Chicago Skyline, John Hancock Center Skydeck Poster

AssetID: 119258273 / {Michele Falzone} / Chicago Skyline, John Hancock Center Skydeck John Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area of Chicago , Illinois , is a 100-story , 1,127-foot (344 m) tall skyscraper , constructed under the supervision of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill , with chief designer Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan . When the building topped out on May 6, 1968, it was the tallest building in the world outside New York City . It is currently the fourth-tallest building in Chicago and the sixth-tallest in the United States , after the Willis Tower , the Empire State Building , the Bank of America Tower , the Trump Tower Chicago , and the Aon Center . When measured to the top of its antenna masts , it stands at 1,506 feet (459 m). The building is home to offices and restaurants , as well as about 700 condominiums and contains the third highest residence in the world, after the Trump Tower also in Chicago and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This skyscraper was named for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company , a developer and original tenant of the building. The 95th floor has long been home to a restaurant, the latest tenant being "The Signature Room on the 95th Floor." While patrons dine, they can look out at Chicago and Lake Michigan . John Hancock Center's Observatory attraction (called John Hancock Observatory) competes with the Willis Tower's Skydeck across town. John Hancock Center is in the heart of Michigan Avenue, a prime tourist hotspot in Chicago, while the Willis Tower is in the financial district. John Hancock Observatory is complete with full 360 degree views of the city, up to four states and over 80 miles. The Observatory has Chicago's only open-air SkyWalk and also features a free multimedia tour in six languages, narrated by actor David Schwimmer . From January to March, starting in 2011, the Observatory will also offer what the building management claims to be the world's highest ice skating rink, using a synthetic surface that will enable the use of standard ice skates at normal room temperature. The 44th-floor sky lobby features America's highest indoor swimming pool . This page is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, anyone associated with the topic.