Now on your left, you’re looking at the Heller International Building-though if you want to impress locals, you can just call it by the address: 500 West Monroe. Back in 1992, this place actually held the title for the tallest building west of the Chicago River. At 600 feet, it might not dwarf the Willis Tower, but it’s still got a lot of presence-especially with that odd turret stuck onto its southeast corner. That turret glows white at night, like the world’s fanciest lighthouse for businesspeople.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-the same folks responsible for a few other unassuming buildings like the John Hancock Center and, oh, the Burj Khalifa-this tower is kind of a structural brag. It even snagged the “Best Structure Award” in 1993 from the engineers’ association. Not quite an Oscar, but, you know, the building version.
A few of the tenants might sound familiar-GE Healthcare and Motorola Solutions, for instance. So if you feel your phone vibrating in your pocket, just remember, you’re near the source.
If you’re ready for the next chapter, Accenture Tower is just a 4-minute walk east.
