The Tallest Building in the United States
Oct 31st, 2009 by Alex
While I was in Chicago, I visited the tallest building in United States. Sears Tower — though technically named Willis Tower since July 16th 2009 — is currently the fifth tallest building in the world. It’s roof-mounted antennae standing 1,730 feet above ground, it’s hard to believe that it’s dwarfed by the the 2,684 foot Burj Dubai.
After ascending 103 stories in a one minute elevator ride, the views from the Sears Tower are incredible even on a slightly cloudy day. Standing well about the cloud line, buildings that I would consider tall look like flattened pancakes. Absurdly tall buildings — say 50-60 stories — look small. Cars look like ants. At times it doesn’t even look real, that things so big can appear so small.
You acclimate to the heights relatively quickly. There are windows on all sides of the building, but your proximity to the glass changes as you walk counterclockwise around the 103rd floor. The farther south you get, the less guardrails there are between you and the windows. On the southwest side, the windows are flush with the floor. It’s an odd feeling, being so close to the edge.
At which point, you have to let go. After a moments hesitation, you take that last step out onto the glass. It’s a cautious step, taken with a light foot. Then the other foot follows. And there you are, standing there, some 1,353 feet above Wacker Drive.
I was thinking all sorts of things, with random bits of my internal monologue becoming verbal as I gazed out over the city.
What if the glass gives out? No, it’s been engineered. But what if? Look how small everything is. This is so cool. How on earth did they test this thing? The Washington Monument is just over 555 feet tall and two of them could fit below my feet with the majority of a football field to spare. This is so cool. I can’t believe they have a Starbucks here. Man, we’re really high. I can’t get over the view. The Hancock Tower really looked short, didn’t it? I’m really standing here.
Eventually you get over any natural phobias. I felt absolutely giddy, drunk with enthusiasm, as I jumped up and down on that glass.
The logistics of the trip to the 103rd floor aren’t as cool as the view or the experience of walking on air, but they’re worth a mention. When you arrive at the building, you get in an elevator right away and go down two stories into the lower level (LL2). There are restrooms there, displays, and a lot of crowd barrier ropes such that you’d see for the lines at a movie theater. Once we proceeded through security, we had our picture taken against a green screen (for later purchase if you desire), paid $14, walked through some additional display areas with more line-forming barriers, before sitting down for a brief documentary film. After that, more walking, this time through a revolving door and onto the elevator that would take us to 103.
The only reason I mention all of this is that we went on Monday afternoon. There wasn’t anyone standing in any of those queuing areas. No lines to form. More importantly, it wasn’t crowded on 103. There was more than enough room to see, without having to push for a space at the window.
On a weekend, you’ll see people waiting in line outside the building. What those people probably don’t know is that once you’re in the building you still having a good wait ahead of you. Some people say it takes as long as 2 hours once inside. So if you can, go on a weekday during work hours if you can. The later in the evenings and the later in the week, the longer the lines.
I still can’t get over that feeling of standing on that glass, suspended over the city street. Short of heading to Dubai, I don’t know how I’d top it.
