The decision – that the Petronas Towers were indeed the world’s new tallest building(s), measuring 451.9 meters to the tops of their decorative spires – was based on the re-affirmation of a standard the Council had held for some 60 years. The antennae atop Sears Tower, which took it to an ultimate height of 527 meters, did not count toward its “architectural” height, because the antennae were not considered a permanent part of the building. [...]
It was not a popular decision in Chicago [...]
— Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
Remember when the Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia laid claim to the title of "World’s Tallest Building" in 1996; daring to challenge Sears Tower's crown which had been the incumbent record holder since 1974? The Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the organization responsible for keeping track of proper building heights, back then determined in a historic announcement that Kuala Lumpur's brand new twin Petronas Towers measured 451.9 meters/1,483 feet from sidewalk to the top of their spires and were indeed the world's new reigning champions.
The CTBUH's decision was not well received in Chicago, to say the least, and a heated debate errupted whether Sears Tower's antennae should have been included in the building height determination to keep the 110-story behemoth at the top and the largely unrivaled sense of American exceptionalism intact. (The champion title has never returned to the United States since then, and Sears Tower, now Willis Tower, is currently ranked at #21.)
"You just can’t take the title of ‘world’s tallest building’ away from the Sears Tower and give it to the Petronas Twin Towers," wrote a bitterly disappointed elementary school student from the Chicago area after the decision to the Council. "It will upset the whole country…Please count the Sears Tower antennae and give the title back to Sears Tower…not just for me, my class, Mrs. Elko, but for the rest of the country, including Chicago and the Sears Tower.”
Read the fascinating reprint of the media sensation that ensued after the announcement was made 23 years ago.
3 Comments
mine's bigger than yours
This picture right here explains the hole controversy and… it’s very stupid.
If the spires on the Petronas tower and Taipei 101 count then why not the sears tower?
Also if you count highest usable floor the sears tower is taller then both Petronas and Taipei 101 are shorter.
I would like to apologize the photo in my previous comment didn’t work so instead here is a link to the website that I found it on.
https://www.unlikelymoose.com/blog/sears-tower-is-taller-than-petronas-towers-taipei-101/amp/
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