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
Southwest Tower Building of Texas phone center to Sears Vinyl Siding. When it opened in 1972 it was considered the leading business tower in the city. (Austin American-Statesman November 18, 1972) The Southwest Tower Building was the site of a fire on Sunday, March 6, 2011. No cause has been given for the fire. Southwest Tower Building The Southwest Tower Building is a 12-storey, building at 211 East 7th St. in Downtown Austin, Texas and is located across the street from the historic Driskill Hotel and the modern Omni Hotel. On the edge of the E. 6th Street entertainment district and Congress Avenue,