SKYSCRAPER PROJECT READY TO RISE ON THE CHICAGO RIVER AT DUSABLE LAKESHORE DRIVE CONSTRUCTION JUST STARTED AT THE SITE WHERE A BUILDING CALLED THE CHICAGO SPIRE WAS PLANNED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

THAT TOWER WAS TO BE 2000 FEET HIGH, MAKING IT THE TALLEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

BUT MONEY PROBLEMS STALLED CONSTRUCTION IN 2008 AND THE SITE HAS INSTEAD BEEN HOME TO A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS NOW, 2 TOWERS ARE SET TO BE BUILT ON THE SITE, INCLUDING A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

IT WILL BE 72 STORIES AND IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED IN EARLY 2027.

ALL THIS GOT US TO THINKING ABOUT CHICAGO'S PREEMINENT PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SKYSCRAPER.

BLOOMBERG HAS THE STORY IN THIS ADDITION OF WTW NEWS EXPLAINS.

>> CHICAGO IS A CITY OF FIRSTS.

EVERYTHING FROM THE FIRST FERRIS WHEEL TO THE FIRST BROWNIE AND THE WORLD'S VERY FIRST SKYSCRAPER IN 18.

85, THE HOME INSURANCE BUILDING WENT UP ON THE CORNER ADAMS AND WAS THIS ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL CLOCKED IN AT A STAGGERING 12 STORIES AND 180 FEET.

OKAY.

MAYBE NOT A SKYSCRAPER BY MODERN STANDARDS, BUT FOR A TIME IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE SUPPORTED BY A STEEL FRAME, REINFORCED CONCRETE AS THE YEARS TO BUY THE CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS BECAME A CITY OF BIG BUILDINGS.

BUILDERS GOT MORE AMBITIOUS AND THE HEIGHTS JUST KEPT ON GETTING HIGHER.

>> THE WRIGLEY BUILDING TRIBUNE TOWER, CARBON CARBON LESS THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE HOME INSURANCE BUILDING AND MORE THAN 3 TIMES AS TALL, THE ICONIC CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING RISES AND REIGNS AS THE CITY'S TALLEST FOR MORE THAN 3 DECADES LATER ON THE STANDARD OIL BUILDING NOW KNOWN AS A ON CENTER HELD THE TITLE FOR A YEAR BEFORE BEING BEATEN OUT IN 1974.

BY THE MASSIVE SEARS TOWER AT MORE THAN 1400 FEET, IT BECAME THE TALLEST BUILDING, NOT JUST IN CHICAGO, BUT THE WORLD THE WINDY CITY SKYLINE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS IS NOW ONLY THE CITY'S 4TH TALLEST STILL FOLLOWED BY THE BUILDING THRONE IN 1973, THE JOHN HANCOCK CENTER NOW CALLED 8.75 NORTH MICHIGAN THE SAINT REGIS COMPLETED IN 2020 IS THE CITY'S 3RD TALLEST AND TRUMP TOWER COMPLETED IN 2009 6 AND THE NUMBER 2 WILLIS TOWER AS WE RIGHT CALL.

IT STILL HOLDS THE TITLE OF TALLEST IN CHICAGO BUT WAS LONG AGO KNOCKED OFF ITS PERCH AS THE TALLEST IN THE U.S. AND THE WORLD.

>> ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL ON TALL BUILDINGS AND URBAN HABITAT.

NEW YORK'S ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER IS NOW TOPS IN THE COUNTRY.

DEAR OLD WILLIS'S 3RD TALLEST IN THE U.S. AND 23RD WORLDWIDE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE LOST TOP SPOT,