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Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Chicago. Photo taken in 1998 by Soakologist.

Lawsuit filed over Willis Tower’s Calder sculpture

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Chicago. Photo taken in 1998 by Soakologist.
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Chicago. Photo taken in 1998 by Soakologist.

CHICAGO (AP) – Sears may have moved out of its tower in downtown Chicago, but the company now wants to buy back a motorized sculpture in the building’s lobby.

The brightly colored art installation, The Universe, was created by Alexander Calder. It was unveiled at what was then the Sears Tower in October 1974.

Sears moved out of the building in the 1990s. The company told the tower’s new owners in July that it wants to buy the sculpture at half of its appraised value, which it says is allowed under a 1994 deal.

The tower’s new owners have filed a lawsuit asking a judge to block the purchase.

George Collins, an attorney for the new owners, says the sculpture is part of Chicago.

The building was renamed the Willis Tower in 2009.

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