Willis Tower (Sears Tower): History, Height, and the 13 Best Gift Ideas Inspired by Chicago's Tallest
The complete guide to Willis Tower — its 1973 construction as Sears Tower, its 1,450-foot height, why the bundled-tube engineering changed skyscrapers, and the best gift ideas tied to the building.
Willis Tower (Sears Tower): History, Height, and the 13 Best Gift Ideas Inspired by Chicago's Tallest
Quick answer: Willis Tower (originally Sears Tower) was completed in 1973, stands 1,450 feet (442 meters) to the roof and 1,729 feet to its antenna tips, and held the world's tallest title for 25 years until Petronas Towers surpassed it in 1998. It was renamed from Sears Tower to Willis Tower in 2009. The 13 best gift ideas inspired by the building: a 3D-printed Chicago skyline with Willis centered, a vintage architectural drawing, a Skydeck Ledge photo print, jewelry with Willis Tower's exact coordinates (41.8789°N, 87.6359°W), or a book on Fazlur Khan's bundled-tube engineering.
Willis Tower is Chicago's defining vertical landmark and one of the most structurally important buildings ever built. It is the world's first bundled-tube skyscraper — an engineering breakthrough by Fazlur Khan that made supertall construction practical and is still used in nearly every modern supertall tower from Burj Khalifa to One World Trade Center.
This guide covers the essential history, the building's facts, and the thirteen best gift ideas inspired by the tower.
Essential facts about Willis Tower
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Architect | Bruce Graham (SOM) |
| Structural engineer | Fazlur Khan (SOM) |
| Construction | August 1970 to May 1973 |
| Opened | May 1973 |
| Height to roof | 1,450 feet (442 meters) |
| Height with antennas | 1,729 feet (527 meters) |
| Floors | 110 |
| Structural innovation | Bundled-tube system (9 framed tubes) |
| World's tallest from | 1973 to 1998 |
| Surpassed by | Petronas Towers (1998) |
| Currently tallest in Chicago | Yes (Chicago) |
| Currently tallest in Western Hemisphere | No (One World Trade Center) |
| Renamed | 2009, from Sears Tower to Willis Tower |
| Skydeck | 103rd floor (1,353 feet) |
| The Ledge | Glass boxes extending 4.3 feet over Wacker Drive |
| Address | 233 S Wacker Drive, Chicago |
| Coordinates | 41.8789°N, 87.6359°W |
The building's nine-tube structural system was Fazlur Khan's invention. Each tube terminates at a different height — three at the 50th floor, two at the 66th, two at the 90th, and two at the full 110th — which is why the building has its distinctive stepped silhouette. The form is structural, not decorative.
Why Willis Tower remains iconic
Three reasons the building keeps cultural relevance despite no longer being the world's tallest:
- Engineering significance. The bundled-tube system was the breakthrough that made every supertall built since possible. Without Fazlur Khan's invention here, the modern skyscraper looks completely different.
- The Sears Tower identity. For Chicagoans of any age over 25, the building is still "Sears Tower." The 2009 rename to Willis Tower (after Willis Group Holdings, a London insurance firm leasing space) remains contested locally.
- The Skydeck Ledge. The glass boxes that project 4.3 feet beyond the building's facade — added in 2009 — became Instagram's most photographed observation experience.
The 13 best gift ideas inspired by Willis Tower
1. A 3D-printed Chicago skyline with Willis Tower at center
A hand-finished sculpture of the actual Chicago skyline — Willis (Sears) Tower, Trump Tower, Aon Center, John Hancock Center, and 875 N Michigan. Willis sits as the silhouette anchor. Medium $69, Large $99. Chicago collection. Hand-printed, ships in three to five days, free US shipping over $50.
2. A framed vintage Sears Tower construction photograph
Black-and-white photos from 1970-1973 of the bundled-tube going up. Archival prints from $40–$120 framed.
3. A signed print from a Chicago architectural photographer
Browse Chicago River shots from Iker Spozio, Bob Krist, or local Etsy photographers. $80–$300 framed.
4. A book about Fazlur Khan and the bundled-tube system
Engineering Architecture: The Vision of Fazlur Khan (Yasmin Sabina Khan, his daughter). The definitive technical history. $35–$60.
5. Jewelry with Willis Tower's exact coordinates (41.8789°N, 87.6359°W)
A necklace or bracelet engraved with the building's latitude and longitude. $60–$150 from Etsy jewelers.
6. A LEGO Architecture Willis Tower set
Discontinued but available secondhand on eBay and BrickLink. $80–$200.
7. The Ledge experience tickets
For someone who hasn't been. The 103rd-floor glass-box experience is unforgettable. $25–$50 per person.
8. A vintage Sears Tower postcard or memorabilia (pre-2009 rename)
Authentic 1970s-2000s postcards still bearing the "Sears Tower" name. $15–$40.
9. A book about Chicago architecture
The Chicago School of Architecture (Carl Condit). Skyscraper Dreams (Tom Shachtman). $20–$60.
10. A custom illustration of Willis Tower at sunset
Bespoke artwork from a local Chicago illustrator showing the lakefront perspective. $80–$200.
11. A vintage Chicago Tribune issue from May 1973 (opening)
Real archival newspaper. $50–$150.
12. A Chicago Architecture Center boat tour gift card
The CAC architecture river cruise is the best way to actually see Willis Tower in context. $50–$80.
13. A high-quality black-and-white print of Willis Tower in fog
Chicago weather makes the building dramatic. $60–$200 framed.
FAQ
How tall is Willis Tower?
Willis Tower stands 1,450 feet (442 meters) to the roof and 1,729 feet (527 meters) including its twin antennas. It has 110 floors. The roof height held the world's tallest title for 25 years, from 1973 until Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur surpassed it in 1998.
Why was Sears Tower renamed Willis Tower?
The building was renamed in July 2009 after Willis Group Holdings, a London-based insurance broker that signed a lease for over 140,000 square feet. The naming rights came as part of the lease. Many Chicagoans still call it Sears Tower, and the name change remains locally controversial.
Who designed Willis Tower?
The building was designed by Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with structural engineering by Fazlur Khan, also of SOM. Khan's bundled-tube system was the structural innovation that made the building possible — and that innovation has been used in nearly every supertall built since.
Is Willis Tower still the tallest building in Chicago?
Yes. As of 2026, Willis Tower remains the tallest building in Chicago at 1,450 feet. The next tallest is Trump International Hotel and Tower at 1,389 feet. Despite multiple proposals over the decades, no new Chicago building has surpassed Willis Tower since 1973.
What is the best gift for someone who loves Willis Tower?
The highest-hit-rate gift is a 3D-printed Chicago skyline where Willis Tower sits at the silhouette center — context makes the building meaningful in a way a standalone model can't. Pair with Yasmin Khan's Engineering Architecture book on Fazlur Khan, or jewelry engraved with the building's exact coordinates. See the Chicago collection.
What is the Ledge at Willis Tower?
The Ledge is a series of glass boxes added to the 103rd-floor Skydeck in 2009 that project 4.3 feet beyond the building's facade. Visitors stand on glass with nothing below them for 1,353 feet. It became an immediate Instagram landmark.
What is Willis Tower's address?
233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The building sits at the intersection of Wacker Drive and Adams Street, on the south branch of the Chicago River.
Related reading
- Chicago skyline buildings guide — every Chicago tower
- Best gifts for someone from Chicago
- Chicago souvenirs that aren't tacky
- Unique Chicago gifts under $100
- Chicago anniversary gifts
Browse the Chicago skyline collection. Medium $69 most-shipped, Large $99 statement piece. Free US shipping over $50.