2010: Occupancy scheduled for the Chicago Spire

Chicago is already home to many distinctive buildings, such as the John Hancock Building and the Sears Tower, which became America's tallest skyscraper again after the attacks of 9/11. In 2010, however, a new structure, the Chicago Spire, will become a functional new element amidst the city's skyline.

Designed by Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava, the Spire will look like a drill bit stretching 2,000 feet into the sky. It will be taller than both the Sears Tower and New York City's Freedom Tower, which is scheduled for completion in 2012. The project was first proposed during the 1980s, and although its developers flirted with the idea of devoting it to business venues, it is now planned to accommodate luxury condominiums.

Could the newly constructed tower enhance Chicago's candidacy to host the 2016 Olympics?