What you talking about, Willis? Renaming the Sears Tower?

The decimation of America's landmarks continue with the scourge of "renaming" architectural icons spreading now to Chicago's most famous building and America's tallest building, the Sears Tower.

Sure, we've been naming and renaming stadiums based on corporate whims, well, since before the Cubs have brought home a trophy to Wrigley Field. Yes, that's Wrigley's gum.

In fact, the tower's original name, the "Sears" Tower is itself a corporate moniker. But I don't mind that. Why? Because it was BUILT by Sears and Roebucks in 1973. (completion date)

Some wiki-facts about the prominence of this iconic building.
"Presently, the Sears Tower is the second-tallest free-standing structure in the Americas, surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, and the fourth-tallest in the World. It is one of only five freestanding structures in the world to exceed 500 metres (1,640 ft) in height." Wikipedia

Read between the lines to see that the Sears tower is the United States tallest building. But now, some insurance company nobody knows about is getting the naming rights, FOR FREE, with their new rental agreement. Yes I said RENTAL. Apparently, in today's rough commercial real estate market, if you rent a large enough percent of a building (in this case only 3.5%) you get to rename American landmarks after you. Good thing there is no office space in Mt. Rushmore. Or did they rename that Mt. Kenmore?

Some info from the Chicago Sun Times - "The 110-story Chicago giant,(Sears Tower), the nation's tallest building, will be renamed Willis Tower under a leasing deal. The New York-based owners signed a lease with Willis Group Holdings, a London-based insurance broker, for 140,000 square feet. Willis said it will consolidate five Chicago-area offices and move 500 employees into the tower. The company said it is paying $14.50 per square foot in rent and that the naming rights come with no additional cost."

Now this ridiculous and shameful act, an act that tramples on all of our American heritage and then offers the trampled remains up for auction to the highest bidder, this stupid idea of renaming one of America's architectural wonders to a name nobody, anywhere, here or around the world, has EVER heard of, is not the first GENIUS plan by the owners of the Sears Tower. Or as I call it, 'the building soon to be known as the building formerly known as the Sears Tower' No, two weeks ago, they floated the idea of painting this striking black American icon a brand spanking shiny coat of silver. Yes, silver. Because it will "increase energy efficiency".

By which they mean that it will reflect more hot sunlight in the summer, making the building easier to cool, allegedly reducing energy costs.

But...
1. Chicago's winters are twice as long as our summer and the silver will reflect the winter sun too, which will increase heating costs.
2. The silver will reflect the hot summer sun down onto other neighboring buildings, increasing the costs to keep these buildings cool.
3. There are serious concerns that the bright glare from the building may have a blinding affect on motorists even miles away.

See, stupid. Here's a link to the Sun Times article, and it lists the idiot owners who are messing with our American treasures. Email them with your concerns. A lot. Like you worked in Spam Stadium.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/1473681,sears-tower-rename-willis-tower-031209.article

And watch out...I hear rumors that with the government taking overshareholder interest in banks, they are thinking of changing the name of Capital Hill...to Capital One Hill.