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Examine the architectural design of Chicago's Willis Tower, inspired by a pack of cigarettes

Examine the architectural design of Chicago's Willis Tower, inspired by a pack of cigarettes

Learn about Chicago's Willis Tower, including how a pack of cigarettes inspired its architectural design.
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Related Articles: Willis Tower

Transcript

Willis Tower. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, (SOM), 1974.

Cigarettes As Inspiration.

A bundled tube structure inspired by a pack of cigarettes.

Nine tubes at different heights resemble cigarettes pushed out of a pack.

Designed to be one of the largest and tallest buildings in the world, the building's 4.56 million square feet is equivalent to 16 Chicago city blocks.

Today the building is used for business and tourism.

Two antennas added in 1982 increase the tower's height to 1,730 feet.