It's not the tallest building in the world any more, but it's still one of the tallest. It's also one of the most impressive buildings to fill the Chicago skyline.
Other buildings can boast about being tall, but they're just regular sized folks wearing tall hats, by Chicago standards. At 110 stories (1,454 feet) the Sears Tower does still hold one significant record: it has the highest occupied floor. Certainly the most famous project of local architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Sears Tower owes its height to the engineering genius of Fazlur Khan and the rigorous American Modernism of Bruce Graham, design partner for the project.
Nine 75' by 75' squares make up the base of the tower, in what Graham called "bundled tubes." The solidity of the tower lies in its application of the principle that in unity lies strength. The bundled tubes, like slender sticks tied together in a bundle, are strong enough to withstand even serious winds at the top of the structure. But as any self-respecting Chicagoan will tell you, it sways. How much? A foot or a yard? The building management won't say.
From the Skydeck, Chicago and the surrounding landscape stretch out seemingly endlessly in every direction. Try to visit on a clear day. A cloudy day is a big waste of time and money. And there is something fascinating about the urban grid that lies so smoothly across the prairie to the west. Even jaded Chicagoans may get caught up in the challenge of helping a visitor see where their house is.
The elevator trip to the top will make yours ears pop, but it's a welcome sensation if you've been standing in line for any length of time. There's also an eight-minute multimedia presentation that is required for viewing before you hit the deck.
From
patriotic themed accommodations to European styled hotels, Washington D.C.
offers a host of lodging options. For instance, the Crowne Plaza is a four-star, deluxe hotel
located in Franklin Square, just a few blocks from the White House. Downtown Washington D.C. offers a wide
range of hotels to choose from. ....more
Most families travel to Orlando to visit the numerous theme parks and
attractions that abound in the area. After a long day of walking and
standing in lines at a busy theme park, coming back for to the hotel pool
can be a fantastic way to unwind, relax and cool off.
