CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The annual Open House Chicago architecture tour returned again this weekend, which means the Chicago Architecture Center has been busy running free tours of more than 150 venues across two dozen neighborhoods.
Now in its 12th year, the tour bills itself as one of the largest architecture tours in the world.
Among the tour’s popular stops was a new location: the BMO Tower at 320 S. Canal St.
Stephanie Frawley was a volunteer on the 49th floor, which gave people an amazing 360-degree view of the city. She told WBBM there were "beautiful views of the lake and really an incredible, high-up vantage point.”
“The Old Post Office is down there … you can see so many gorgeous rooftops that have been developed,” Fawley said. “Things that are, kind of, fun surprises, that I didn't know are there."
The rooftops also caught the eye of Ray Schuhert, who said "I'm fascinated that the Old Post Office has a green roof. It's fascinating, the things that you don't see on the street."
Unfortunately, the rooftop terrace at the BMO Tower — from which WBBM and several other architecture lovers were peering down at the cityscape — suddenly stopped cooperating.
Two of the terrace doors were left open, and the wind pressure was causing trouble for the elevators. Everyone was asked to leave
"You have to be careful, it's a new building,” said volunteer Anna Marie Platt-Miller. “This is something, maybe the engineers didn't even know, maybe this is something great that we discovered today."
Open House Chicago tours will continue through Sunday afternoon.
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