Willis Tower stands as an icon of modern architecture, however for decades the base of the tower created an unwelcoming urban environment. The reimagination of the ground levels creates a vibrant streetscape, atrium, and roof park that is an amenity for people who work in the building but also nearby residents.
While still respecting needs for security, the previously closed off spaces around the building are now open to pedestrians, and rich textures and materials along the streetscape honor the famous gridded architecture of the tower. On the fourth floor roof park, the curving geometry interrupts the architectural grid and references the winding rivers of the Midwestern landscape with a native palette of prairie grasses and trees.
