So, You Wanna Be a Willis Tower Pro? How Many Floors Can You Handle?
Ever looked up at a skyscraper and thought, "Man, that's gotta be a lot of stairs!"? Well, if you're staring up at the magnificent Willis Tower in Chicago (formerly known as Sears Tower, for all you nostalgia buffs), you might be wondering just how many leg muscles you'd need to conquer that beast.
The Short Answer (for those who are, ahem, short on time)
The Willis Tower boasts a staggering 108 floors. That's right, 108! But wait, there's more (because apparently, architects like to play little games with us common folk).
The Long Answer (for those who enjoy a good architectural mystery)
According to those fancy folks who count floors in the "official" way, the Willis Tower has 108 stories. But hold onto your hats (or hard hats, if you're planning to climb this thing), because the building's owners like to throw a little curveball. They consider the main roof to be a whole new floor (number 109, for those keeping track at home) and the mechanical penthouse roof to be another floor entirely (bringing us to a grand total of 110!).
So, what does this mean for the average tourist?
Honestly, it probably doesn't matter much unless you're planning on scaling the building with a measuring tape. The important takeaway is this: there's a whole lotta Willis Tower to go around!
Bonus Tip: Take the Elevator (Unless You're Training for the Willis Tower Stair Climb)
Those 108 (or 110, depending on who you ask) floors add up to a lot of steps. For the faint of heart (or those who value their quads), there's a perfectly good elevator that will whisk you to the top in a jiffy.
So there you have it! The next time you find yourself admiring the Willis Tower, you can impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of its floor count. Who knows, maybe you'll even inspire someone to lace up their sneakers and attempt the epic Willis Tower Stair Climb (though we recommend strong knees and an iron will for that one).
