The Willis Tower is a 110-story, 1,451-foot skyscraper in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, United States. Designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, opened in 1973 as the tallest building in the world, a title it held for almost 25 years. Thanks in part to its location on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago went from being a small trading post to becoming the third largest city in the United States. Nearly all of the major railroad transportation networks in the United States converge on Chicago, making the city arguably the country's industrial crossroads.
When Chicago expanded rapidly during World War I and in the decades that followed, the impressive skyline we know today began to take shape. Here are 9 iconic buildings that contribute to making Chicago a great place for urban architecture. R Boed, CC BY 2,0, via Wikimedia Commons Resembling a kind of undulating match or a stationary wave of air, the St. Regis Chicago is one of the latest additions to the Windy City skyline.
Regis, architect Jeanne Gang, earned the honor of having created the tallest structure in the world designed by a woman. The building will house a variety of luxury properties, including nearly 400 condominiums and 200 hotel rooms. The upper section of the structure contains open, unoccupied floors, which allow winds to pass through and prevent the rest of the tower from balancing. You can ask for a hotel room as a way to get a glimpse of the stunning views that are sure to be offered at one of Chicago's most iconic new developments.
As a bonus, take a walk through nearby Lake Shore East Park. NEMA (Chicago) is another new addition to the Chicago skyline and is part of the city's efforts to revitalize areas near the Loop District. NEMA is a luxury high-rise residential complex located near Grant Park, the Field Museum, and Soldier Field. With stunning views in every direction, NEMA is the tallest exclusively residential building in Chicago.
Designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly, it uses a structural bay design that looks like the Willis Tower when viewed from the right angle. All of the residential units inside the tower have large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the complex has numerous top-notch amenities. Take some stunning photos of NEMA from the southern sections of Grant Park. James Willamor of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Located just across Michigan Avenue in front of the Tribune Tower, is the famous Wrigley Building. The two iconic spots appear together in countless photos of downtown Chicago. Originally built as the headquarters of the Wrigley Company, the building now houses several businesses. Despite not being particularly tall, the Wrigley Building has long been a favorite of architecture fans.
Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the Wrigley Building is one of the firm's iconic works in Chicago, which also includes the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Merchandise Mart. The tower of the Wrigley building borrows its shape from the famous Giralda tower of the cathedral of Seville in Spain. The architects also chose to incorporate elements of the French Renaissance style into the building's design. Photo lovers will want to position themselves on the opposite side of the Chicago River or on the DuSable Bridge for great photos.
Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr The James R. The Thompson Center houses the offices of the Illinois state government. It is one of the most important examples of post-modern architecture in Chicago. Built in 1985, the exterior uses a sloped glass design that gives the impression of several segments of rings stacked on top of each other.
The Thompson Center's most impressive features are found inside. A large open atrium crowned by an immense skylight greets visitors when they enter. The colorful interior also has visible staircases and elevators. The design was intended to evoke a sense of openness in which government affairs are carried out in the public eye.
Talks are under way about the renovation or perhaps even the total replacement of the Thompson Center. If for no other reason, this may be the best time to see this fascinating architectural achievement in all its controversial glory. Night photos are some of the best when it comes to the Chicago skyline. The trick is to have a good perspective and make sure you can stabilize the camera.
A privileged place to go is the Adler Planetarium, which has a long circular path that offers an ideal view of the Loop. You can enjoy time at the planetarium, the Field Museum, and the Shedd Aquarium while you're there. Another great way to take nighttime photos is to find one of the city's many rooftop bars. Many hotels in and around the Loop advertise fantastic rooftop bars, so you won't have much trouble finding one to visit if you don't mind having to lighten your pocket a little.
Finally, nighttime is a good time to visit Chicago's 360 observation deck at the former John Hancock Center. This is one of the best views of the Chicago skyline and is made even more special when the city below is illuminated like a mantle of pearls. Tour Through a Lens (TTAL) Announced as Chicago's Premier Personalized Photo Tour. After having reopened its doors now that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down a bit, TTAL can help you create a personalized tour taking into account the dates and times you prefer.
Bring your camera equipment and the professionals at TTAL will help you find the right locations and guide you to achieve that incredible shot. They offer several packages that include half-day tours, single-focus tours, and full immersion tours. Choose from their available lists depending on the theme you want, whether it's urban scenes, Chicago architecture, iconic buildings, Chicago history, or more. Contact TTAL on their website for more information.
Instead, Sears executives decided to consolidate the thousands of employees from offices distributed throughout the Chicago area into a single building on the western end of the Chicago Loop. An all-new 30- to 60-minute interactive experience at the observation tower shares the highlights of Chicago and the rich history of Chicago's tallest building. .
