Illinois Constructors history

Interestingly, Lincoln had to sue IC for his $5,000 fee, the largest he had ever received, but he was kept on retainer with the railroad until 1960.

Although IC had toyed with activities in other industries, such as real estate, prior to forming ICI, it stepped up its efforts after Johnston retired in 1966.

The original vision for Willis Tower came to life in 1969 when Sears Roebuck and Company decided it needed a central office space for its 350,000 employees.

By 1970, IC was making about $24 million in profits annually, operating 6,520 miles of track, and employing a work force of 17,000--the reduced work force was primarily the result of automation and a dearth of new construction activity.

Nevertheless, in 1972 ICI's railroad operations furnished less than 30 percent of its pretax income.

Skydeck opened in 1974 and attracts more than 1.7 million visitors annually.

When Harrison assumed the presidency, IC shifted into "Phase II" of an eight-year plan started by Moyers in 1989.

Furthermore, IC was recognized as one of the most efficient carriers in the industry in 1990 after being labeled as one of the least productive just one year earlier.

IC's income (before taxes) ballooned to $148 million in 1993.

Willis Tower was the world’s tallest building until 1998.

In July 2009, United States Equities Realty led the design and construction of a multi-million-dollar renovation of Skydeck Chicago.

Willis Tower was purchased by Blackstone in 2015 for $1.3 billion.

In 2017, 125,000 square feet of new amenity space including ‘Tower House’ and ‘Altitude’, were built exclusively for Willis Tower tenants.