Chicago's Skydeck
The Ledge brings an exhilarating new experience to the Sears Tower. Opened in 1974, the Skydeck attracts more than 1.3 M visitors annually who enjoy views of up to 50 miles and four states. Now The Ledge dares visitors to attempt a new Chicago experience: stand on The Ledge and feel the city from 103 floors over Wacker Drive and the Chicago River.
The inspiration for The Ledge came from hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week. From the memorable Sears Tower scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to curious children going right up to the window, visitors are constantly trying to catch a glimpse below. Now they have a unique and unobstructed view of the city.
An unmatched view is not all the Skydeck offers. From the moment visitors arrive they enjoy interactive and educational attractions that not only highlight the iconic landmark, but also celebrate Chicago’s sports, architecture, pop-culture, history, food, music and people.
Original Sears Tower architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) designed The Ledge so that the fully enclosed glass boxes retract into the building, allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance. Extending from the tower’s west side, each box can accommodate four to five people at a time.
MTH Industries, the Chicago-based 120-year-old glass and architectural metal contractor that installed the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, installed The Ledge’s 1,500 pound glass panels. Each box is comprised of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit. The low-iron, clear glass is fully tempered and heat-soaked for durability.
How it Works
The Ledge’s glass boxes extend from the Skydeck, providing unobstructed views straight down.
Never-Before-Seen Views of Chicago
Opening summer 2009, The Ledge transforms how visitors experience Chicago. At 1,353 feet up, The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, providing never-before-seen views of the city.
Sears Tower is a world-renown landmark building, a Chicago icon. The third-tallest building in the world, it remains the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall.
Visitors planning a trip to Chicago can obtain brochures and information by calling the Chicago & Illinois Tourist Office’s Freephone Brochure Line on 08700 503410.
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