
One night “here was a tragic mix up and the lights did not go out on schedule. There is substantial anecdotal evidence that the program helps. The program was started in the fall of 2000 and has won the support of almost all of the major skyscrapers in Chicago. They also encourage high-rise residents to draw their shades or dim interior lights late in the evening. The program encourages building managers to dim or turn off decorative lighting late at night and to minimize the use of bright interior lights during migration season. The City of Chicago’s Department of the Environment estimates that tens of thousands of birds are killed from nighttime lights each season.Ĭhicago, through its “Lights Out” program, was one of the first U.S. “I’ve spoken with one building manager who said some nights birds were picked up by the shovelful from the roof,” says Judy Pollock, the Bird Conservation Project Manager at the Chicago Audubon Society. There are some Chicago residents who understand the hazards facing migratory birds first hand. “A person will see one dead bird here, one bird there. “The problem is easy to overlook because you don’t see it in the aggregate,” she continues.
#CHICAGO SKYSCRAPER WINDOWS#
From there, “birds can fly into glass windows as they fly toward a reflection or even a planter inside the building,” explains Rebekah Creshkoff of the New York City Audubon Society.

Sometimes they crash into the lit building other times, decorative lights disorient the birds and cause them to circle around and around, finally settling exhausted in a street tree or bush at daybreak. When they are flying near buildings, the nighttime lights can confuse the birds. Many birds, like the song sparrow that is a common casualty in Chicago, are nocturnal migrants, meaning they travel at night. These migratory birds can cover thousands of miles each season. Twice a year, around five million birds, representing about 250 species, fly through Chicago. “Part of the building’s appeal is its prominence in the nighttime skyline.” Yet 311 South Wacker turns off its lights-along with many other prominent Chicago buildings, including the John Hancock Building and the Sears Tower-when migratory birds make their way through the Chicago area. Michigan Ave.ģ60 CHICAGO also features interactive exhibits about the city’s history, neighborhoods, and architecture and locally produced beer and spirits at CloudBar, the highest bar in the city.“Light is part of the building’s architecture,” says Roy Endsley, the building manager at 311 South Wacker in Chicago.

You’ll find this amazing attraction at the 360 CHICAGO observation deck inside one of the city’s most famous skyscrapers - the former John Hancock Center at 875 N. If you feel like you’ve never seen anything like it before, it’s because you haven’t - TILT is the first of its kind in the world. It’s an enclosed platform that literally tilts you out and over Michigan Avenue at a staggering 1,030 feet. Wacker Drive (entrance on Franklin Street) 360 CHICAGO at 875 N. The Willis Tower is also home to Color Factory, an interactive art experience, and Kindling, a sprawling restaurant featuring a live fire kitchen and an award-winning chef. The experience covers everything from the Great Chicago Fire to a full-scale ‘L’ train replica to photo opps with iconic Chicago landmarks. The lower level is home to an interactive museum that celebrates the unique personality, history, neighborhoods and sites of Chicago. to capture great sunsets and the glittering city nightscape.Īs if The Ledge weren’t thrilling enough, there’s a whole lot more to see on your Skydeck Chicago visit. The best time to visit? Just after opening or after 5 p.m.

You can even see up to four different states on clear days.
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The all-glass platform feels like you’re walking on air, with nothing to obscure your sightline of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, and many of Chicago’s most iconic buildings. The Ledge experience was inspired by all the face prints left on the Willis Tower’s windows by visitors trying to get the best possible view. Step out on The Ledge at Skydeck, a glass box that hovers 1,353 feet in the air from the facade of Willis Tower, one of the tallest buildings on the planet. You’re just an elevator ride away from making some unforgettable memories. The city’s iconic observation decks, Skydeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO, are located in two of the world’s most famous skyscrapers and offer jaw-dropping views and one-of-a-kind thrills. The sky’s the limit in Chicago - literally.
