Is this the world’s most terrifying view?
The observatory of the John Hancock Centre in Chicago features a vertigo-inducing attraction: a tilting viewing platform that leans viewers out over a 94-storey drop.
Chicago’s John Hancock Tower is a distinctive feature of the Chicago skyline, with its braced exterior and twin antennae that soar to 459 m (1,506 ft) over the city. The tower wears its skeleton of steel pipes on the outside, in a style of architecture known as Structural Expressionism.
The building’s observation deck, known as 360 Chicago, is located on the 94th floor. In 2014, it unveiled a new attraction – a tilting hydraulic platform that leans out at 30 degrees from the building.
Jennifer Hesser is the director of operations at 360 Chicago and is responsible for the safety and maintenance of the attraction. She tells BBC Culture how her team make sure it functions perfectly every time.
Watch the other episodes of High Life:
The secret life of a tall building
Imagining the cities of the future
How do you build a skyscraper?
BBC Culture is a media partner of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, which runs from 3 October 2015 – 3 January 2016.
Throughout October and November we will look at the work of some of the world’s most exciting architects and examine how buildings shape our lives. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest from Chicago.
