By Bill Cameron, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) Willis Tower has announced a transformation.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls it a $500 million vote of confidence in Chicago. Blackstone Real Estate chief John Gray says there is a lot of change.

“The project will create a new three story glass podium at the base of the building including 300,000 square feet of new retail entertainment and new restaurants,” Gray said. “It’s going to be 150,000 new square feet of amenities for office tenants including a new gym, lounge, conference center and events space and hopefully we’ll be able to add a new thrill attraction,” to the observatory.

The project is being done without any public subsidies.

@ 2017 WLS-AM News