Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois


	Please feel free to sign our guestbook. We appreciate hearing what you have to say about Sears Tower! If you have a news tip, simply email info@searstower.org . Is it justifiable for Willis Group Holdings to "rebrand" America's tallest building in the name of corporate greed — even despite strong public resistence? Will this move garner more respect for their firm? Don't forget to cast your vote in the poll! (Post New Comment) (View Latest Comments) "SEARS TOWER" Posted by Tom from Sugar Land, TX (Mon, Aug 2, 2010) To the people at Willis Group in London - You can call it Willie Tower or Queenie Tower or whatever you want, but it will always be SEARS TOWER. That will never ever change for us Americans. "fear of heights" Posted by amber from cambridge,On.Canada (Wed, Jul 14, 2010) I am planning my first visit to Chicago this year. My question to all you guys,will I have a problem visiting the top. As I said, I have a fear of heights,my husband would love for us to go up there. Thanks. "Comin For A Visit!" Posted by NoahHogan from New Marshfield, Ohio (Wed, Jul 7, 2010) Dear Willie, GREAT NEWS: We might be heading "up" your way soon!!! :) Can't wait to meet you; & see the Windy City!!! S.Y.S.--See you soon, Noah Hogan "Sears Tower" Posted by Hope from Ruppel (Sat, Jul 3, 2010) I am from Wisconsin and have been in the Sears Tower about 15 years ago on a tour and I will never forget that experience and I will always call the Sears Tower by it's name. It's like changing the Constitution to a different name. It's just not right. "Awesome" Posted by Tereza from Czech republic (Mon, Jun 21, 2010) I was there 2 years ago. Amazing view on the amazing town of Chicago. You must see that! "Nuclear demolition of the Sears Tower." Posted by Anton from Singapore (Fri, Jun 11, 2010) Yes, the Sears Tower in Chicago is truly a nice building. But the Twin Towers in New York were nice too... If you haven't watched yet Dimitri Khalezov WTC nuclear demolition video, you have to watch it as soon as you can. He also claims that yet another nuclear demolition scheme is a built-in feature of the Sears Tower. Perhaps one day a former spot of the Sears Tower will be called 'ground zero' as well. Perhaps even without Capital Letters as was in the case of the WTC in New York. Just google for Dimitri Khalezov video and see what is prepared for the Sears Tower... "The entire history of the sears tower" Posted by Jack Riley from Stockport (Wed, Jun 2, 2010) It is the tallest building in the united states and was for 25 years, the tallest building in the world 1973-1998. Then the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur overtook it, but only with the help of spires. It overtook the World Trade Centre. Its address is 233 South Wacker drive. From the top, you can see 4 USA states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. At the front desk, there is a moving sculpture by Alexander Calder. It has 110 floors, 7 restaurants, 104 elevators, 16,100 windows 2,232 steps and 796 laboritories. Its architect is Bruce Graham and its engineer was Fazlur Khan. They were both members of Som (Skidmore, Owings and Merrill). They were in the chicago club thinking of the shape of the building then Bruce pulled out some cigarettes and some extended past the others and they both looked at eachother and they knew what the building was going to look like. Over 1.3 million people visit the skydeck each year to explore the view from the Sears Tower on the 103rd floor. On July 16th the company Sears thought, "We don't want to run this building any more,." Then a company called Willis from London said "We'll sponsor you're building." Then it was re-named Willis Tower. The Sears Tower was the fearthest building evacuated on 9 11. The antennas light up 5 times a year: Mothers Day, Fathers Day, St Patricks Day, Halloween and 4th July. Some of the elevators are double-decked. It is 1,450 ft from the street to the roof. It is 1,726 ft with the antennas. It is one of the most visited skydecks in the world. The elevators are some of the fastest in the world. It goes 103 floors in a minute. The building is 4.5 million square ft. It takes 100 security guards, 25 engineers, 3 electicians and 110 ganators to help the Sears Tower's 50,000 miles of electic wiring, 25,000 miles of plumbing, 80,000 miles of elevator cable and 145,000 light fixtures. The window cleaning service is looked after Tony Tunyan. It took 3 years to build (2 floors a week). In June 2000, 6.5 metres were added on to the Sears Tower and it agai "history" Posted by Jack Riley from Stockport (Wed, Jun 2, 2010) After 37 years, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in the western hemisphere. The tallest building in the world 1974-1998. Designed by Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Khan. Its shape is because of a pack of cigarettes. The tallest building in the united states. July 16th 2009, it became Willis Tower. 110 floors, 104 elevators, 7 restaurants, 76 labs, 16,100 windows. From the skydeck on the 103rd floor, you can see 4 states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Some of the fastest elevators in the world. One of the most visited skydecks in the world. 1,450 ft above the famous windy city and finally, the famous address of 233 south wacker drive is the most beautiful building in the world. "Sears tower" Posted by Sarah Lin from UK (Fri, May 21, 2010) As of 2010, Sears Tower remains the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere and one of the largest office buildings (in rentable square footage) in the United States. It also maintains the title of the world's tallest steel-framed building. "Good thinking" Posted by Lisa from NW Chicago (Tue, May 11, 2010) Way to make the people of chicago hate you. "Sears Tower" Posted by juan Martinez from chicago IL (Fri, Apr 23, 2010) THE SEARS TOWER IS AN AMERICAN ICON VICTOR SO CHANGING THE NAME OF THE TOWER IL LIKE CHANGING THE WAY HUMANS RELATE TO THINGS, "WHY DOES IT MATTER" Posted by victor Z from chicago IL (Thu, Apr 22, 2010) i live in chicago i like the name sears tower bbut tell me this, if you had bought the rights to renam it. you would have changed it to to some thing else something stupid like your last nam or som stupid thing you like so why does it matter IF YOU PREFR THE WILLIS TOWER TO BE NAMED THE SEARS TOWER BUY THE RIGHTS AND RENAME IT BACK "Sears Corporation Headquarters" Posted by Terry Wendt from Evanston (Wed, Apr 14, 2010) Rename it back to Sears Tower if Sears returns from Hoffman Estates. "OMG!! :)" Posted by Stephanie from Justice (Fri, Mar 26, 2010) I love the Sears Tower its the best "visitation" Posted by hope culp from canton,IL (Fri, Mar 19, 2010) I visited the willis/sears tower and it was really awsome and i hope that i can go back sometime. "!" Posted by kristen from orlando (Thu, Mar 18, 2010) im vistiting the sears tower soon and its gonna be awesome! "Interesting" Posted by Maria Escudero from Peru (Thu, Mar 18, 2010) Thanks a lot. The information helps me to do my homework. "SEARS TOWER is unsafe to be after Larry Silverstein purchased it" Posted by Icchak from Israel (Sat, Mar 13, 2010) "Larry Silverstein purchased the Sears Tower in Chicago even though it has cracks in the foundation and first floor and on July 16, 2009 officially renamed it into WILLIS TOWER, while "WILLIS" (Willis Group Holdings) are only a tenant, who occupies a meager 3,5% of the entire 110 story tower." It is feared that SEARS TOWER will meet same fate as WORLD TRADE CENTER twin towers in New York City. Tenants, employees and visitors should therefore be aware and beware. "Our tower" Posted by Chicago born from Kansas (Mon, Mar 8, 2010) Changing the name of an icon will not garner respect or prestige. Changing the name on paper will not change its name with the people. "u stupid" Posted by black chiq from detroit (Tue, Mar 2, 2010) u ppl are dumb "SEARS TOWER NOT WILLIS" Posted by Sarah from Sugar Grove IL (Thu, Feb 18, 2010) I have one thing to say: IT WILL NEVER BE THE WILLIS TOWER SEARS TOWER NOT WILLIS TOWER "Re: You people are idiots" Posted by Anna from Aurora Illinois (Wed, Feb 17, 2010) Okay, so here's the deal. I did some research and I found out that the Sears Tower's name should have been changed SEVEN years ago!!!!!!! Why didn't the owners change the name THEN, not NOW. It doesn't make any sense. I mean I'm from Illinois, and I think the owners are idiots. Think about THAT "It will NEVER be the Willis Tower to Me" Posted by Anna from Aurora Illinois (Wed, Feb 17, 2010) The Sears Tower was my favorite place in Chicago. When I went into the city last year my friend goes "Hey, look. It's the WILLIS Tower." And then I went "It will never be the Willis Tower to me. I grew knowing it as the Sears Tower, and I'll die calling it that. "You people don't know anything" Posted by Mike from New York (Tue, Feb 9, 2010) It's ridiculous how you people are pining over a company that trucked jobs out of Chicago 15 years ago to the suburbs. Sears built the Sears Tower way back when because they thought they would have an ever-expanding company with a growing need for office space. Well, Sears failed and moved all of their employees to another town. They haven't even occupied the building for 15 years! In New York, this happens all the time. The "Pan-AM" building is now the MetLife Building because Pan-Am went out of business. The Citicorp Center (the white building with the slanted roof that defines part of the skyline) is now just 601 Lexington. Why? CITIGROUP MOVED OUT. Plus, Citi sucks as a company just like Sears. So while all you people complain and sign petitions to keep the name of a failing company on the nation's largest building for no reason at all, just think of all the money United Airlines has to pay to put their name on the Bulls' stadium or how much US Cellular has to pay to the White Sox. If Sears was out saving jobs and helping the community, I could understand the backlash, however they are not and in Hoffman Estates going bankrupt. At least Willis is a good company that has jobs (yes, JOBS) for Chicagoans INSIDE THE BUILDING. Note from the editor: Pan-Am Building and Citicorp Center are hardly in the same class of distinction as Sears Tower. Those are not nationally recognized attractions drawing millions of tourists per year. If anything, the Chrysler Building is a more proper comparison. And yet Chrysler never even occupied the very landmark tower that it commissioned. Furthermore, Chrysler Motors recently declared bankruptcy. Yet such a notable skyscraper would never be renamed simply because people associate the name "Chrysler Building" with the structure it has always represented — regardless of corporate affiliation. Simply put, this is not about Sears Roebuck and Co, it is about "Sears Tower". Note from the editor: I forgot to mention that John Hancock Center, arguably Chicago's most iconic skyscraper, has also undergone ownership changes. Still despite being named for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance — which is and always has been based in Boston — the name has yet to be altered to reflect a Chicago-based business enterprise. So how are they helping the community? Posted by Marsha from Sabina, Ohio (Mon, Feb 8, 2010) Leave the Sears Tower the 'Sears Tower', I want to take my granddaughter to the Sears Tower not the willis tower. Somebody somewhere just has to change the name of something & just screw-up the 'Tower's' history. Can't you idiots just leave well enough alone????? Displaying last 25 of 331 comments.

Please feel free to sign our guestbook. We appreciate hearing what you have to say about Sears Tower! If you have a news tip, simply email info@searstower.org .

Is it justifiable for Willis Group Holdings to "rebrand" America's tallest building in the name of corporate greed — even despite strong public resistence? Will this move garner more respect for their firm?

Don't forget to cast your vote in the poll!

(Post New Comment)
(View Latest Comments)

View Latest Comments

"SEARS TOWER"
Posted by Tom from Sugar Land, TX (Mon, Aug 2, 2010)

To the people at Willis Group in London - You can call it Willie Tower or Queenie Tower or whatever you want, but it will always be SEARS TOWER. That will never ever change for us Americans.

"fear of heights"
Posted by amber from cambridge,On.Canada (Wed, Jul 14, 2010)

I am planning my first visit to Chicago this year. My question to all you guys,will I have a problem visiting the top. As I said, I have a fear of heights,my husband would love for us to go up there. Thanks.

"Comin For A Visit!"
Posted by NoahHogan from New Marshfield, Ohio (Wed, Jul 7, 2010)

Dear Willie, GREAT NEWS: We might be heading "up" your way soon!!! :) Can't wait to meet you; & see the Windy City!!! S.Y.S.--See you soon, Noah Hogan

"Sears Tower"
Posted by Hope from Ruppel (Sat, Jul 3, 2010)

I am from Wisconsin and have been in the Sears Tower about 15 years ago on a tour and I will never forget that experience and I will always call the Sears Tower by it's name. It's like changing the Constitution to a different name. It's just not right.

"Awesome"
Posted by Tereza from Czech republic (Mon, Jun 21, 2010)

I was there 2 years ago. Amazing view on the amazing town of Chicago. You must see that!

"Nuclear demolition of the Sears Tower."
Posted by Anton from Singapore (Fri, Jun 11, 2010)

Yes, the Sears Tower in Chicago is truly a nice building. But the Twin Towers in New York were nice too... If you haven't watched yet Dimitri Khalezov WTC nuclear demolition video, you have to watch it as soon as you can. He also claims that yet another nuclear demolition scheme is a built-in feature of the Sears Tower. Perhaps one day a former spot of the Sears Tower will be called 'ground zero' as well. Perhaps even without Capital Letters as was in the case of the WTC in New York. Just google for Dimitri Khalezov video and see what is prepared for the Sears Tower...

"The entire history of the sears tower"
Posted by Jack Riley from Stockport (Wed, Jun 2, 2010)

It is the tallest building in the united states and was for 25 years, the tallest building in the world 1973-1998. Then the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur overtook it, but only with the help of spires. It overtook the World Trade Centre. Its address is 233 South Wacker drive. From the top, you can see 4 USA states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. At the front desk, there is a moving sculpture by Alexander Calder. It has 110 floors, 7 restaurants, 104 elevators, 16,100 windows 2,232 steps and 796 laboritories. Its architect is Bruce Graham and its engineer was Fazlur Khan. They were both members of Som (Skidmore, Owings and Merrill). They were in the chicago club thinking of the shape of the building then Bruce pulled out some cigarettes and some extended past the others and they both looked at eachother and they knew what the building was going to look like. Over 1.3 million people visit the skydeck each year to explore the view from the Sears Tower on the 103rd floor. On July 16th the company Sears thought, "We don't want to run this building any more,." Then a company called Willis from London said "We'll sponsor you're building." Then it was re-named Willis Tower. The Sears Tower was the fearthest building evacuated on 9 11. The antennas light up 5 times a year: Mothers Day, Fathers Day, St Patricks Day, Halloween and 4th July. Some of the elevators are double-decked. It is 1,450 ft from the street to the roof. It is 1,726 ft with the antennas. It is one of the most visited skydecks in the world. The elevators are some of the fastest in the world. It goes 103 floors in a minute. The building is 4.5 million square ft. It takes 100 security guards, 25 engineers, 3 electicians and 110 ganators to help the Sears Tower's 50,000 miles of electic wiring, 25,000 miles of plumbing, 80,000 miles of elevator cable and 145,000 light fixtures. The window cleaning service is looked after Tony Tunyan. It took 3 years to build (2 floors a week). In June 2000, 6.5 metres were added on to the Sears Tower and it agai

"history"
Posted by Jack Riley from Stockport (Wed, Jun 2, 2010)

After 37 years, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in the western hemisphere. The tallest building in the world 1974-1998. Designed by Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Khan. Its shape is because of a pack of cigarettes. The tallest building in the united states. July 16th 2009, it became Willis Tower. 110 floors, 104 elevators, 7 restaurants, 76 labs, 16,100 windows. From the skydeck on the 103rd floor, you can see 4 states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Some of the fastest elevators in the world. One of the most visited skydecks in the world. 1,450 ft above the famous windy city and finally, the famous address of 233 south wacker drive is the most beautiful building in the world.

"Sears tower"
Posted by Sarah Lin from UK (Fri, May 21, 2010)

As of 2010, Sears Tower remains the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere and one of the largest office buildings (in rentable square footage) in the United States. It also maintains the title of the world's tallest steel-framed building.

"Good thinking"
Posted by Lisa from NW Chicago (Tue, May 11, 2010)

Way to make the people of chicago hate you.

"Sears Tower"
Posted by juan Martinez from chicago IL (Fri, Apr 23, 2010)

THE SEARS TOWER IS AN AMERICAN ICON VICTOR SO CHANGING THE NAME OF THE TOWER IL LIKE CHANGING THE WAY HUMANS RELATE TO THINGS,

"WHY DOES IT MATTER"
Posted by victor Z from chicago IL (Thu, Apr 22, 2010)

i live in chicago i like the name sears tower bbut tell me this, if you had bought the rights to renam it. you would have changed it to to some thing else something stupid like your last nam or som stupid thing you like so why does it matter IF YOU PREFR THE WILLIS TOWER TO BE NAMED THE SEARS TOWER BUY THE RIGHTS AND RENAME IT BACK

"Sears Corporation Headquarters"
Posted by Terry Wendt from Evanston (Wed, Apr 14, 2010)

Rename it back to Sears Tower if Sears returns from Hoffman Estates.

"OMG!! :)"
Posted by Stephanie from Justice (Fri, Mar 26, 2010)

I love the Sears Tower its the best

"visitation"
Posted by hope culp from canton,IL (Fri, Mar 19, 2010)

I visited the willis/sears tower and it was really awsome and i hope that i can go back sometime.

"!"
Posted by kristen from orlando (Thu, Mar 18, 2010)

im vistiting the sears tower soon and its gonna be awesome!

"Interesting"
Posted by Maria Escudero from Peru (Thu, Mar 18, 2010)

Thanks a lot. The information helps me to do my homework.

"SEARS TOWER is unsafe to be after Larry Silverstein purchased it"
Posted by Icchak from Israel (Sat, Mar 13, 2010)

"Larry Silverstein purchased the Sears Tower in Chicago even though it has cracks in the foundation and first floor and on July 16, 2009 officially renamed it into WILLIS TOWER, while "WILLIS" (Willis Group Holdings) are only a tenant, who occupies a meager 3,5% of the entire 110 story tower." It is feared that SEARS TOWER will meet same fate as WORLD TRADE CENTER twin towers in New York City. Tenants, employees and visitors should therefore be aware and beware.

"Our tower"
Posted by Chicago born from Kansas (Mon, Mar 8, 2010)

Changing the name of an icon will not garner respect or prestige. Changing the name on paper will not change its name with the people.

"u stupid"
Posted by black chiq from detroit (Tue, Mar 2, 2010)

u ppl are dumb

"SEARS TOWER NOT WILLIS"
Posted by Sarah from Sugar Grove IL (Thu, Feb 18, 2010)

I have one thing to say: IT WILL NEVER BE THE WILLIS TOWER SEARS TOWER NOT WILLIS TOWER

"Re: You people are idiots"
Posted by Anna from Aurora Illinois (Wed, Feb 17, 2010)

Okay, so here's the deal. I did some research and I found out that the Sears Tower's name should have been changed SEVEN years ago!!!!!!! Why didn't the owners change the name THEN, not NOW. It doesn't make any sense. I mean I'm from Illinois, and I think the owners are idiots. Think about THAT

"It will NEVER be the Willis Tower to Me"
Posted by Anna from Aurora Illinois (Wed, Feb 17, 2010)

The Sears Tower was my favorite place in Chicago. When I went into the city last year my friend goes "Hey, look. It's the WILLIS Tower." And then I went "It will never be the Willis Tower to me. I grew knowing it as the Sears Tower, and I'll die calling it that.

"You people don't know anything"
Posted by Mike from New York (Tue, Feb 9, 2010)

It's ridiculous how you people are pining over a company that trucked jobs out of Chicago 15 years ago to the suburbs. Sears built the Sears Tower way back when because they thought they would have an ever-expanding company with a growing need for office space. Well, Sears failed and moved all of their employees to another town. They haven't even occupied the building for 15 years! In New York, this happens all the time. The "Pan-AM" building is now the MetLife Building because Pan-Am went out of business. The Citicorp Center (the white building with the slanted roof that defines part of the skyline) is now just 601 Lexington. Why? CITIGROUP MOVED OUT. Plus, Citi sucks as a company just like Sears. So while all you people complain and sign petitions to keep the name of a failing company on the nation's largest building for no reason at all, just think of all the money United Airlines has to pay to put their name on the Bulls' stadium or how much US Cellular has to pay to the White Sox. If Sears was out saving jobs and helping the community, I could understand the backlash, however they are not and in Hoffman Estates going bankrupt. At least Willis is a good company that has jobs (yes, JOBS) for Chicagoans INSIDE THE BUILDING.

Note from the editor: Pan-Am Building and Citicorp Center are hardly in the same class of distinction as Sears Tower. Those are not nationally recognized attractions drawing millions of tourists per year. If anything, the Chrysler Building is a more proper comparison. And yet Chrysler never even occupied the very landmark tower that it commissioned. Furthermore, Chrysler Motors recently declared bankruptcy. Yet such a notable skyscraper would never be renamed simply because people associate the name "Chrysler Building" with the structure it has always represented — regardless of corporate affiliation. Simply put, this is not about Sears Roebuck and Co, it is about "Sears Tower".

Note from the editor: I forgot to mention that John Hancock Center, arguably Chicago's most iconic skyscraper, has also undergone ownership changes. Still despite being named for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance — which is and always has been based in Boston — the name has yet to be altered to reflect a Chicago-based business enterprise. So how are they helping the community?

Posted by Marsha from Sabina, Ohio (Mon, Feb 8, 2010)

Leave the Sears Tower the 'Sears Tower', I want to take my granddaughter to the Sears Tower not the willis tower. Somebody somewhere just has to change the name of something & just screw-up the 'Tower's' history. Can't you idiots just leave well enough alone?????

Displaying last 25 of 331 comments.