Here's What Willis Tower Will Look Like After $500M Renovation

By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 1, 2017 5:38PM

The Willis Tower (sorry, Sears diehards) is getting a major, multi-million-dollar facelift, the city announced on Wednesday.

The first of its kind in the tower's four-decade-plus history, the $500 million renovation will include 300,000 square feet of new retail space, a dining and entertainment section at the ground level, winter garden and a new 30,000 square-foot outdoor deck, according to the mayor's office. Renovations to the tower have been years in the making, since the tower was sold to real estate giant Blackstone Group for $$1.3 billion in 2015.

Some 460,000 square feet of space will be updated into new amenities, including a fitness center and lounge.

"The project will create more than 2,500 jobs and ensure the Willis Tower remains a vibrant part of Chicago’s skyline for generations to come," Emanuel's said in a statement.

Willis Tower is of course formerly the tallest building in the world. It's now number two in the country, but still number one in your hearts, amirite Chicago?