Sears its naming rights to the building expired in 2003 it remained the Sears Tower until early 2009. In March 2009 London-based insurer Willis Group Holdings, Ltd., was given the building's naming rights to encourage them to occupy the building. The official renaming as the "Willis Tower" took place on Thursday, July 16, 2009, during a public ceremony hosted by Willis Group Holdings. In the 1990s, the company began divesting itself of many non-retail entities, which were detrimental to the company's bottom line. Sears spun off its financial services arm which included brokerage business Dean Witter Reynolds and Discover Card. It
Salmon Tower Building Salmon Tower Building The Salmon Tower Building is a 31-story edifice located at 11 West 42nd Street in Manhattan which was designed by Albert J. Wilcox. It was completed by early 1928 at which time its interior was more than 50% leased. Salmon Tower Building was located just east of the Aeolian Building. The firm of Walter J. Salmon, Sr. which erected the edifice, was known as 11 West 42nd Street, Inc. It is next door to 500 Fifth Avenue, also built by Salmon, Sr. The building has 932,101 square feet. The New York headquarters to elect Herbert Hoover President