The former Sears Tower in Chicago, now called Willis Tower, is getting a $500 million makeover that will open up the iconic building's ground floor to tourists, and will include 300,000 square feet of new retail including "dining and entertainment" at the base of the tower, as well as a new 30,000-square-foot outdoor deck and a "winter garden."
Owner Blackstone will convert 460,000 square feet of existing offices within the 110-story tower to new tenant amenities including lounges and a fitness center.
The developers will put some of the new retail into a three-level glass box planned for the 43-year-old tower's southeast corner. Three floors of new underground retail are also planned.
"The significant investment and realization of this vision will reinforce Willis Tower as a civic destination and the ultimate place to work with unique retail and entertainment experiences," Blackstone said in a statement.
