Tag Archives: willis tower

Willis Tower in Chicago prepares for a $500M face-lift

Feb 2, 2017 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Willis Tower in Chicago is preparing for a $500 million face-lift under an ambitious plan Mayor Rahm Emanuel supports.

The renovations call for six levels of entertainment, restaurant and retail space, which could become an attraction for thousands of building employees and 1.7 million yearly visitors drawn to the observation deck on the 103rd floor.

A revamped plaza will include a 30,000-square-foot outdoor deck and garden as well as a three-story transparent glass structure set atop the existing plaza.

The skyscraper, which is now the second-tallest building in the nation, was opened as Sears Tower in 1974. The building is owned by private equity and real estate investment firm Blackstone Group and its Chicago affiliate Equity Office Properties.

A Blackstone official says construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year with completion scheduled for 2019.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Police: Man found with fatal gunshot wound near Willis Tower

Oct 6, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) A 26-year-old man found with a gunshot wound to the chest a block south of the Willis Tower Wednesday night committed suicide, according to Chicago Police.

He was found about 7:30 p.m. on a sidewalk in the 300 block of South Franklin and he was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he later died, police said.

Witnesses said the man might have fallen from a 14-story parking garage. SWAT team members could be seen outside as officers with police dogs combed the garage. One officer was stationed at the garage’s exit and could be seen recording license plate numbers of vehicles exiting.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death but did not release more details. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

Witnesses said the man landed on the east sidewalk of Franklin, about 40 feet away from a bar patio where people were sitting out and drinking beer.

© Copyright 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

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