How Tall Is Treadwell Tower

Okay, let's talk about Treadwell Tower. You know, that big, pointy thing downtown? We've all seen it. We've all probably wondered: just how tall is that thing, anyway?

Now, you can Google it. You'll find numbers. Official numbers. Numbers that some architect in a fancy suit probably spent hours calculating. But here's my unpopular opinion: those numbers are lies.

Well, maybe not lies. But let's just say they're...misleading. Severely misleading.

Think about it. Have you ever actually measured Treadwell Tower? I haven't. And I bet you haven't either. We're relying on someone else's measurement. Someone who probably used lasers and complicated trigonometry. Sounds sketchy, right?

I mean, lasers? Come on! What if the laser was slightly off? What if a bird flew in front of it? What if the person holding the laser had a shaky hand from too much coffee?

These are important questions, people!

The "Official" Height

So, what is the official height? It's usually quoted around 680 feet. Six hundred and eighty feet! Sounds impressive. Sounds...accurate. But I'm not buying it.

Here's why: perception. Perception is everything. And my perception of Treadwell Tower is that it's taller. Much, much taller.

Think about when you're driving towards the city. Treadwell Tower looms. It dominates the skyline. It screams, "Look at me! I'm enormous!" Does 680 feet scream enormous? I think not.

My Highly Scientific Measurement Method

Okay, so I don't have lasers. I don't have fancy architectural tools. What I do have is a good eye, a healthy dose of skepticism, and a vivid imagination. All very scientific, obviously.

My method? Comparing it to other things I know the height of. Like… buildings I've seen in other cities. The Empire State Building? Definitely taller than Treadwell Tower. But is it that much taller? Debatable. And the Sears Tower... I mean, Willis Tower now... is definitely a beast.

And, of course, using perspective and optical illusions. If I squint just right, and stand in the perfect spot, Treadwell Tower looks like it could touch the clouds. Clouds are pretty high up, right?

Therefore, through highly complex calculations (involving a lot of squinting), I've concluded that Treadwell Tower is... drumroll please... at least 800 feet tall. Maybe even 900 on a really clear day.

The Real Height

Look, I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying that maybe, just maybe, we should all trust our guts a little more. Trust what our eyes are telling us. Trust the sheer imposing presence of Treadwell Tower.

Because let's be honest, a number is just a number. What matters is the feeling you get when you look at it. The feeling of awe. The feeling of insignificance (in a good way!). The feeling that, "Wow, that's one big tower!"

So, next time you see Treadwell Tower, don't think about 680 feet. Think about a tower that scrapes the sky. Think about a tower that makes you feel small. Think about a tower that's probably much, much taller than anyone wants to admit.

And remember, the real height of Treadwell Tower is however tall you think it is. Don't let the architects tell you otherwise.

Just my two cents. Which, conveniently, is about the same value I place on official height measurements.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go stare at Treadwell Tower for a few more hours. Purely for scientific purposes, of course.