Via the SunTimes-

The New York-based owners of Sears Tower want to know if adding silver will bring in some green.

 

Sources said the owners are considering an expensive paint job, recladding the tower in silver. Since its opening in 1973, Chicago's iconic tower and the nation's tallest building has been adorned in classic black.

 

A brighter look could draw fresh attention to the tower, which has struggled to hold tenants against newer generations of office buildings. Silver could figure into a broader effort to "rebrand" the building and highlight its advances in energy efficiency.

 

The owners, who include New York investors Joseph Chetrit and Joseph Moinian, could seek what's known as a silver LEED rating, bestowed by a group that promotes environmental advances in buildings. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating is third best after gold and platinum, but nonetheless an achievement for a building that's 36 years old.

 

To improve the tower's energy efficiency, the owners have been working with Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, specialists in both supertall buildings and environmental design. Smith, formerly of the firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP that designed the tower, declined to talk about the project.

 

A spokesman for the owners said the Sears has a strong record of becoming more ecologically sustainable. "We are actively looking for even more ways to save energy and improve the building," he said. "We are still examining our options and any details at this point would be speculative."

 

Switching to a lighter tint to complement the silver could cost $50 million, "and right now there's not enough money in the universe for that," said a source familiar with the tower.

 

Long-term elements of the Sears work include plans to add a building, perhaps a hotel, next to it at Jackson and Wacker. The tower's owners have been working with well-connected local partners, including U.S. Equities Realty Chairman Robert Wislow and the zoning law firm of Daley & George, to prepare its plans. Wislow couldn't be reached Tuesday, and Daley & George partner Jack George declined to comment.

 

Jesus, imagine how much sunlight that building would reflect. I'd hate to be working across the street.

Jesus, imagine how much sunlight that building would reflect. I'd hate to be working across the street.

that was my thought too. And Airplanes coming into O'Hare

I like it black, it reflects the city. Chicago is known as a tough, hard working city.

Jesus, imagine how much sunlight that building would reflect. I'd hate to be working across the street.

When they opened the Disney Concert Hall here in Los Angeles a few years ago, it reflected so much light that the neighbors complained. They literally had to go over the metallic surface and make it more rough so that it reflected less light.

 

That building should always be black. Would you repaint the Golden Gate Bridge? 80 years of one color too long?

When they opened the Disney Concert Hall here in Los Angeles a few years ago, it reflected so much light that the neighbors complained. They literally had to go over the metallic surface and make it more rough so that it reflected less light.

 

That building should always be black. Would you repaint the Golden Gate Bridge? 80 years of one color too long?

The Golden Gate should be silver, too.

 

 

The Golden Gate should be silver, too.

 

Or pink.

 

The Golden Gate should be silver, too.

ohhh a photoshop challenge!

It will probably match the Sphire(I think thats what it is called) that is going up alot better if its silver.

It will probably match the Sphire(I think thats what it is called) that is going up alot better if its silver.

which, for those that dont know, is on indefinite hold until the financial markets turn around.

which, for those that dont know, is on indefinite hold until the financial markets turn around.

 

Really,wow I didnt know that. That sucks, Iam one of the very few that was a fan of that building and couldnt wait for it to go up.

Really,wow I didnt know that. That sucks, Iam one of the very few that was a fan of that building and couldnt wait for it to go up.

Via Wikipedia:

On September 19, 2008, a spokeswoman for the developer announced that construction was continuing on the building, but that the pace of construction will be slowed until the financial markets improve from the subprime mortgage crisis. Kelleher has promised that he still has financial backing, although analysts have questioned the ability of the project to survive the current economic decline. A contractor to build the building's superstructure has not yet been named. The October 1, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal said that the building foundation was complete and the above ground construction would not continue until the markets recover.

ugh, that silver paint job proposal makes the building look like crap. It looks much better the way the building is now with the black, it makes the building pop out more.

 

I'm getting tired of how "energy-conscious" our country is becoming.

Via Wikipedia:

Sounds Shovel-ready to me!

That would be awesome, anyone want to grab a roller and get started? Who has a ladder?

The Golden Gate should be silver, too.

Not too bad actually...

 

The Silver LEED rating isn't even that big of a deal.

I'm getting tired of how "energy-conscious" our country is becoming.

This is even sillier than your statement that Viciedo will surpass Big Frank in homeruns.

 

This is even sillier than your statement that Viciedo will surpass Big Frank in homeruns.

 

It's not silly at all, man. I work in the electrical hardware industry and I'm always one of the first ones to find out about changing energy regulations.

 

Energy-efficiency requirements seem to be changing every other month to the point where it seems like these legislators are bored and have nothing better to do.

 

I'll give you one example: ceiling fans. Before 2007, all ceiling fans were pretty much made with standard-base lightbulb sockets and no attention were really given to how much energy it used besides recommending a certain wattage usage per socket.

 

Then 2007 rolls by and some energy-efficiency legislation (can't remember the name) was passed that stated that from that point on all ceiling fans must be built with candlelabra-base sockets instead of standard base. That was pretty much pointless, in my opinion, because the only difference between the effect of a standard base bulb and a candle base bulb is a slight difference in the amount of heat it gives off. The amount of wattage being used was still the same, whether it was 40 watts standard base or 40 watts candle base.

 

Now about 4 months ago, they changed regulations again, and most ceiling fans are going BACK to standard base, but the ceiling fans will have CFL lightbulbs included. There's also supposed to be a special built-in sensor which will automatically shuts off ceiling fans if people tried to use regular incandescent lightbulbs instead of CFL's when a certain amount of heat from incandescent bulbs are generated.

 

C'monnnnnnnnn!!! Way too much ado over nothing.

Seriously, I find it very anal and very annoying, because I'm always one of the first ones to find out about this stuff because I work in the industry. I tend to follow the credo of "if it aint broke...".

 

Plus, not only that, but regular incandescent lighbulbs will be obsolete soon, along with the 8-track player and the vcr. All bulbs will soon be cfl's and LED lightbulbs, and even cfl's are projected to be obsolete in 20 years as well as the technology for LED lightbulbs improves and becomes cheaper to manufacture. The only problem is that the light quality of LED lightbulbs sucks, in my opinion, because it's too blue-ish. Unless you like having a lightbulb that seems like it's from a spaceship.

 

I just find it socially irresponsible how incandescent lightbulbs will soon be off the shelves and people will have no choice but to spend more money on expensive cfl's instead. Honestly, don't you think it will be more of a financial burden on a person if they have to spend $4 bucks on one 13-watt (equivalent to 60 watts) lightbulb instead of buying a 99-cent 4-pack of regular incandescent bulbs?

 

So yea, I really am tired of how energy-conscious our country is becoming. I see the "green industry" as being similar to the oil industry, because both are just out there to make money. I wouldn't be surprised if some green industry lobbyists are paying off legislators to pass legislation favoring green initiatives just like how the oil industry pays off the automotive industry to not develop 100-mile per gallon fuel efficiency technology.

 

So yea, I don't see anything silly at all with being increasingly annoyed with all the energy-consciousness nowadays. I just wish things were left to be.

 

And painting the Sears Tower silver just to achieve an energy-efficiency rating is a travesty. If the Sears Tower is not black, then it's not the Sears Tower.

Edited March 3, 200917 yr by SouthsideDon48

the sears tower looks great as is. please don't paint it silver

Or pink.

 

I saw what you did there.

the sears tower looks great as is. please don't paint it silver

 

qft.

I hate to *bump* an old thread, but I think it applies here. The silver "Willis Tower." Kill me now.

I hate to *bump* an old thread, but I think it applies here. The silver "Willis Tower." Kill me now.

I have a silver willie

between a big silver willie, and the chicago spire, we're gonna have on phallic skyline.