When the Willis Tower (still called the Sears Tower by some of the more intransigent Chicagoans) was completed back in 1974 it was known around the world as the tallest building on the planet. A title it held for almost 25 years. Since that time, however, the Willis Tower has seen building after building surpass it in height. So many buildings, in fact, that it is no longer even in the top 10.
Not only have numerous buildings around the world passed the Willis Tower in height, but Chicago’s tallest building has also remained relatively static in terms of renovations and modernizations. A new $500 million investment, however, will change its somewhat outdated appearance and amenity selection in a big way. The renovation project will transform the tower and reinforce its position as a civic destination and a premier workplace with unprecedented office amenities and unique retail and entertainment experiences, the building’s owner, Blackstone, says in a release.
460,000 sf of existing space within Willis Tower will be reconfigured as part of the transformation. This includes 150,000 sf of space that will be turned into amenities available exclusively for tenants, such as a full-service fitness center, tenant lounges, private event space, and concierge services. 300,000 sf of retail, dining, and entertainment space will be added to the base of the tower and a new 30,000-sf outdoor deck and garden space will also be included. Blackstone promises the new retail and entertainment options will attract first-to-market restaurants and the best local boutiques and global brands.
Office lobby. Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Additionally, a new three-story transparent, glass structure will be set atop the existing stone plaza to create a more welcoming environment for visitors. But every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and below the three-story glass façade will exist three subterranean floors organized around a three-story winter garden. Above the garden will be a glass skylight that provides views of all 110 floors. The new design will set the Willis Tower free from the base it sits atop and reconnect the building with the urban streetscape.
Moving up from the building’s lower floors, the 103rd floor Skydeck Chicago experience will also be enhanced as part of the project. The Skydeck renovations will focus on creating a world class, one-of-a-kind entertainment experience for the 1.7 million national and international visitors that make the trip to the top of the tower annually.
Blackstone estimates the transformation of the tower, which is expected to begin this month, will create 2,500 jobs. Gensler is the architect for the project with Gonzalez Architects handling the design work for the tenant-only office amenities. Hetzel Design will oversee the design concepts for the Skydeck renovations while Turner Clayco will oversee construction.
See Also: Willis Tower elevators receive upgrade as part of $500 million update
Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Winter garden entrance. Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Winter garden skylight. Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Tower view from winter garden. Rendering courtesy of Blackstone and Equity Office.
Update
EQ Office, the U.S. office portfolio company wholly owned by Blackstone’s real estate funds, recently revealed more information about the $500 million Willis Tower project along with updated renderings. The five-story retail, dining, and immersive-entertainment experience at the base of the Willis Tower will be called Catalog. The name is a reference to the Sears Roebuck Company, which developed and opened the Willis Tower, then the Sears Tower, in 1973.
Urbanspace, a food hall operator with locations in New York City and London, will anchor Catalog's food and beverage offerings. Urbanspace will occupy over 14,000 sf in Catalog, making it one of the largest retailers in the building.
See Also: Willis Tower upgrades antenna lighting
Catalog is part of the more than 300,000 square feet of new retail, dining, and entertainment space that will be available at the base of Willis Tower. The renovation plan also includes 150,000 of new space for tenant use within the building. Catalog is slated to open to the public in mid-2020.
© EQ Office / Blackstone, courtesy of Gensler.
© EQ Office / Blackstone, courtesy of Gensler.
© EQ Office / Blackstone, courtesy of Gensler.
© EQ Office / Blackstone, courtesy of Gensler.
© EQ Office / Blackstone, courtesy of Gensler.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Feb 6, 2017
Flexing their vanity muscles: Some of the world’s tallest buildings have hundreds of feet of non-occupiable space
The amount of the Burj Khalifa’s height that is non-occupiable is taller than most skyscrapers.
Green | Feb 3, 2017
Nanjing Green Towers will be Asia’s first vertical forest
The project will be covered in 1,100 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs.
High-rise Construction | Feb 1, 2017
Rippled tower from CORE will be first of 10-tower master plan in Mississauga, Ont.
The tower will become the tallest building in what is Canada’s 6th largest city.
High-rise Construction | Jan 31, 2017
Chicago’s West Loop to receive 500-foot apartment tower
The 44-story tower will provide 492 rental units and a retail podium.
High-rise Construction | Jan 27, 2017
Silverstein Properties waffles on what to do with Far West Side property
The company has gone from a two-tower design, to a supertall, and now, supposedly, back to a two-tower design.
High-rise Construction | Jan 26, 2017
Paris tower provides office space and three hotel complexes across its three superimposed volumes
Equipped with hanging gardens and a panoramic viewpoint for its top tier, Jardins de l’Arche Tower will rise in Paris’s La défense business district.
Architects | Jan 24, 2017
Politicians use architectural renderings in bid to sell Chicago’s Thompson Center
The renderings are meant to show the potential of the site located in the heart of the Chicago Loop.
High-rise Construction | Jan 23, 2017
Growth spurt: A record-breaking 128 buildings of 200 meters or taller were completed in 2016
This marks the third consecutive record-breaking year for building completions over 200 meters.
High-rise Construction | Jan 20, 2017
CTBUH’s tall building predictions for 2017
Woodscrapers, the automobile industry's expansion into the tall building development business, and Nairobi's climb toward becoming Africa's skyscraper hub are just a few of the topics CTBUH's 2017 tall building predictions report focuses on.
High-rise Construction | Jan 19, 2017
Goettsch Partners to design Shenzhen-based headquarters complex
The Chicago architecture firm won a design competition for the project anticipated to be completed in 2019.