CHICAGO | Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) | 1,451 FT / 442 M | 108 FLOORS | 1974 - Page 29

george · #**561** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 3:33 AM**

marshall · #**562** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 4:48 PM**

I visited the Sears Tower in 1998 and it was something even on a rainy cloudy day. I still was more impressed with the old WTC in NY though, probably because it had the outdoor observation deck, and I like feeling the breeze on my face

But the Sears Tower is great. I would like to visit sometime again now that they added they glass ledges. Tell me, what exactly is meant by "recladding"? Also it seems the Sears Tower facade is composed of many glass panels, similar to the new 1 WTC design..

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #**563** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshall

I visited the Sears Tower in 1998 and it was something even on a rainy cloudy day. I still was more impressed with the old WTC in NY though, probably because it had the outdoor observation deck, and I like feeling the breeze on my face

But the Sears Tower is great. I would like to visit sometime again now that they added they glass ledges. Tell me, what exactly is meant by "recladding"? Also it seems the Sears Tower facade is composed of many glass panels, similar to the new 1 WTC design..

Well recladding simply means to redo the exterior wall or facade of a building. maybe to take down steel mullions or marble panels and replace them with glass panels. This is often done to make a building more modern and therefore better to market or it can be done to restore the facade to its original beauty.

heres some good examples.

330 Madison avenue recladded its facade with glass panels.

http://ny.curbed.com/uploads/2009_3_330madison.jpg

First Canadianism plaza in Toronto is currently in the process of cladding its exterior with glass as opposed to the original marble panels that would occasionaly fall down to the streets below.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ario/045-3.jpg

3 Columbus Circle converted its art deco stone facade to a glass facade to be more marketable for modern tenants.

http://nyc-architecture.com/wp-conte...AGAAR28-03.jpg

marshall · #**564** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

Well recladding simply means to redo the exterior wall or facade of a building. maybe to take down steel mullions or marble panels and replace them with glass panels. This is often done to make a building more modern and therefore better to market or it can be done to restore the facade to its original beauty.

heres some good examples.

330 Madison avenue recladded its facade with glass panels.

http://ny.curbed.com/uploads/2009_3_330madison.jpg

First Canadianism plaza in Toronto is currently in the process of cladding its exterior with glass as opposed to the original marble panels that would occasionaly fall down to the streets below.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ario/045-3.jpg

3 Columbus Circle converted its art deco stone facade to a glass facade to be more marketable for modern tenants.

http://nyc-architecture.com/wp-conte...AGAAR28-03.jpg

Thanks, very helpful

Jasoncw · #**565** Posted **Sep 10, 2011, 4:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

3 Columbus Circle converted its art deco stone facade to a glass facade to be more marketable for modern tenants.

http://nyc-architecture.com/wp-conte...AGAAR28-03.jpg

Yikes, couldn't they have just replaced the windows and cleaned the limestone?

And it's too bad about the BMO, I know they didn't have much of a choice and the new panels look nice but it's a shame to loose that marble. Could you imagine a building today being entirely clad in marble?

ardecila · #**566** Posted **Sep 10, 2011, 2:49 PM**

^^ I believe 3 Columbus Circle (which is not actually ON the circle) uses glazed brick and not limestone.

UrbanImpressionist · #**567** Posted **Sep 10, 2011, 9:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyscrapersOfNewYork

3 Columbus Circle converted its art deco stone facade to a glass facade to be more marketable for modern tenants.

http://nyc-architecture.com/wp-conte...AGAAR28-03.jpg

Glazed brick or not that's a f'n travesty!

If they wanted to modernize it they should've just gutted one or two segments and cladded them with glass. Not the whole damn thing. Deco sacrilege.

marshall · #**568** Posted **Sep 10, 2011, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanImpressionist

Glazed brick or not that's a f'n travesty!

If they wanted to modernize it they should've just gutted one or two segments and cladded them with glass. Not the whole damn thing. Deco sacrilege.

I agree. Don't we have enough bland glass encased buildings with no distinctive character? Since the elegance of the art deco masonry structures is clearly a lost art, we should preserve them not try and turn them into a cookie cutter variety glass building.

i_am_hydrogen · #**569** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 2:03 AM**

Modulair · #**570** Posted **Sep 25, 2011, 9:35 PM**

hello everyone, can someone give me information about something i've heard a year ago?
i've heard that the sears(or willis) tower would be turned into an ecologic skyscraper, with new glass-windows, wind turbines and lawn on the roof, etc...
i've also heard that the tower would be repainted in silver...
is all that true? someone can explain me?
thanks

harryc · #**571** Posted **Oct 15, 2011, 8:07 PM**

george · #**572** Posted **Oct 18, 2011, 2:58 AM**

10-16

uaarkson · #**573** Posted **Oct 18, 2011, 3:23 AM**

Massive.

Zapatan · #**574** Posted **Oct 18, 2011, 2:41 PM**

Sears tower is freaking HUGE! One of my favorite buildings!

george · #**575** Posted **Oct 29, 2011, 4:11 PM**

meh_cd · #**576** Posted **Oct 30, 2011, 1:18 AM**

I love the industrial look of Sears and Hancock.

george · #**577** Posted **Nov 24, 2011, 1:43 PM**

11-22

Ch.G, Ch.G · #**578** Posted **Nov 24, 2011, 3:20 PM**

Whoa. Badass. All that's missing is the Eye of Sauron.

george · #**579** Posted **Nov 28, 2011, 12:55 AM**

eaguir3 · #**580** Posted **Nov 28, 2011, 1:57 AM**

wow thats epic