's stores closed right before the pandemic started, and JCPenney's closed in the midst of the pandemic -- along with several other retailers we lost. It is all so sad. We are a retail desert; our mall is dead; the city is littered with empty big box buildings, and the local daily newspaper shrank to half its size because these stores were major advertisers. Online purchasing -- especially Amazon -- has gutted middle America but gives our communities nothing in return. 😢👎

[@TitaniumTurbine]

That isn’t just happening in middle America, we’re seeing the same in Florida and I’m sure it’s elsewhere too. We have so much tourism here though that for a retail chain to close up shop it must really be dying, though in a county that had three malls… we are now down to just one. Keep in mind that those big box stores killed the local mom and pop shops - which was the real community. Amazon killing the box stores is the natural progression of things. Amazon is actively contributing a few things to these communities but primarily they’re building Amazon Warehouses in more rural areas which in turn contributes jobs with better pay/benefits than the box stores had. Amazon Delivery jobs are also well paying jobs with great benefits. Friends of mine reported they were getting pretty decent health insurance coverage and tuition reimbursement. These gigs are not for everyone obviously, especially extreme extroverts, but keep in mind that these warehouses make same/next day delivery possible to the same communities which is important when the stores are gone. Not Amazon fan-girling, just wanted to mention those things. I remember when everyone was hating on Walmart/box stores for killing the “little guy” not so many years ago and now it seems Amazon is getting hate for killing the box stores.

[@Superstrike_11]

Same thing in New Hampshire. Berlin and Colebrook have been gutted by Amazon and Walmart. People no longer understand how the economy works, and our smaller communities suffer because of it.

[@ntatenarin]

While I know you're not a Chicago-specific KZbinr, you're definitely one of my favorite channels for Chicago related content!

[@dragonlukasmapping805]

I love that every american and europeans call it Sears Tower.... because it is. :3

[@deborahbrown6061]

My father was a construction foreman on The Sears Tower. At one point, he even fell off and caught his right arm in a tool bucket on the way down. His wrist was broken, but that tool bucket saved his life. He was back to work the next day. I always give The Sears Tower a hug as I walk by. My father is no longer living but hugging the building allowes me to feel close to him. Thank you for the great video.

[@bigjermboktown6976]

I've been to the top of both the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Tower and there's really nothing quite like it! Chicago is my favorite city in America to visit

[@geerd1]

One of my favourite skyscrapers to have a documentary about ☺️

[@stevenj9970]

ONLY 'SEARS TOWER!!!' I've lived in Chicago since I began college in 1978, it's always been 'Sears Tower' and will remain 'Sears Tower' in my mind!!! BRAVO and RIP Sears.......a wonderful company, building this GREAT structure will help the company be remembered forever!!!!!!!!!!

[@lukaradzik8545]

Kinda selfish of Mr.Willis to change the towers name. I was adopted at 8 and my parents had the right to change my name but didn't.

[@Soundbrigade]

On our very first tour to Chicago and USA in 2006, we did visit the tower, my women (wife and daughter) loved it, but with a severe akrophobia, I like the view but decided to stand next to the elevator. Thanks for telling the story of this landmark.

[@itsmezed]

I'm right with you there. You couldn't pay me enough to get in one of those sky boxes!

[@EricSocash]

Love the shoutout to our grandpa! Great video! I’ll never think of it other then the Sears tower.

[@martinezindustriesco.2740]

Growing up just a couple hours away from Chicago, this tower will always be the Sears Tower. 🙏🏻

[@nonyanks2510]

Sears changed the world of shopping and that building will always be the Sears Tower! Some reall nice looking buildings around it as well!

[@itzamia]

Still my favorite building in the world. I'm not from Chicago but had passed through twice in my life and got a chance to see it. It's a very majestic building. I live outside of NYC and loved the twin towers and Empire State building. But the Sears Tower is a force to be reckoned with.

[@freightJames]

Great in terms of construction but icon, not at the level of the Towers or Empire State

[@Mrd9960]

​@@freightJamesEh not sure about that, at one time, it was the tallest building in the world, have no idea why you would say that, it's an incredible building, it's definitely an icon, atleast in my eyes it is.

[@jadennguyen2852]

@@Mrd9960 the twins had more of a presence since its in nyc, plus 9/11 happened making them infamous

[@edwardhammer5427]

I'm not a Chicago native, only living here for 9 years, I'll always call it the SEARS tower. I first saw the building as a kid in the early 80's. When someone calls it Willis, I look at them strange!

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

I was a college student in Chicago from start to completion of the tower, and watched the construction slowly ascend into the sky. To me, it will always be the Sears Tower. Thanks for the history lesson!

[@Slane583]

I'm not even from Chicago nor have I ever been there and even for me it's always going to be called the Sears Tower. What something is called officially and what it actually is are two different things.

[@samsonchan1488]

I remember my first visit there when I was a kid in the 80’s, and I love how the Sears Tower is still being used by businesses, tourists, and locals alike. The continuing updates and new restaurants on the ground floor still make it a cool place to visit. Just brought my family to the Color Factory there! And yes, I still tell my kids that this is the Sears Tower.

[@marklindquist2206]

Our parents to us to Chicago in summer of ‘74,,,went up in the Sears tower,,was brand new and so clean,,,worked for Sears appliance repair for 23 years

[@VampFaye]

My grandparents lived in a rural mountain town in Georgia. The Sears catalog was how we chose our potential gift list. They would order and it'd be sent to a store in town. I remember looking at the catalog every year and making my wish list. My first pair of Nike shoes (1978 ?) came from the wish book. It was sad when they decided to stop making it.

[@speedracer9132]

Thumbs up for the thumbnail calling it the SEARS Tower

[@newdefsys]

Growing up as a kid in the 70s, getting the sears catalog in the mail was a treat.

[@LUIS-ox1bv]

Especially the Christmas catalogue. Couldn't put it down.

[@charlesgreer7245]

The Christmas catalog was how we Christmas shopped with my grandparents on my dad's side. My sister,brother,and I would run straight to the catalog on the first visit that it was in and pick out what we wanted for our grandparents to order for us. Also got my first pair of skates from sears catalog, going to the skating ring was a big deal on Friday and Saturday nights in the 80s.

[@newdefsys]

@@charlesgreer7245 skating rink was okay. but the game room was where all the cool kids hung out

[@alexlorenz4103]

I'm from the Suburbs, but always went downtown with my dad for various events. It will always be the SEARS Tower in my eyes.

[@JDoors]

"Willis" is a character from a 70s/80s TV show. The skyscraper in downtown Chicago is the "Sears Tower." End of argument.

[@Vonslik69]

I always felt the Sears Tower was and still is the most artistc and smart Infustructure Tower design in the US. Great history cover and commentary 👌

[@davidfish591]

I grew up in the suburb of Woodstock, Illinois. It will always be THE SEARS TOWER. Thanks for a very nice video.

[@2426eltejano]

Been there first time in the 80's and last time in 2005 to me always going to be The Sears Tower ,,,,,,,,,,, awesome views from up there

[@michaelnisbett4307]

Working just 4 blocks from the site I watched Sears Tower evolve from a setting in of foundations that seemed to last forever to its final topping off and then the filling in of the interior until it was a completed project. A note of interest is that I learned that it would be the world's tallest building before the official announcement was made. The announcements of the building were made with mention of the expected square footage but no mention was made of height. I knew the location well and doing some elementary math I figured that if they built to the sidewalk on all sides with no alterations in the coverage the result would be a cube of fifty stories or so. I wasn't too exact on the figures but I knew that the building would crowd its space unless it narrowed things and went higher. Well, knowing how Sears was a Chicago booster company I figured that maybe they were going to build the world's tallest building. By coincidence there was a fellow I knew (just barely) who was with SOM. I assumed he probably was not working on the project but would still know about it so one day when we were waiting for the elevator to take us down to street level (41 stories down), and figuring that if I asked him how tall the building was going to be he'd plead ignorance, so I played it smart and made the comment, "Rich, I hear Sears is going to build the world's tallest building." There was an immediate look of panic on his face and he said, "Who told you? Nobody's supposed to know." I answered, "You just did. Thanks for the information, but why the secrecy?" It turns out that Sears was still bargaining with the FAA (at least that's what Rich told me) since Sears wanted to go a lot higher and the FAA wanted them to go a lot lower. Eventually they arrived at a compromise of 1450 feet. In any case that's how when the announcement was made that Sears Tower would be the world's tallest there was one person out there who wasn't at all surprised. It just took a little bit of psychological cunning on my part to get the early heads-up.

[@1208bug]

Very interesting. Thank you!

[@gofast3209]

Wonderful video!! I live Wisconsin bout 2 hours from Chicago. The Chicago skyline still amazes me!!

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

Thank You Ryan, You and your producers put out great video's, and it will also be Sears Tower to me also!

[@SWExplore]

Ryan, I was not aware that it is now known as the Willis Tower. As far as I'm concerned, it still is the Sears Tower to me. Thanks for this and many other excellent presentation at It's History.

[@jmoney-z5561]

Regardless of it’s name. It’s Sears Tower. Nothing can change that! I’m from the Chicago suburbs and I’ve been living here for 21 years. Reason why we stick to the original because in our culture when something is known for a long time and names change. We stick to it because it’s what we think is familiar. But it’s not only Sears Tower. Chicagoans call White Sox’s Park Comiskey, 875 N Michigan John Hancock, and most commonly Macy’s Building as Marshall Fields. To those that visit, I highly recommend you blend in as a local and refer by those names respectively.

[@chadenglish4169]

I am going to Chicago first weekend of July 2023. Definitely will put the Sears Tower on the must see list.

[@ZINC_CROSS6868]

How was it? Was it safe?

[@erock1779]

Great video. Fan and resident of Wisconsin here. We all call it the Sears Tower, not that other name. Comiskey Park is still Comiskey Park.

[@edeter2260]

The name of this building will always be THE SEARS TOWER to me.

[@wynnpetsovich34]

I’ve never been to the sky deck. I always see the price and decide to do the Hancock. That place is great because you can just spend as much time up there as you want.

[@GalaxyFur]

While the Sears Tower has the highest viewing floor of any building in North America at 1,353 ft. the John Hancock Center's 94th floor still get's you up over 1,000 ft. In fact, it gets you up to 1,029 ft. to be exact. (The 95th and 96th floors of the Hancock get you up to over 1,050+ ft.) The John Hancock Center is also often ranked as having arguably the best view and vantage point of any skyscraper in the U.S. To this day John Hancock Center still holds the title of having the fastest elevators in North America at 1,800 ft. per minute. (The Sears Tower's observatory elevators come in at 1,600 ft. per minute and the Empire State Building elevators are 1,200 ft. per minute in comparison.)

[@freetolook3727]

Sears even had land where they grew renewable forests for lumber for their kit houses, sawmills, milling mills for molding, and factories to build the doors, windows, molding, and lumber precisely cut for the kit houses.

[@Michaelengelmann]

It’ll always be the Sears tower to me. Same with a local mall named Franklin Mills , now known as Philadelphia Mills.

[@gailla]

No true Chicagoan calls it anything but Sears Tower. If you hear someone call it the “W” name, they are either from out of town or in a job that requires they call it that.

[@sparkswolverine]

It's the Sears Tower to me, much like the Tribourogh Bridge in New York.

[@tellethomas410]

I love this building and it will always be Sears Tower to me.

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

Sears Tower for me. Definitely.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

All these people so staunchly insisting on calling it Sears Tower and dying on that hill are the same ones who stopped going to Sears to buy anything to the point they're almost bellyup now.

[@uhlijohn]

Correction: There is no Richard Daley, Sr. There is Richard J. Daley (the first mayor of Chicago of that name) and his son, Richard M. Daley. No junior after his name since his name is different.

[@petenielsen6683]

Richard Daley The Elder and Richard Daley The Younger would be more accurate. Just like the two US presidents named George Bush are not called senior and junior. Nor are my sister's father-in-law and her husband Gary senior and Gary junior since they have different middle names.

[@JohnWilson-wg4gk]

The US Presidents are Bush 43 and Bush 41. Bush 41 was shot down over the Pacific in 1944 and then, unwittingly, set a speed record paddling a rubber life raft to safety. He got even for this in 1992 by puking all over the Japanese Prime Minister at a formal banquet in Japan. I swear I'm not making this up.

[@brianarbenz1329]

My situation was the same, as my father and I had the same first and last names, but different middle names. That spared me from being a "junior," and I'm grateful for that.

[@milkman81]

Great Video!!! You need to make an update on the new improvements made to the lower levels!

[@perky42069]

I grew up in NW Indiana and it will always be the Sears Tower to me.

[@bobdobalina838]

Yes the wind can definitely cause this building to move. I worked for Bank of America for a while on the 29th floor and in my boss's corner office you could hear it creak from time to time like being on an old wooden ship! Good times.

[@Doggeslife]

It will always be Sears Tower to me.

[@davegarski1548]

My great-grandfather on my mother's side, was E.E. Sears. Although I am sure there is a distant relation connection to the Sears family name, as far as I know, that connection was never found. This will always be the "Sears" tower to me. I visited the tower twice, many years ago. Even though I grew up in Racine, WI, I have always loved the magnitude - concrete and steel jungles of Chicago. Excellent doc video!

[@ilovetotri23]

I have visited it many times. It appears to be the best event for most peeps new to Chicago.

[@cubzrulz]

I feel about Chicago the way my parents feel about Mexico. So much to love and experience, but between the violence and corrupt politicians you just want to leave even if it hurts.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

The Sears Tower always made me wonder if the architects played with Kenner’s Panel and Girder Building Set. I vaguely remember one of the models in the idea book from the early 60’s kinda looked like a smaller version of the Sears Tower. Or they liked Lego 4x4 shape to stack up and build.

[@neils5539]

It definitely looks like it. Had one when I was a kid and loved playing with it.

[@dins5066]

Shea stadium wasn't renamed

[@mikevanderkolk9593]

They actually got the design in a Café in downtown from a box of cigarettes one day Skidmore opened a box up to smoke and the cigarettes came out of the box in that tubular shape... I guess smoking has its positive purposes lol

[@benjamindurand3891]

Superbe vidéo, merci pour le travail. Ce gratte-ciel est l'un des plus emblématiques du monde. Il est absolument unique.

[@marylouleeman591]

Thank you, Ryan!!

[@woodencoasterfan]

I myself am not afraid of heights but I did pause a little bit and slowly step out onto the Ledge when I was there in 2017. I am from Orlando and it was amazing to see the sights and to know that I was literally four times higher than 200 South Orange (formerly known as the SunTrust Center) in Orlando. It is the tallest building in Orlando standing at a mere 441 feet tall.

[@LUIS-ox1bv]

The height of Orlando's downtown is quite stunted, even by Florida standards. Miami has been building much taller structures and will now proceed to build the tallest in the southeast.

[@emello4you]

Your maths a little off there bro. 4 times taller that would be 1764 feet 😂

[@kmotch]

I went in February and returning to Chicago in 2 weeks for Xmas holiday, must say my favourite is the John Hancock building. But as a child of the 80s this building is iconic to me.

[@kellysikula]

The last beam was signed by Arthur Wood, oversaw planning & construction of Sears Tower.

[@brentgindelberger8851]

A true story about how the 9 tube design of the Sears Tower came about...The architect was Bruce Graham of SOM (he also designed the John Hancock Tower in Chicago). He was a smoker and at lunch one day with a colleague, he took out 9 cigarettes from his pack and tied them together to demonstrate his idea. The design was born!

[@trhendricks2216]

I heard that from Mr. Graham directly. We were privilged to have him as a visiting critic at Nebraska in 1990.

[@carlsaganlives5112]

Not only a smoker, a midnight toker.

[@daniellinehan63]

Like the guy who invented the MRI.He was eating a Big Mac nr.the U.of Chicago and was flipping the styrofoam box open/ closed.....viola !!

[@QW-lm1ie]

@@chiraqcadillac Chicago skyline is beautiful as is, you ever look at the NYC skyline its literally choking itself out with all the tall buildings, Chicago skyline is perfect in that you can see nearly every building, unlike in NYC where the tall ones obscure everything else.

[@darthguilder1923]

What’s with all the bots posting about Amazon?

[@arizonaalchemy7572]

Nicely Done ! Breaks my heart that SEARS is gone. Our Parents shopped their stores. I worked for them in the 1990's. This will always be the SEARS TOWER no matter who owns it. :)

[@davidkimmel4216]

Wonderful video. Thank You

[@randalbolton263]

It will always be The Sears Tower.

[@Interesting_Banana]

13:29 its Petronas, not patron

[@ethancook5705]

Terrific video

[@davideastham]

Thank you for the video. I will always call is Sears Tower as well. I remember when they installed those antenna's. It was a sight to see.

[@Iconoclasher]

One detail you left out. I saw a reliable documentary on the Sears Tower about 20 years ago. They mentioned that Sears actually built the tower. Sears was the general contractor. I guess that way they could hire the best architect firms and construction companies and have complete control over it.

[@denali9449]

No, Morse Diesel Construction was the general contractor. Project Managers were Harold Schiff and Dick Halpern.

[@Iconoclasher]

@@denali9449 So much for the credibility of the History Channel 😂

[@craigjensen6853]

Sears did build their own malls though through their Homart Development arm. Hundreds of them. Sears also joint ventured with Taubman to build several malls. No doubt Sears had their own architects doing some work on the tower, even if it was just interiors. At the time the tower was being built, Sears was known to "overbuild" their stores by a large margin, creating floorplates with higher load capacities and overall "beefier" and higher-quality buildings than what was being built by their peers. It's very likely Sears had the same mindset when specifying the tower. The sky was the limit at c. 1969 Sears.

[@denali9449]

@@Iconoclasher I hear ya ! ! ! But, they normally do a good job on their research.

[@denali9449]

@@craigjensen6853 I was a structural engineering intern at SOM for the tower. I worked directly for Fazlur Khan and do not recall us ever receiving any direction from Sears on how the building was to be designed structurally. First Fazlur would not have stood for it and then, the last thing Sears wanted to do was to stick their fingers into something where they had no knowledge. Architecturally it was a different story. I recall several 'discussions' over form, function, office sizes, colors and finishes. I was glad all we had to do was make the thing stand up!

[@jakethesnake4971]

My mom brought us to the sears tower observatory on the top floor several times in the early 90's. Such great memories.

[@ryano913]

It’ll always be the Sears Tower for me til the day I die

[@skdnskdhsodhwohhsod8456]

My heart goes to the entire community for Amazons AMZ2023X building up something even my grandpa can understand. This is so smart by them to launch it to shatter the doubts and fears of the common folk which is not even correct to begin with. Everyone knows the state of inflation and recession now and the way out is already in progress. Now it's just about catching the big fish

[@patrickhavice4541]

Can someone translate this for me?

[@392_choppa]

Bot

[@scotcoon1186]

@@patrickhavice4541 I think it's someone who doesn't understand how the free market reacts to changes in government policy. Or a bot programmed by such a person.

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great video! Also great tower, the Sears Tower!

[@TheydyGodiva]

Chicago native here. It will ALWAYS be the Sears Tower.

[@chesterthawkins7510]

great video!

[@pghrpg4065]

My mother worked at Sears for most of my childhood (not in Chicago), so that may be why I knew about the Sears Tower being the world's tallest building when I was a kid (or maybe just that I'm a nerd). In fifth grade, we had a project for English class where we had to write to a company and see if they'd send back any information. Naturally, I chose Sears because I knew to just send my letter to the Sears Tower; I remember calling the Post Office to get the ZIP Code (60606). I know I got some information back, but I barely remember now; I wish I still had it. Anyway, yes, I will always call it the Sears Tower.

[@AlexanderSogliero]

Great video and thank you for the link to the free month of Magellan. I utilized it and signed up and will keep the service. What a fantastic product. Great recommendation 👍🙏

[@rossmeldrum3346]

The Sear catalog showing up was like Christmas at our house. So many magical things to dream about and wish to own.

[@Oscar-rb1jy]

Beautiful building. Has a very imposing and stable appearance. Proud to live in Chicago!

[@MondoMiami]

OMG. What a hellhole. I hope you don’t get shot. I mean, you will eventually, but … good luck to you.

[@neils5539]

SOM's "bundled tube" design is brilliant in it's simplicity and strength. Plus it gives the building a unique and timeless style.

[@ve4mm]

Always The Sears Tower. I was amazed by the building in the 70's. In 1972 when I was 10 we visited Chicago and went to John Hancock viewing deck and that was cool.

[@ral3514]

I will always remember being a kid and going into the city and seeing the sears on the skyline. It used to fascinate me.

[@circleinforthecube5170]

absolutely stunning architectural masterpiece

[@sabrinabaskerville]

I used to work on the 103rd at Skydeck. Probably one of the best jobs I’ve had. Certainly the best view I’ve ever had. Fun fact, you can also have Giordano’s Pizza/Dinner near the ledge after Skydeck closes. Look into “Pie in the Sky” and thank me later. 😏😌

[@fcruz43215]

What a wonderful building!