If you have ever been to Chicago you know how amazing the skyline is. Chicago has more tall buildings than one can imagine. If you have been downtown, you have probably seen the Willis Tower, formerly named the Sears Tower. It used to be the tallest building in the world until the Burj was constructed in Dubai. The Willis Tower now has a four foot glass balcony that jets out from the 103rd floor skydeck. WHAT?!!! That’s right, you heard me. It’s called “The Ledge”, and even some Chicago residents say they would never go up there.

Picture from www.geekologie.com

“The Ledge” is 1,353 feet above ground and can hold an estimated five tons! Some have said it’s like walking on ice, others have raved about the view. One thing in for sure, the first step is the hardest.

Picture from www.geekologie.com

The glass balcony was completed in 2009 and was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the same architecture firm that designed the building. The balcony is made of 1.5 inch thick crystal clear, laminated glass panels. The entire box balcony hangs from a steel truss that rides on rails and can be retracted into the building for cleaning and maintenance. The glass was manufactured by a 120 year old local contractor MTH Industries. Each glass panel weighs 1,500 pounds and is tempered for extra durability.