CASE STUDY:
Willis Tower – Chicago, IL

Project Overview

Where iconic architecture meets those who demand the best:

PK-30 delivers a bespoke system worthy of the world’s most celebrated buildings.

Willis Tower—one of the most recognizable buildings on earth—stands as a global symbol of architectural ambition, endurance, and modern urban innovation. During the tower’s transformative repositioning led by Gensler, the design team sought materials and systems capable of elevating the experience of an iconic landmark visited by millions and inhabited by thousands of professionals who expect the highest standards.

Central to the redesign was a pursuit of transparency, refinement, warmth, and elevated material quality. For this vision, Gensler selected PK-30 System to fabricate and deliver a meticulously coordinated interior solution that aligned seamlessly with the building’s new architectural narrative.

A defining feature of this project was the introduction of custom Bendheim Gothic™ and Houdini™ architectural glass—specialty materials chosen for their unique blend of luminosity, privacy, and tactile depth.

PK-30 met that demand with precision, consistency, and an uncompromising commitment to excellence.

Challenge

The repositioned Willis Tower called for an interior environment defined by clean geometry, luminous surfaces, and calm visual continuity.

For the Elmhurst project area, the design team required:

1. Eleven identical lighting-panel elevations—all with perfect mullion repetition, consistent alignment, and zero deviation across every unit.
2. A system capable of integrating specialty Bendheim glass, maintaining both structural integrity and the subtle interplay between transparency and privacy central to the design intent.
3. Flawless harmony with the broader Gensler-led repositioning—where architectural warmth, precision, and material coherence were essential.

This required not only precise fabrication, but a partner able to adapt its system to the demands of a world-class building using world-class materials.

Solution

A fully integrated elevation system that preserved the architectural rhythm and enhanced the effect of the custom specialty glass.

Integrated Panel & Door System

A coordinated, fully assembled system totaling 121 linear feet was delivered, consisting of:

Swing Doors

• (11) single swing access doors
• Each with (2) horizontal mullions
• No vertical mullions

Fixed Panels

• (22) fixed panels
• Each with (2) horizontal mullions
• No vertical mullions

Final Counts

• 11 swing doors
• 22 fixed panels
• 44 total units
• 121 linear feet

This prefabricated, pre-engineered system achieved perfect mullion continuity across all 11 elevations, allowing the illuminated horizontal lines to echo the refined, modern clarity introduced throughout the renovated Willis Tower interiors.

More importantly, PK-30’s system allowed the Bendheim custom glass to perform exactly as intended—expressing its unique character without distortion, visual interruption, or compromise.

Results

The Willis Tower project demonstrates why leading architects, designers, and builders turn to PK-30 when they demand the best version of their projects:

• Absolute consistency of fabrication, essential for repeated elevation types.
• Custom-engineered compatibility with specialty architectural glass.
• Clean, modern profiles that elevate the aesthetics of high-end spaces.
• Precision mullion alignment, reinforcing rhythm, clarity, and intent.
• Durability and long-term performance, vital in one of the country’s busiest commercial environments.
• Seamless integration with Gensler’s architectural vision of transparency, warmth, and modern sophistication.

This installation is not only a representation of technical execution—it is part of the architectural story of Willis Tower’s rebirth, reinforcing its identity as a modern, world-class interior environment.

 Conclusion — The PK-30 Experience

The Willis Tower Elmhurst project embodies the essence of The PK-30 Experience: a commitment to uncompromising quality, custom engineering, and the ability to say yes when a landmark project demands something exceptional.

Clients come to PK-30 when their projects require:

• Custom solutions without limitations
• High-end performance and precision
• Integration with rare or specialty materials
• A trusted partner known for excellence in iconic spaces

From the specialty Bendheim glass to the precision of every mullion, PK-30 delivered a system worthy of one of the world’s most iconic buildings—and worthy of clients who demand nothing less than the best.

PK-30 System: For architects and clients who demand the extraordinary.