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John Hancock Center
Skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois

875 North Michigan Avenue, formerly known as the John Hancock Center, is a 100-story, 1,128-foot skyscraper in Chicago's Magnificent Mile district. Designed by Bruce Graham and Fazlur Rahman Khan of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, it was once the second-tallest building worldwide, behind the Empire State Building. Currently, it ranks as the fifth-tallest in Chicago and the fourteenth-tallest in the US. Home to offices, restaurants, and about 700 condominiums, it features the antenna masts reaching 1,500 feet. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the 360 Chicago observatory, including the TILT platform and open-air SkyWalk, while the 44th-floor sky lobby houses the highest indoor pool in the United States.

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History

20th century

The project, which would become the world's second tallest building at opening, was conceived and owned by Jerry Wolman in late 1964. The project was financed by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. Construction of the tower was interrupted in 1967 due to a flaw in an innovative engineering method used to pour concrete in stages, that was discovered when the building was 20 stories high.12 The engineers were getting the same soil settlements for the 20 stories that had been built as what they had expected for the entire 99 stories. This forced the owner to stop development until the engineering problem could be resolved, resulting in a credit crunch. The situation is similar to the one faced during the construction of 111 West Wacker, then known as the Waterview Tower. Wolman's bankruptcy resulted in John Hancock taking over the project, which retained the original design, architect, engineer, and main contractor.

The building's first resident was Ray Heckla, the original building engineer, responsible for the residential floors from 44 to 92. Heckla moved his family in April 1969, before the building was completed.

The 1988 film Poltergeist III was set at the John Hancock Center and was filmed in early 1987.13

21st century

On December 10, 2006, the non-residential portion of the building was sold by San Francisco–based Shorenstein Properties for $385 million14 and was purchased by a joint venture of Chicago-based Golub & Company and the Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds.15 Shorenstein Properties had bought the building in 1998 for $220 million.16

Golub defaulted on its debt and the building was acquired in 2012 by Deutsche Bank, who subsequently carved up the building.17 The venture of Deutsche Bank and New York–based NorthStar Realty Finance paid an estimated $325 million18 for debt on 875 North Michigan Avenue in 2012 after Shorenstein Properties defaulted on $400 million19 in loans.20 The observation deck was sold to Paris-based Montparnasse 56 Group for between $35 million and $45 million21 in July 2012.22 That same month, Prudential Real Estate Investors acquired the retail and restaurant space for almost $142 million.2324 In November 2012, Boston-based American Tower Corp affiliate paid $70 million25 for the antennas.26 In June 2013, a venture of Chicago-based real estate investment firm Hearn Co., New York–based investment firm Mount Kellett Capital Management L.P. and San Antonio–based developer Lynd Co. closed on the expected acquisition of 875 North Michigan Avenue's 856,000 square feet (79,500 m2) of office space and 710-car parking deck. The Chicago firm did not disclose a price, but sources said it was about $145 million.2728 This was the last step in that piecemeal sale process.29 In May 2016, Hearn Co. announced that they were seeking buyers for the naming rights with possible signage rights for the building.30

Hustle up the Hancock is an annual stair climb race up the 94 floors from the Michigan Avenue level to the observation deck. It is held on the last Sunday of February. The climb benefits Respiratory Health Association. The record time as of 2007 is 9 minutes 30 seconds.

The building is home to the transmitter of Univision's WGBO-DT (channel 66), while all other full-power television stations in Chicago broadcast from Willis Tower. The City Colleges of Chicago's WYCC (channel 20) transmitted from the building until November 2017, when it departed the air as part of the 2016 FCC spectrum auction.

On February 12, 2018, John Hancock Insurance requested that its name and logos throughout the building's interior be removed immediately; John Hancock had not had a naming-rights deal with the skyscraper's owners since 2013. The building's name was subsequently changed to its street address as 875 North Michigan Avenue.31

The Signature Room restaurant on the 95th and 96th floors was listed for sale in April 202332 and closed that September, with ownership citing "severe economic hardship" that they attributed to the impact of the earlier COVID-19 pandemic.3334 360 CHICAGO, which operated the 94th-floor observation deck, bought the building's 95th and 96th floors in June 2024.353637 The next year, it was announced that 875 North Michigan's observation deck would be expanded into the former Signature Room space.383940 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (the architectural firm that designed the building in the 1970s) was hired to redesign these two floors.41

Incidents

On November 11, 1981, Veterans Day, high-rise firefighting and rescue advocate Dan Goodwin, for the purpose of calling attention to the inability to rescue people trapped in the upper floors of skyscrapers, successfully climbed the building's exterior wall. Wearing a wetsuit and using a climbing device that enabled him to ascend the I-beams on the building's side, Goodwin battled repeated attempts by the Chicago Fire Department to knock him off. Fire Commissioner William Blair ordered Chicago firemen to stop Goodwin by directing a fully engaged fire hose at him and by blasting fire axes through nearby glass from the inside. Fearing for Goodwin's life, Mayor Jane Byrne intervened and allowed him to continue to the top.4243

On December 18, 1997, comedian Chris Farley was found dead in his apartment on the 60th floor of the building.4445

On March 9, 2002, part of a scaffold fell 43 stories after being torn loose by wind gusts around 60 mph (100 km/h) crushing several cars, killing three people in two of them. The remaining part of the stage swung back-and-forth in the gusts repeatedly slamming against the building, damaging cladding panels, breaking windows, and sending pieces onto the street below.

On November 21, 2015, a fire broke out in an apartment on the 50th floor of the building. The Chicago Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire after an hour and a half; five people suffered minor injuries.46

On February 11, 2018, a fire in a car on the seventh floor required approximately 150 firefighters to extinguish.47

On November 16, 2018, an express elevator cable broke. Initial reports stated that an elevator with six passengers plunged 84 stories from the 95th to 11th floor. Since express elevators are not accessible from floors within the express zone, a team of firefighters had to break through a brick wall from the parking garage to extricate the passengers, none of whom suffered injuries. Elevators to the 95th/96th floor were closed thereafter pending investigation.48 Subsequent investigation documented only a controlled descent from the 20th floor to the 11th floor.49

On January 5, 2022, a piece of cladding fell from the building.50

Architecture

One of the most famous buildings of the structural expressionist style, the skyscraper's distinctive X-braced exterior shows that the structure's skin is part of its "tubular system". This is one of the engineering techniques which the designers used to achieve a record height; the tubular system is the structure that keeps the building upright during wind and earthquake loads. This X-bracing allows for both higher performance from tall structures and the ability to open up the inside floorplan. Such original features have allowed 875 North Michigan Avenue to become an architectural icon. It was pioneered by Bangladeshi-American structural civil engineer Fazlur Khan and chief architect Bruce Graham.

The interior was remodeled in 1995, adding to the lobby travertine, black granite, and textured limestone surfaces. The elliptical-shaped plaza outside the building serves as a public oasis with seasonal plantings and a 12-foot (3.7 m) waterfall. A band of white lights at the top of the building is visible all over Chicago at night, and changes colors for different events. For example, at Christmas time the colors are green and red. When a Chicago-area sports team goes far in the playoffs, the colors are changed to match that team's colors.

The building is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. It has won various awards for its distinctive style, including the Distinguished Architects Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects in May 1999.51 In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, the John Hancock Center was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places52 by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois) and was recognized by USA Today Travel magazine, as one of AIA Illinois' selections for Illinois 25 Must See Places.53

The building is only partially protected by a fire sprinkler system,54 as the residential floors do not have sprinklers.55 Including its antennas, the building has a height of 1,500 feet (457 m), making it the thirty-third tallest building in the world when measured to pinnacle height.56

Interior spaces

44th floor sky lobby

The 44th level skylobby is the floor where the building transitions from offices to residential, with offices occupying floors below and residences occupying floors above.57

Swimming pool

On its 44th floor, the John Hancock Center has a resident swimming pool. The pool area has double-height ceilings.58

The pool is the highest pool in the United States when measured by distance above ground level.59

Images of the swimming pool

Resident/office tenant grocery store

On its 44th floor, the building has a 5,200 square feet (480 m2) grocery store accessible only to apartment residents and office tenants. In 2007, operation of the grocery store was taken over by the local Potash chain of grocery stores.60 As of February 2023, Potash continues to operate the grocery store.61

Upper floors

Express elevators

The elevators that serve the top three public floors are credited as the fastest in both North America and the Western Hemisphere.6263 Manufactured by Otis, the elevators travel 96 floors at a top speed of 1,800 ft/min (20 mph; 9.1 m/s). It has been said that they would be capable of reaching the 95th floor in 38 seconds if they could run the entire trip at their top speed.64

360 Chicago Observation Deck

Located on the 94th floor, 360 Chicago Observation Deck is 875 North Michigan Avenue's horizon observatory. The floor of the observatory is 1,030 feet (310 m) above the street-level below. The entrance can be found on the concourse level of 875 North Michigan Avenue, accessible from the Michigan Avenue side of the building. The observatorywas previously named "John Hancock Observatory". It has been independently owned and operated since 2014 as an subsidiary of the Paris, France-based observation deck company Magnicity (formerly known as the "Montparnasse 56 Group"). After its acquisition of the observation deck, the company extensively renovated the space in 2014.6566

The observatory boasts more floor space than its direct competitor, Skydeck at the Willis Tower.67 The observation deck currently includes a cocktail lounge named the "CloudBar". After the closure of the building's 96th floor cocktail lounge, 360 CHICAGO has advertised it as being the highest cocktail lounge in the city.68 It was formerly named "BAR 94".69 In the summer of 2014, 360 Chicago added its TILT attraction. TILT, which requires an additional fee to experience, features a series of floor-to-ceiling windows that slowly tilt outside the building to 30°.70 The observation deck also features an open-air "skydeck" area.

For several years in the 2010s, during its winter season, the observation deck would feature the "world's highest skating rink", with an artificial ice rink being seasonally installed.717273 At one point, observation deck had a mascot named Seemore Miles.74

General images of the 360 Chicago Observation Deck
Images of the TILT Thrill Ride
Images of the SkyWalk

Former 95th floor restaurant and 96th floor cocktail lounge

Separate from its observatory, 875 Michigan Avenue formerly had a restaurant space on its 95th floor and a cocktail lounge space on its 96th floor. The combined space on these floors was approximately 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2).75 The original restaurant in this space was named "The 95th restaurant", which operated from the 1970s until 1993. Its accompanying 96th floor cocktail lounge was named "Images".7677 From 1993 until 2023, the 95th floor was home to a restaurant named the "Signature Room", with the accompanying cocktail lounge on the 96th floor being named the "Signature Lounge".787980 The name alluded to the famous signature of early American figure John Hancock.81 The restaurant was an upscale establishment that offered patrons scenic views. It enforced a dress code for patrons.82 It received numerous awards. In September 2023, the Signature Room abruptly ceased operations.8384

Images of the Signature Room
Images of the Signature Lounge

Parking garage

Housed within several of the lower levels of the building is a parking garage, which cars enter and depart via a spiral vehicle ramp.85

Images of the parking garage

Other features

Retail plaza

The building features a two-level outdoor plaza along its Michigan Avenue face. The plaza contains retail and dining tenants. The top level of the plaza is at street level, while the lower level is sunken below the street level.86

Current tenants include The Cheesecake Factory and The North Face.87 Past tenants have included Best Buy.88

The plaza was originally rectangular in shape.89 Per the Chicago Tribune, the plaza was modeled after the plaza at New York City's Rockefeller Center. The plaza's design featured a fountain pool that would be turned into an ice rink in colder weather.90

In 1988, plans were unveiled by the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (the owners of the building at the time) to replace the plaza with a "$20 million91 glass and marble three-story atrium". One rationale cited by building's management was they claimed that access to the building's ground level was complicated by the need of pedestrians to circumnavigate around the courtyard in order to reach the street-level entrance to the building's lobby. They also cited a belief that the building's entrance was too understated for a building of its level of prominence. This atrium proposal faced backlash from local residents who felt that such an addition would mar the appearance of the landmark building.92 In 1989, newly-elected mayor Richard M. Daley criticized the proposed atrium and the plans were ultimately abandoned.93

In 1994, the plaza was renovated, with the sunken portion transforming from its previous rectangular shape to an elliptical shape. In 1999, Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin wrote that this renovation had made the plaza a more "welcoming" space.94 This renovation came after the more dramatic late-1980s renovation plans were abandoned.95 A further $10 million renovation for the plaza was considered by the building's owners in the mid-2010s which would have added features such as video screens and decorative prisms to the plaza.9697

Images of the plaza

Antennas

Since its completion, the tower has been topped by two antenna structures. These antenna superstructures support a large number of broadcast antenna equipment. At the time of the tower's completion, both antenna structures were 350 feet (110 metres) in height, and RCA had given the architects of the building an estimate that 700 feet of antenna structure would be required to accommodate all of the city's radio and television stations. In 2002, the eastern antenna tower was extended to a height of 378 feet (115 metres) in order to enable WBBM-TV to add new digital antenna equipment at a height greater than the roof height of the Sears Tower (Willis Tower). Subsequently, the western antenna tower was reduced to a height of 285 feet (87 metres).98

For a long time, the antenna towers utilized incandescent red lights and a red and white paint scheme to provide a visibility to aviation in compliance with federal regulations. However, in order to forgo the expense and effort of annually reapplying striped paint to the antenna towers, the tower instead installed red strobe lights atop the tower and eliminated the striped paint scheme, as striped paint is not required if structures are topped by such lights.99

A sizable number of television and radio stations utilize the antenna towers. Many stations maintain broadcast equipment on both the John Hancock Center and the Willis Tower's antenna structures in order to have both a primary and backup broadcasting point.100

In November 2012, Boston-based American Tower Corp affiliate paid $70 million101 to acquire ownership of the antennas.102

Images of the antennas

See also

  • Chicago portal
  • Illinois portal
  • Architecture portal

Footnotes

The Cloudbase Chronicles, Life at the Top - An engineers Tale by Harry W. Budge III103

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 875 North Michigan Avenue.

References

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  2. p. 422, American Architecture: A History, Leland M. Roth, Westview Press, 2003, ISBN 0-8133-3662-7 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)

  3. "John Hancock Observatory – At a Glance" (PDF) (Press release). Edelman. 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2010.[permanent dead link] http://www.hancockobservatory.com/pdfs/Media%20JHO%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

  4. "The John Hancock Center: 875 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois". Chicago Architecture Info. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090820042414/http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Building/1006/The_John_Hancock_Center.php

  5. "John Hancock Center skyscraper losing its iconic name" Archived February 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Chicago Tribune, February 12, 2018. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-biz-john-hancock-center-name-ryan-ori-20180212-story.html

  6. "John Hancock Center skyscraper losing its iconic name" Archived February 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Chicago Tribune, February 12, 2018. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-biz-john-hancock-center-name-ryan-ori-20180212-story.html

  7. Malooley, Jake (January 30, 2014). "John Hancock Observatory to rebrand as 360 Chicago". Time Out Chicago. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616053450/https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/john-hancock-observatory-to-rebrand-as-360-chicago

  8. Kuhrt Brewer, Carole. "TILT Chicago: A Thrill Ride One-Thousand Feet in the Sky Atop 360 CHICAGO". Chicago Now. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190422152009/http://www.chicagonow.com/show-me-chicago/2014/05/tilt-chicago-a-trill-ride-one-thousand-feet-in-the-sky-atop-360-chicago/

  9. "360 CHICAGO and BAR 94 Announce Neighborhood Takeover with KOVAL Distillery". Chicago Food Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2019. http://www.chicagofoodmagazine.com/news/360-chicago-announces-neighborhood-takeover-with-koval-distillery

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  12. Jerry Wolman: The World's Richest Man, Joseph Bokol, Richard Bokol, 2012

  13. "Poltergeist III (1988) - IMDb". IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095889/locations

  14. equivalent to $601 million in 2024[2]

  15. Golub Real Estate Investment and Development Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine http://www.golubandcompany.com/pages/golub_whitehall_acquire_john_hancock_center/121.php

  16. equivalent to $424 million in 2024[2]

  17. Ori, Ryan (April 20, 2013). "Carving up the Hancock". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 8, 2016. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130420/ISSUE01/304209979/carving-up-the-hancock

  18. equivalent to $445 million in 2024[2]

  19. equivalent to $548 million in 2024[2]

  20. New owners of Hancock office space plan $45 million rehab. chicagobusiness.com http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20130624/CRED03/130629902/new-owners-of-hancock-office-space-plan-45-million-rehab#

  21. equivalent to $47.9 million–$61.6 million in 2024[2]

  22. "Boul Mich deck with la view". Crain's Chicago Business. July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2016. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120718/BLOGS08/120719757/boul-mich-deck-with-la-view

  23. equivalent to almost $194 million in 2024[2]

  24. Oberlander, Marissa (July 23, 2012). "Hancock's retail, restaurant space sells for almost $142 million". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 8, 2016. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20120723/CRED03/120729943/hancocks-retail-restaurant-space-sells-for-almost-142-million

  25. equivalent to $95.9 million in 2024[2]

  26. Oberlander, Marissa (November 21, 2012). "How much for the antennas atop Hancock Center?". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 8, 2016. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20121121/CRED03/121129969/how-much-for-the-antennas-atop-hancock-center

  27. equivalent to $196 million in 2024[2]

  28. New owners of Hancock office space plan $45 million rehab. chicagobusiness.com http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20130624/CRED03/130629902/new-owners-of-hancock-office-space-plan-45-million-rehab#

  29. New owners of Hancock office space plan $45 million rehab. chicagobusiness.com http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20130624/CRED03/130629902/new-owners-of-hancock-office-space-plan-45-million-rehab#

  30. Channick, Robert (May 20, 2016). "John Hancock Center shops naming rights to fund plaza redevelopment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2016. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-john-hancock-naming-rights-0521-biz-20160520-story.html

  31. Ori, Ryan (February 13, 2018). "John Hancock Center skyscraper losing its iconic name". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522222242/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ori/ct-biz-john-hancock-center-name-ryan-ori-20180212-story.html

  32. Keller, Brennan (April 4, 2023). "Iconic Signature Room listed for sale". Chicago Star Media. https://www.chicagostarmedia.com/news/iconic-signature-room-listed-for-sale/article_2adf7980-d32a-11ed-b445-ebb5183307fb.html

  33. Washburn, Kaitlin; Funk, Isabel (September 28, 2023). "Skyscraper heartbreaker? Romantic Signature Room atop former Hancock Center closes due to 'severe economic hardship'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 29, 2023. https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2023/9/28/23894588/signature-room-closes-magnificent-mile-john-hancock-center

  34. Ewing, Tia; Duly, Maggie (September 28, 2023). "The Signature Room, iconic Chicago restaurant, closes doors for good". Fox 32 Chicago. Retrieved September 29, 2023. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/the-signature-room-iconic-chicago-restaurant-closes-doors-for-good

  35. Heather, Kade (June 8, 2024). "Signature Room space sold — but another restaurant atop former Hancock not on the menu". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 14, 2025. https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2024/06/07/signature-room-sold-hancock-building-observation-deck-owners-say-no-new-restaurant

  36. Stefanski, Matt (June 7, 2024). "Signature Room property at former John Hancock Center purchased by 360 CHICAGO". NBC Chicago. Retrieved June 14, 2025. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/signature-room-property-at-former-john-hancock-center-purchased-by-360-chicago/3458345/

  37. Harrington, Adam (June 7, 2024). "360 Chicago Buys Old Signature Room Space at Former John Hancock Center - CBS Chicago". CBS News. Retrieved November 19, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/360-chicago-buys-signature-room-space-former-john-hancock-center

  38. Harrington, Adam (June 11, 2025). "Expanded observation deck to take over old Signature Room space at former John Hancock Center". CBS Chicago. Retrieved June 14, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/expanded-observation-old-signature-room-former-john-hancock-center/

  39. Colón, Ambar (June 12, 2025). "Expansion plans for observation deck atop former Hancock building revealed". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 14, 2025. https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-culture/2025/06/12/former-signature-room-space-hancock-building-transformation-expansion

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  91. equivalent to $53.2 million in 2024[2]

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  93. Kamin, Blair (January 17, 1999). "Plain and Simple, Hancock Rules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2023. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-17-9901170245-story.html

  94. Kamin, Blair (January 17, 1999). "Plain and Simple, Hancock Rules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2023. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-17-9901170245-story.html

  95. Kamin, Blair (January 17, 1999). "Plain and Simple, Hancock Rules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2023. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-17-9901170245-story.html

  96. Channick, Robert (May 20, 2016). "John Hancock Center shops naming rights to fund plaza redevelopment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2023. https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-john-hancock-naming-rights-0521-biz-20160520-story.html

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  98. Gunderson, Erica (May 23, 2018). "Ask Geoffrey: What's Up With These Mismatched Tower Toppers?". WTTW News. Retrieved March 20, 2023. https://news.wttw.com/2018/05/23/ask-geoffrey-what-s-these-mismatched-tower-toppers

  99. Gunderson, Erica (May 23, 2018). "Ask Geoffrey: What's Up With These Mismatched Tower Toppers?". WTTW News. Retrieved March 20, 2023. https://news.wttw.com/2018/05/23/ask-geoffrey-what-s-these-mismatched-tower-toppers

  100. Gunderson, Erica (May 23, 2018). "Ask Geoffrey: What's Up With These Mismatched Tower Toppers?". WTTW News. Retrieved March 20, 2023. https://news.wttw.com/2018/05/23/ask-geoffrey-what-s-these-mismatched-tower-toppers

  101. equivalent to $95.9 million in 2024[2]

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  103. Outskirts Press 2010