Visitors won't have to crane their necks to see straight down from the Sears Tower Skydeck when the building adds four glass-bottomed balconies, nicknamed "The Ledge," to its 50-mile views come June.

The Skydeck on the building's 103rd floor opened in 1974, and has--weather permitting--always given a view of four states, but to see what's directly beneath them, they've always had to get as close to the building's windows as possible. The Ledge is scheduled to open next month, according to a spokeswoman for the Skydeck.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/searstowerledge1.jpg

"The inspiration for The Ledge came from hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week," according to a fact sheet from the Sears Tower.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architecture firm that designed the tower, also designed The Ledge, whose four 1-1/2-inch-thick glass boxes are being placed on the building's west side, according to the fact sheet. The retractable boxes will extend 4.3 feet out from the side of the building at 1,353 feet above street level, according to the fact sheet.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/05/a-glass-bottom-skydeck-for-sears-tower.html

Wow. That is pretty cool. I wonder if they will charge extra to stand out on the ledge. I also wonder how these glass boxes will look from the outside.

^^
Nope, according to the Sun-Times http://www.suntimes.com/business/1553404,CST-NWS-sears01.article it will be part of the regular admission price, which increases to $14.95 for an adult today. The Sun-Times article also has an outside rendering.

Mike

regular admission price, which increases to $14.95 for an adult today
Wow, what a rip! I remember going to the Hancock for 9 bucks and I thought that was expensive...

oh my god, i think i would get vertigo if i stood on that glass bottom. still would probably be worth it, though.

"The owners also are considering painting or recladding the building in silver to give it a contemporary look. Also under discussion is building a hotel next to the tower."
http://www.suntimes.com/business/155...ears01.article

Any word/renders on this? I remember the recladding threads a few weeks ago but was there any info or mention of a new building in them?

^^ Looks awesome. We have something similar in Melbourne. It's a glass cube that comes out of our tallest building. You have to pay extra to go on it though :ohno: