Video: Visit The Top Of Willis Tower, Where Its Iconic Lights Are Set Up

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 28, 2016 5:20PM

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is taking followers behind the scenes at the Willis Tower to see just how they change the iconic colored lights on the tower's 109th floor.

The video features stunning views of the city and harkens back to warmer days—it depicts electricians changing the light lenses to blue and red for July 4th Weekend. The lights include 20 1500-watt metal halide lamps and two 400-watt bulbs on the 109th floor, and two more lamps on the 110th floor. The lights change depending on the occasion—they might be changed to pink for the Breast Cancer Awareness movement, or blue for the Chicago Cubs.

"We haven't had to put blue up for quite a while," says electrician Mike Hlavacek, speaking months before the Cubs' historic World Series victory.

"Somedays when we come up here it can be beautiful like this. Other days, it can be freezing, windy, rainy," says electrician Jim O'Keefe.

Check out the video, above, to get a look at the view from atop the tower while the electricians do their work.