The Great Chicago Spire Mystery: How Many Floors Does Trump Tower Actually Have?
Ah, the Windy City's very own silver giant, Trump Tower Chicago. It stabs at the sky with such gusto, you'd think counting its floors would be a breeze. But hold onto your deep dish, folks, because this skyscraper is shrouded in a mystery as deep as Lake Michigan itself.
Floor-counting Follies: 98 vs. 100?
Now, some folks will tell you it's a clean-cut 98 stories. They might even point you to fancy architectural diagrams that confirm this. But here's the thing: those diagrams probably haven't ventured into the tippy-top of the spire, now have they?
That's right, the spire. A glorious point that pierces the clouds and makes tourists reach for their selfie sticks. Is this a mere ornament, or a floor in disguise? That, my friends, is the question that keeps Chicago Tribune reporters up at night (well, maybe not, but you get the idea).
Spoiler Alert: It Gets Weirder
If you think the existence of a spire-floor is enough to make your head spin, buckle up. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) - yes, there really is such a thing - has its own way of counting floors. They might throw out some technical jargon about "mechanical mezzanines" and "major mechanical plant floors," making the whole thing sound like a scene out of Inception.
In short, according to CTBUH, Trump Tower Chicago could be anywhere from 98 to 100 floors, depending on who you ask and what they consider a "real" floor.
The Verdict: How Many Floors Does It Feel Like?
Look, here's the truth: most of us aren't planning on scaling this behemoth anyway. Whether it's 98 or 100 floors, that building is definitely going to give you a killer view (and maybe a leg workout on the way back down).
So, the next time you're gazing at Trump Tower Chicago, remember the mystery. Embrace the ambiguity! Tell yourself it's 99 floors, just to be different. The important thing is, you're appreciating a piece of Chicago's architectural wonder, spire-floor or not.
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