Willis Tower, still affectionately known to Chicagoans as the Sears Tower, was built in 1973 for Sears, Roebuck & Company. When it was completed, it was the world's tallest building, a title it held until 1998 upon the completion of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. The Willis Tower features an observation deck for visitors, an all-glass viewing platform, which gives visitors a 360-degree view. Adding a little personality are the antennas at the top of the building, which are lighted with different colors throughout the year: Green in March for St. Patrick's Day, pink in May for Mother's Day, red and blue for the Fourth of July, orange for Halloween in October, and red and green for the holidays in December.
The John Hancock Center is located in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, right by the famed Chicago Water Tower and at the north end of the Magnificent Mile. The 100-story Hancock building was completed in 1970. The mixed-use complex has office and retail space, a TV and radio broadcast facility and 49 floors of residential condominium space. The building also has an observation deck for tourists. This deck looks to all sides of the city, and since it is located next to Lake Michigan, you can get a better feel for how far west the city spans. If you're looking for a more low-key way to view the city from great heights, you can have dinner or drinks at the tower's Signature Room or Signature Lounge, located just below the observatory.
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is located in the heart of the city. Built on the site that once housed the building for the Chicago Sun-times, the tower's 92 stories were completed in 2009, making it one of the tallest towers in the city. The building houses a hotel as well as condominiums, all with panoramic views of the city skyline.
