Hint: One of its landmark skyscrapers, which towers 1,451 feet (442 meters), was renamed in 2009.
Which city is shown here? —
Hint: One of its landmark skyscrapers, which towers 1,451 feet (442 meters), was renamed in 2009.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
If you said Chicago, you're correct! The 110-story Willis Tower was formerly known as the Sears Tower. Completed in 1973, the tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to house Sears Roebuck and Co. The tower was renamed for occupants Willis Group Holdings. It's now the second-tallest building in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fskyscrapercenter.com%2Finteractive-data%2Fsubmit%3Ftype%255B%255D%3Dbuilding%26status%255B%255D%3DCOM%26base_region%3D2%26base_country%3D0%26base_city%3D0%26base_height_range%3D5%26base_company%3DAll%26base_min_year%3D1885%26base_max_year%3D9999%26comp_region%3D0%26comp_country%3D0%26comp_city%3D0%26comp_height_range%3D3%26comp_company%3DAll%26comp_min_year%3D1960%26comp_max_year%3D2016%26skip_comparison%3Don%26output%255B%255D%3Dlist%26dataSubmit%3DShow%2BResults" target="_blank" target="_blank">North America</a>.
Chicago —
If you said Chicago, you're correct! The 110-story Willis Tower was formerly known as the Sears Tower. Completed in 1973, the tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to house Sears Roebuck and Co. The tower was renamed for occupants Willis Group Holdings. It's now the second-tallest building in North America.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
This cityscape is hard to mistake. A spectacular all-suite hotel cuts a striking silhouette on a man-made island just off the coast. The tallest building in the world dominates the skyline on shore.
Sailing into ... —
This cityscape is hard to mistake. A spectacular all-suite hotel cuts a striking silhouette on a man-made island just off the coast. The tallest building in the world dominates the skyline on shore.
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Yep, it's Dubai. The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, foreground, opened to guests in 1999. In the background to the left, the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, towers at a height of 2,717 feet (828 meters).
Dubai, United Arab Emirates —
Yep, it's Dubai. The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, foreground, opened to guests in 1999. In the background to the left, the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, towers at a height of 2,717 feet (828 meters).
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In the late 1990s, this city's twin towers were the world's tallest buildings. They measure 1,483 feet (452 meters) tall. The tapered buildings have since been topped by other record-setting skyscrapers.
Towering twins —
In the late 1990s, this city's twin towers were the world's tallest buildings. They measure 1,483 feet (452 meters) tall. The tapered buildings have since been topped by other record-setting skyscrapers.
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The design of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur represents Islamic principles of "unity within unity, harmony, stability and rationality," according to the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petronastwintowers.com.my%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">building's website</a>.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia —
The design of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur represents Islamic principles of "unity within unity, harmony, stability and rationality," according to the building's website.
Low Ping Seong/Getty Images
This city's Victorian bridge offers an interesting contrast to its modern skyscrapers.
In a pickle —
This city's Victorian bridge offers an interesting contrast to its modern skyscrapers.
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London's Tower Bridge, left, was constructed in the 1880s and '90s. To the right, the Norman Foster-designed building known as the Gherkin is one of the city's most distinctive modern structures. The building, officially named 30 St. Mary Axe, was completed in 2004.
London —
London's Tower Bridge, left, was constructed in the 1880s and '90s. To the right, the Norman Foster-designed building known as the Gherkin is one of the city's most distinctive modern structures. The building, officially named 30 St. Mary Axe, was completed in 2004.
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The towering beacon in this Southern city has an unusual shape.
Superhero surveillance —
The towering beacon in this Southern city has an unusual shape.
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AT&T's Tennessee headquarters opened in 1994. The building is widely known as the "Batman Building." The 617-foot (188-meter) building was designed by Earl Swensson & Associates.
Nashville, Tennessee —
AT&T's Tennessee headquarters opened in 1994. The building is widely known as the "Batman Building." The 617-foot (188-meter) building was designed by Earl Swensson & Associates.
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This city's celebrated skyline received an important addition when the tower outlined here opened in 2014.
A new landmark —
This city's celebrated skyline received an important addition when the tower outlined here opened in 2014.
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One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It measures 1,776 feet (541 meters). The new tower joins the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building as one of the city's most impressive skyscrapers and is a significant step in the resurgence of Lower Manhattan.
New York —
One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It measures 1,776 feet (541 meters). The new tower joins the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building as one of the city's most impressive skyscrapers and is a significant step in the resurgence of Lower Manhattan.
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This colossal pyramid is the tallest structure in a country that few outsiders see.
Mystery hotel —
This colossal pyramid is the tallest structure in a country that few outsiders see.
Feng Li/Getty Images
The Ryugyong Hotel dominates the skyline in Pyongyang. The building, which measures 1,083 feet (330 meters), has been under construction since the mid-1980s. It's unclear when it will open.
Pyongyang, North Korea —
The Ryugyong Hotel dominates the skyline in Pyongyang. The building, which measures 1,083 feet (330 meters), has been under construction since the mid-1980s. It's unclear when it will open.
Feng Li/Getty Images
Plans for an obelisk-shaped skyscraper didn't sit well with this city when they were introduced in the late 1960s.
Defining pyramid —
Plans for an obelisk-shaped skyscraper didn't sit well with this city when they were introduced in the late 1960s.
George Rose/Getty Images
The Transamerica Pyramid now defines the low-slung skyline in San Francisco. The building measures 853 feet (260 meters) and was designed to withstand tremors. In 1989, the building swayed but was undamaged during the 7.1-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake.
San Francisco —
The Transamerica Pyramid now defines the low-slung skyline in San Francisco. The building measures 853 feet (260 meters) and was designed to withstand tremors. In 1989, the building swayed but was undamaged during the 7.1-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake.
George Rose/Getty Images
A communications tower is among this city's most distinctive structures.
Rising fast —
A communications tower is among this city's most distinctive structures.
JOHANNES EISELE/Getty Images
Shanghai Tower, right, is the world's second-tallest building at 2,073 feet (632 meters). The city's Oriental Pearl radio and TV tower, left, is a recognizable landmark in the Pudong district.
Shanghai, China —
Shanghai Tower, right, is the world's second-tallest building at 2,073 feet (632 meters). The city's Oriental Pearl radio and TV tower, left, is a recognizable landmark in the Pudong district.
JOHANNES EISELE/Getty Images
In 2004, a 101-story building dramatically changed this city's silhouette.
Lucky eights —
In 2004, a 101-story building dramatically changed this city's silhouette.
Craig Ferguson/Getty Images
Taipei 101's sectioned design is based on the Chinese lucky number 8, representing prosperity. At 1,667 feet (508 meters), the building is the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fskyscrapercenter.com%2Finteractive-data%2Fsubmit%3Ftype%255B%255D%3Dbuilding%26status%255B%255D%3DCOM%26base_region%3D0%26base_country%3D0%26base_city%3D0%26base_height_range%3D5%26base_company%3DAll%26base_min_year%3D1885%26base_max_year%3D9999%26comp_region%3D0%26comp_country%3D0%26comp_city%3D0%26comp_height_range%3D3%26comp_company%3DAll%26comp_min_year%3D1960%26comp_max_year%3D2016%26skip_comparison%3Don%26output%255B%255D%3Dlist%26dataSubmit%3DShow%2BResults" target="_blank" target="_blank">fourth-tallest in the world</a>.
Taipei, Taiwan —
Taipei 101's sectioned design is based on the Chinese lucky number 8, representing prosperity. At 1,667 feet (508 meters), the building is the fourth-tallest in the world.
Craig Ferguson/Getty Images