Where better to step out for a breath of fresh air than 94 stories above ground, with the city of Chicago and beyond stretching out in every direction? Standing outside more than 1,000 feet above street level, feel the wind, stand out in the sun, look up to the stars, or down on clouds passing below.
The Hancock Observatory's Skywalk was created by removing a section of the building's glass curtain-wall (16 plate-glass windows 9 feet high), and replacing it with high-strength stainless steel screen. A full-height glass curtain-wall with two revolving doors separates the Skywalk from the rest of the observatory.
The new Hancock Observatory is perhaps the crowning achievement for a building that once defied convention and the odds. When construction finished on the John Hancock Center on March 7, 1970, nearly five years after it began and $100 million later, it stood 1,127 feet above Michigan Avenue.
The building was designed with residential atop commercial space - a highly unusual concept during the mid-1960s. The location too seemed strange, outside of the heart of downtown Chicago. The building took five million man-hours to reach completion, and at one point employed over 2,000 workers.
Today the John Hancock Center holds a prominent spot at the edge of the Magnificent Mile - an important part of Chicago's memorable skyline. Its architecture and famous tenants make it a stop on most visitors' lists, and there is plenty to see while here.
It takes the world's fastest elevators just 39 seconds to take visitors up to the 94th floor Observatory, where on a clear day one can see Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. If standing outside on the Skywalk leads to lightheadedness, there are many other ways to experience the view.
Windows on Chicago lets visitors get up close and personal with the city on a special interactive utilizing QuicktimeTM virtual reality technology. Ten kiosks with viewing screens and computerized controls, direct viewers to more than 80 sites in the city - indicated by sound cues. Click a button and zoom in on sites like the Art Institute of Chicago, Soldier Field, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Another button launches a virtual tour of attractions within these sites - such as the impressionists gallery at the Art Institute. Each close-up is framed with key words visitors can click on for further information on the site. At night the kiosks - models of buildings submitted to the Chicago Tribune headquarters' design contest in 1920 - twinkle with lights.
After a virtual tour, become acquainted with the sounds of the city with talking telescopes providing some amazing sound effects. Six futuristic looking Soundscope machines zoom in on vistas in four different directions, so one can listen to the waves splashing at Navy Pier, White Socks fans cheering at Comiskey Park, birds chirping at Lincoln Park Zoo, or horns honking in the heart of the Loop. Audio feed to the left and right ears makes the sound effects seem very real.
Once familiar with some of what Chicago has to offer, find out about the city's origins on the Chicago History Walls. Dramatic murals on the walls surrounding the Skywalk take visitors from the area's swamp beginning to the sophisticated city it is today. Major events and landmarks - the city's incorporation, the World Colombian Exposition, World Fair, Chicago Fire, Haymarket Riot, and White Sox scandal - are all here. Almost 100 photos help illustrate this incredible journey, as do quotes from famous Chicagoans.
When you're through exploring the observatory, head up to The Signature Room on the 95th floor for an elegant meal or a relaxing cocktail while gazing out over the city. Or, head back down to ground level and choose from an extensive menu at the Cheesecake Factory.
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