An aerial view shows the "topping out" of the construction on the top floors of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

An aerial view shows the "topping out" of the construction on the top floors of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (James O'Leary/Chicago Tribune)

Building Goliath: the making of the Sears Tower

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Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, opened in 1973, though construction was not completed until 1974. The skyscraper was the world’s tallest building until 1998, when it was surpassed by a building in Malaysia. The 110-story tower has seen many changes in residents over the years, and in 2009 a new glass ledge was introduced on the building's 103rd floor.

The new site for the Sears Tower as seen from 16 floors up looking east across Wacker Drive in Chicago on Dec. 22, 1969.

The new site for the Sears Tower as seen from 16 floors up looking east across Wacker Drive in Chicago on Dec. 22, 1969. (Dave Nystrom / Chicago Tribune)

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Construction begins at the site for the Sears Tower in Chicago in December 1970.

Construction begins at the site for the Sears Tower in Chicago in December 1970. (Chicago Tribune)

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People watch construction at the site of the future Sears Tower on June 3, 1971, in downtown Chicago.

People watch construction at the site of the future Sears Tower on June 3, 1971, in downtown Chicago. (Walter Neal / Chicago Tribune)

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Construction continued on the Sears Tower on Nov. 6, 1972, in Chicago. The John Hancock Center is seen in the background.

Construction continued on the Sears Tower on Nov. 6, 1972, in Chicago. The John Hancock Center is seen in the background. (Charles Osgood/Chicago Tribune)

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The Sears Tower is under construction on Nov. 24, 1972, as seen from the University of Illinois Circle Campus at Morgan and Harrison streets in Chicago.

The Sears Tower is under construction on Nov. 24, 1972, as seen from the University of Illinois Circle Campus at Morgan and Harrison streets in Chicago. (Walter Kale / Chicago Tribune)

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A worker navigates the Sears Tower as the building nears completion on April 13, 1973.

A worker navigates the Sears Tower as the building nears completion on April 13, 1973. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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It’s a long way up — 1,370 feet to be exact. The men working on the Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, reached the 104th floor on March 13, 1973, making the structure the tallest in the world. The second tallest building is the 1,3500-foot World Trade Center in New York. The Sears Tower will be 110 floors with topping out May 3, 1973.

It’s a long way up — 1,370 feet to be exact. The men working on the Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, reached the 104th floor on March 13, 1973, making the structure the tallest in the world. The second tallest building is the 1,3500-foot World Trade Center in New York. The Sears Tower will be 110 floors with topping out May 3, 1973. (Arthur Walker / Chicago Tribune)

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The view from the 104th floor of the Sears Tower as construction continues on March 13, 1973.

The view from the 104th floor of the Sears Tower as construction continues on March 13, 1973. (Arthur Walker/Chicago Tribune)

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Victor Magic, 35, a tagline man in the raising gang, is the first man to stand on the 104th floor of the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the world on March 13, 1973.

Victor Magic, 35, a tagline man in the raising gang, is the first man to stand on the 104th floor of the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the world on March 13, 1973. (Arthur Walker / Chicago Tribune)

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Workers atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973.

Workers atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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Seemingly oblivious to the height or the view, a welder works near the top of the 110-story Sears Tower on April 13, 1973.

Seemingly oblivious to the height or the view, a welder works near the top of the 110-story Sears Tower on April 13, 1973. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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Workers construct the 106th floor of the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago.

Workers construct the 106th floor of the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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A worker atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973.

A worker atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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Robert E. Vance, 56, of Cicero, top right, an ironworker for U.S. Steel American Bridge Division, works with others on the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago.

Robert E. Vance, 56, of Cicero, top right, an ironworker for U.S. Steel American Bridge Division, works with others on the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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Robert E. Vance, 56, of Cicero, an ironworker for US Steel American Bridge Division, is atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago.

Robert E. Vance, 56, of Cicero, an ironworker for US Steel American Bridge Division, is atop the Sears Tower on April 13, 1973, in Chicago. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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Perched high on the Sears Tower, workmen go about the task of constructing the world's tallest building on April 13, 1973.

Perched high on the Sears Tower, workmen go about the task of constructing the world's tallest building on April 13, 1973. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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The ground floor area of the Sears Tower where a late night “topping off” beer party ended up in a brawl between the steel workers and the cement mixers on May 1, 1973.

The ground floor area of the Sears Tower where a late night “topping off” beer party ended up in a brawl between the steel workers and the cement mixers on May 1, 1973. (Walter Kale / Chicago Tribune)

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An aerial view of the topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

An aerial view of the topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (James OLeary / Chicago Tribune)

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Workmen guide the final steel girder into position to top off the Sears Tower at 1,454 feet on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

Workmen guide the final steel girder into position to top off the Sears Tower at 1,454 feet on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune)

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Workmen sing a song at the topping-out ceremony, which they wrote during the construction of the Sears Tower, May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

Workmen sing a song at the topping-out ceremony, which they wrote during the construction of the Sears Tower, May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (John Bartley / Chicago Tribune)

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Mayor Richard Daley and other dignitaries sign the “topping off” girder at the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973.

Mayor Richard Daley and other dignitaries sign the “topping off” girder at the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973. (Earl Gustie / Chicago Tribune)

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An aerial view shows the "topping out" of the construction on the top floors of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

An aerial view shows the "topping out" of the construction on the top floors of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (James O'Leary/Chicago Tribune)

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The topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

The topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

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An aerial view of the topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago.

An aerial view of the topping out of the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (James OLeary / Chicago Tribune)

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Sears Tower, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, is the worlds tallest building on May 18, 1973, in Chicago.

Sears Tower, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, is the worlds tallest building on May 18, 1973, in Chicago. (Dave Nystrom / Chicago Tribune)

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John Rukavina, of South Holland, the superintendent of the TV tower raising job, works to free a frozen pulley at the top of the permanent mast base 1,522 feet above the street on the Sears Tower on Dec. 14, 1973.

John Rukavina, of South Holland, the superintendent of the TV tower raising job, works to free a frozen pulley at the top of the permanent mast base 1,522 feet above the street on the Sears Tower on Dec. 14, 1973. (Arthur Walker / Chicago Tribune)

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The Sears Tower from the air on May 23, 1974, in Chicago.

The Sears Tower from the air on May 23, 1974, in Chicago. (John Bartley / Chicago Tribune)

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