3.7.09

SEARS TOWER OPENS GLASS BOX VIEWING PLATFORMS




NOT CONTENT WITH HAVING THE TALLEST BUILDING IN AMERICA, THE OWNERS OF THE SEARS TOWER IN CHICAGO HAVE INSTALLED FOUR GLASS BOX VIEWING PLATFORMS WHICH EXTEND OUT OF THE BUILDING, 103 FLOORS UP. THE BALCONIES ARE SUSPENDED 1,353 FEET IN THE AIR AND JUT OUT FOUR FEET FROM THE BUILDING'S NEWLY UPDATED SKYDECK. DESIGNERS SAY THE PLATFORMS, CALLED THE LEDGE, HAVE BEEN PURPOSELY DESIGNED TO MAKE VISITORS FEEL AS IF THEY ARE FLOATING ABOVE THE CITY - THE REWARD IS UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF CHICAGO FROM THE BUILDING'S WEST SIDE AND A HEART-STOPPING VISTA OF THE STREET AND CHICAGO RIVER BELOW. "WE'VE LISTENED TO OUR VISITORS AND PEOPLE JUST WANT TO GET CLOSER", SAID RANDY STANICK, GENERAL MANAGER, SKYDECK CHICAGO, "YOU'D ONLY NEED TO SEE THE FOREHEAD PRINTS ON THE WINDOWS TO KNOW THAT VISITORS ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CATCH A GLIMPSE BELOW. NOW, THEY HAVE AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW STRAIGHT DOWN AND AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE." JOHN HUSTON, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE SEARS TOWER, EVEN ADMITTED TO GETTING 'A LITTLE QUEASY' THE FIRST TIME HE VENTURED OUT ONTO THE BALCONY. HOWEVER, AFTER 30 OR 40 TRIPS, HE SEEMS TO HAVE GOT USE TO IT. 'THE SEARS TOWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SUPERLATIVES - TALLEST, LARGEST, MOST ICONIC', HE SAID. THE BALCONIES ARE 10ft HIGH AND 10ft WIDE, CAN HOLD FIVE TONS, AND HAVE GLASS WHICH IS 1.5 INCHES THICK. THE SKYDECK ATTRACTS 25,000 VISITORS ON A CLEAR DAYS. THEY EACH PAY $15 TO TAKE A LIFT RIDE UP TO THE 103rd FLOOR OF THE 110-STORY OFFICE BUILDING THAT OPENED IN 1973.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHICAGO AND IT'S AMAZING ATTRACTIONS VISIT www.gochicago.com

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