New Sears Tower "Ledge" Will Blow Your Mind
Thrill-seekers will stand on sheet of glass 103 floors above city
By ZACH CHRISTMAN
Updated 1:43 PM CST, Thu, Jul 30, 2009
Would you stand in a glass box jutting out from the side of the Sears Tower, with nothing but an inch and a half of glass between you and the pavement, 103 floors down?
In a little over a month, you'll have that option, terrifying as it may be.
The Sears Tower will open four glass enclosures, called the Ledge, on the Skydeck's West side by early June, the Sun-Times reported. The Ledge enclosures will extend more than four feet beyond the building, and will be retractable so they won't interfere with window washers.
Similar glass-floored views at the Grand Canyon and the CN Tower inspired the Ledge, a Skydeck manager told the Sun-Times. The Skydeck hopes the new attraction will draw more visitors, particularly locals who may have given up on going to the top of the Sears Tower. But not those with even the slightest fear of heights.
The glass will be three layers thick and each layer will be a half-inch thick. The balconies will be able to hold about five tons.
The Ledge will be part of regular Skydeck admission, which went up to $14.95 Friday.
If you want to experience the Sears Tower's Ledge, try to get it in before the building is renamed to the Willis Tower later this summer. Standing on the ledge outside Willis' window just seems less cool somehow.
Copyright SunTimes / NBC Chicago
First Published: May 1, 2009 10:23 AM CST
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