Walking On Air

SOM designs observation platforms that allow visitors to walk on the air. A new platform is planned for Chicago's Sears Tower.

1 minute read

June 19, 2009, 7:00 AM PDT

By Liyuan Huang


The platforms are made op water-white glass, with no visible frame, and will stick out 1,353 feet above the street.

"In addition to delivering a gut-wrenching experience while ensuring no one actually plummets to the ground, the designers had to contend with one other factor: the window washing system. The glass boxes promised to be a real impediment to the facade-access baskets, which drop straight down the building's face.

In answer, SOM designed The Ledge's modules to retract into the building."

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in The Architect's Newspaper

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

A rendering of Midway Rising that shows people mingling in a green space between apartment buildings.

San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council

The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.

30 minutes ago - KPBS

Professional electrical lineman in bucket truck performing power line maintenance against clear blue sky.

Bill to overhaul energy permitting clears Senate

The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 still needs to pass the House of Representatives.

1 hour ago - Inside Climate News

People walk down the street parallel to an MTA bus.

MTA sends Dem leaders a wish list to mend Trump’s damages

Requests include exempting new train and bus components from tariffs and increasing transit security funding.

2 hours ago - AMNY

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.