A glass-bottom Skydeck for Sears Tower

Northsider · May 1st, 2009, 03:55 PM

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.

"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/2...ars-tower.html

jimbojoe45 · May 1st, 2009, 04:00 PM

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.

mgk920 · May 1st, 2009, 05:43 PM

Nope, according to the Sun-Times http://www.suntimes.com/business/155...ears01.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

Northsider · May 1st, 2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

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...

simulcra · May 1st, 2009, 07:20 PM

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

Metalus · May 2nd, 2009, 01:26 AM

"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?

Jack Daniel · May 12th, 2009, 05:41 PM

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

May 1st, 2009, 03:55 PM	#1
Northsider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,572 Likes (Received): 25	A glass-bottom Skydeck for Sears Tower 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. "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/2...ars-tower.html

May 1st, 2009, 07:20 PM	#5
simulcra Cynical post-collegiate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 937 Likes (Received): 0	oh my god, i think i would get vertigo if i stood on that glass bottom. still would probably be worth it, though. __________________ Mmm... forbidden donut...

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May 1st, 2009, 04:00 PM	#2
jimbojoe45 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 100 Likes (Received): 0	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.

May 1st, 2009, 05:43 PM	#3
mgk920 Nonhyphenated-American Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Appleton, WI USA Posts: 2,581 Likes (Received): 4	Nope, according to the Sun-Times http://www.suntimes.com/business/155...ears01.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

May 2nd, 2009, 01:26 AM	#6
Metalus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 102 Likes (Received): 0	"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?