Sears Tower

The Sears Tower is a skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. Construction commenced in August 1970, and reached its maximum height on May 4, 1973. When completed, the Sears Tower had overtaken the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York as the world's tallest building, with 110 stories rising to 443 metres (1454 feet). The total height of the structure is 520 metres (1707 feet), including the two television antennae on the top of the tower. At 452m (1,483 feet) tall including decorative spires, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, replaced the Sears Tower as the tallest building in the world in 1997. The Sears Tower remains the tallest office building in the United States. It also has the highest roof of any building in the world and the highest habitable floor in the world. While some people argue that this still qualifies the Sears Tower as the tallest building in the world, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats[?] gives the title of tallest building to the Petronas Towers.

The observation deck on top of the tower is a famous tourist attaction. The tourists can experience how the building sways on a windy day. They can see far over the great plain of Illinois and over Lake Michigan on a clear day. Despite its higher view, it is not as good a location as the John Hancock building for Chicago's night scenery. The tower is located at the west edge of the downtown area which feels like a ghost town after dark. Even if the tourists are brave enough to wander in the unfamiliar downtown area at night, the view of the city is not very impressive.