After four decades as the nation’s tallest building, on Tuesday Chicago’s Willis Tower lost its title when The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ruled that One World Trade Center’s 408-foot spire is a permanent feature that brings the building’s height to 1,776 feet. Unsurprisingly, the news that Chicago is 325 feet less patriotic than New York did not go over well with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I would just say to all the experts gathered in one room, if it looks like an antenna, acts like an antenna, then guess what? It is an antenna,” he said following the decision, adding, “I think (with) the Willis Tower you will have a view that’s unprecedented in its beauty, its landscape and its capacity to capture something. Something you can’t do from an antenna. Not that I’m competitive. So for all those who want to climb on top of an antenna and take a look, go ahead. I would suggest stay indoors and take a look.” Emanuel can insult our majestic spire all he wants, but it isn’t going to make Willis Tower any taller.
