 "Photo: Nicole Kucharski")
Chicago: Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Buckingham Fountain, Sears Tower. Willis Tower?
Willis Group Holdings, founded in London, moved into the structure formerly known as Sears Tower last July relocating about 500 associates. The company has more than 200 offices located throughout North America, Chicago being the most recent location. The company occupies more than 140,000 sq. ft. on multiple floors in Chicago's Willis Tower.
Sears Roebuck and Company occupied part of the structure until 1993, when the business moved its headquarters to Hoffmann Estates, Il. Sears' naming rights expired in 2003; however, the name prevailed up until Willis signed a lease with the tower's new owners.
"Looking at Sears Tower, I just can't imagine calling it anything else. Maybe it's old habit, but the name just works," says Monica Rafacz, junior at UIC.
New York City has the Empire State Building; Washington D.C. has the White House; and Chicago has an intimate relationship with Willis Tower.
Alex Lucas writes, "Changing the name takes away a lot of the connection between the building and its history."
Sears Roebuck & Co. made a name for itself in Chicago and across the United States with its famous catalogs and became one of the country's top retailers after merging with Kmart in 2005.
Willis Group Holdings is said to bring jobs and positive economic changes to Chicago. The new name, a representation of Willis' promise, is meant to promote Chicago and the company. Willis declined to comment.
"I want to see proof that the name change was necessary, and so far I haven't seen any," Monica Rafacz states.
Megann Wojciechowski, a junior at UIC, states, "The new name should be earned not bought."
Accending to the Chicago Tribune (March 12), Will Thoretz, VP of Willis Group Communications, said, "We are actually not having to pay anything for renaming the building." Whether the name was a gift to Willis for investing in the building remains unsure, however, it is certain the Sears Tower name holds historical significance in Chicago.
Alex Lucas, creator of www.itsthesearstower.com, writes, "It was Sears Tower for 36 years, which was more than long enough for the name to stick."
The website, a place where visitors can petition Willis Group Holdings to change the name back to Sears Tower, started on March 12, 2009.
Lucas writes, "There were 14 visitors to the site on the first day. By the end of the second day, there had been an additional 7,930 visitors, and by the end of week one, 41,000 people had visited the site. As of October 28, the petition has collected 50,287 signatures."
Lucas is not the only one concerned about the name change. Facebook groups such as: "People Against the Sears Tower Name Change," "Sears Tower Forever," and "Chicagoans Against Willis Tower" are welcoming members who are willing to join the cause and share their opinions and concerns regarding the new name.
According to a ChicagoTribune article Mayor Daley stated, "Sears moved out a long time ago." Referring to Willis Group Holdings the mayor also stated, "They own the building. They should name it, sure."
Politicians and businesses see money and ownership rights as solutions for public concerns. In a Tribune article, John Plumeri, CEO and chairman of Willis, felt little can be said about Chicago if its people would prefer to have "an iconic building with nobody in it."
Among the cloud of skepticism some aspects of Willis may have been overlooked. In a past online press release Willis writes about its engagement with charities and the then tentative 2016 Olympics. Scott Lorenz, Executive Director of Chicago Cares, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, is quoted in the press release thanking Willis for its generous donations and future involvement in Chicago charities and projects.
Voiced concerns have not been able to reverse the name change. Whether the new name is thought to be positive or negative, it is here to stay, at least for now.
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