Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconies

CHICAGO -- Visitors to the Sears Tower's new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest.

The balconies are suspended 1,353 feet in the air and jut out four feet from the building's 103rd floor Skydeck. Their transparent walls, floor and ceiling leave visitors with the impression they're floating over the city.

"The Ledge," as the balconies have been nicknamed, open to the public Thursday. Visitors are treated to unobstructed views of Chicago from the building's west side and a heart-stopping vista of the street and Chicago River below.

The balconies can hold five tons, and the glass is an inch-and-a-half thick, officials said.

Adam Kane, 10, of Alton, Ill., rushed to the ledge with his friends and siblings, and they each eagerly pressed their faces to the glass bottom.

The balconies are just one of the big changes coming to the Sears Tower. The building's name will soon change to Willis Tower. Last week, officials announced a 5-year, $350 million green renovation complete with wind turbines, roof gardens and solar panels.