The Ledge
A glass box over thin air.
Alvesgaspar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hollowayvideo — CC0 · w_lemay — CC BY-SA 2.0 · w_lemay — CC BY-SA 2.0 · w_lemay — CC BY-SA 2.0
Skydeck is the observation deck on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower, long known as the Sears Tower, in downtown Chicago. It is the highest observation deck in the United States, with over 1.7 million visitors a year, drawn by views of the city and lake and by the glass balconies of The Ledge. The tower rises 442.3 m over 110 storeys. It was designed by the architect Bruce Graham and the engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan of SOM, and opened in 1973 as the world's tallest building, a title it held for nearly 25 years. Khan's bundled tube system clusters nine square tubes in a 3 by 3 grid, an idea that changed how skyscrapers were built. The lift takes you to a deck with windows on every side, looking over the city's straight lines, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The glass balconies of The Ledge reach out from the facade, so you stand over thin air with the street below your feet. It makes for fun pictures but does not suit anyone afraid of heights. It is 500 m in a straight line from central Chicago, an easy walk. Choose a clear day, as cloud sometimes hides the view. Sunset draws many visitors, so plan your time. Its official site says it opens every day of the year, so check the day's hours before you go.
A glass box over thin air.
East of the city.
A tower of nine tubes.
Willis Tower, Wacker Drive, downtown Chicago, Illinois
Yes, according to the official site, general admission includes the glass balconies.
Pick a clear day, and note that sunset draws many visitors.
