Willis Tower: Skyscraper Icon Quiz

The original name of the Willis Tower was the Sears Tower.

The Willis Tower is a prominent landmark in Chicago, recognized as a symbol of the city, comparable to the Eiffel Tower for Paris and the Empire State Building for New York.

The original plan for the Sears Tower was for a building with large, expansive floors to be rented out.

Sears estimated it required space for over 13,000 Chicago employees.

The architecture firm that designed the Willis Tower.

Lead architect for the Willis Tower project.

Structural engineer of the Willis Tower.

The original plan included floors of 110,000 square feet.

The design ultimately became a 104-story skyscraper.

The design was intended to become the world's tallest building.

1,431 feet, the height measured to the highest occupied floor of the Willis Tower.

1,450 feet, the height measured to the top of the roof of the Willis Tower.

Steel skeletons (or steel-reinforced concrete) support tall buildings, allowing for greater height.

Elevators facilitate access to upper floors of tall buildings, making them practical and more efficient.

The Sears Tower was renamed the Willis Tower in 2009 because of Willis Group Holdings' lease.

The construction of the Sears Tower took roughly three years.

The Sears Tower's foundation included 200 circular caissons set into bedrock.

Construction methods included prefabricated steel sections and special elevators.

The first Sears building was originally a water tower, later it housed a broadcasting studio.

Growing businesses needed larger locations in the city centers, but vertical growth was the only feasible option.

The Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, is a prominent landmark in Chicago, recognized for its height compared to other tall buildings. It's a symbol of the city, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Empire State Building in New York.

In the late 1960s, Sears, a rapidly growing company, needed more space for its employees in Chicago. They envisioned housing over 13,000 workers in the new building to meet their future needs.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the architecture firm behind Chicago's John Hancock Center, was hired to design the Sears Tower. Architect Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan were crucial to the project.

Sears originally planned a large building with massive floors, some to be rented out to other companies. The goal was to have 40 floors of 110,000 square feet each.

Initially designed for larger floors to be rented out, the Sears Tower design evolved to a taller, narrower structure. This was due to the smaller businesses needing more vertical space.

The decision to add six more stories to the 104-story design turned the Sears Tower into the world's tallest building at 110 stories. This was a strategic move to create a landmark.

The Willis Tower is defined as a skyscraper because of its immense height, exceeding the typical size of ordinary buildings. Its steel frame supports the structure, enabling its tall stature. The use of elevators provides access to the upper floors.

The Willis Tower is a symbol of Chicago, signifying its modern architecture and urban character. It's a prominent landmark that draws attention and showcases the city's identity.

The Willis Tower was renamed in 2009 when Willis Group Holdings, a company, leased space in the building. It's still known by many as the Sears Tower due to its historical significance.

The Willis Tower wasn't just another tall building; it was designed to be the tallest building in the world at the time, standing out among other tall skyscrapers in the city.

Two key innovations enabled skyscrapers: the steel frame and the elevator. The steel frame provided strong support for weight, while elevators made it possible to move people efficiently between floors.

Older buildings used thick walls to support the weight of upper floors. This limited their height because the bottom floors would become too thick.

Although the Willis Tower is no longer the world's tallest, it ranks 12th globally and is the second tallest in North America and the Western Hemisphere. It also has one of the longest elevator rides.

Sears needed a new headquarters to accommodate its growing operations. The first 'Sears tower' was a water tower, later used for broadcasting, showcasing the company's ambition.

The Sears Tower took three years to build using prefabricated steel sections. It involved 200 caissons set into bedrock and required enough concrete for a five-mile highway.

The building was renamed Willis Tower in 2009 after the Willis Group Holdings signed a lease. This was a branding strategy to increase visibility in the US.

Building height is measured in two primary ways: height to the highest occupied floor and height to the top of the roof. The Willis Tower's highest occupied floor is 1,431 ft, and its roof height is 1,450 ft.

A self-supporting structure, like the CN Tower, stands without external support. It differs from a 'building' which typically relies on supporting walls.

American businesses were growing, and they needed more space in city centers. Growing upwards was the only solution due to limited land.