One of the tallest buildings in the world to be lit up in Welsh colours

David Owens

There will be no mistaking the colours of the Welsh flag lit atop one famous skyscraper on St David’s Day this year.

The Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) in Chicago will be illuminated in red, white and green on March 1 thanks to the hard work of a Welsh expats group in the US.

The Chicago Tafia Welsh Society have pulled off a coup by having several iconic buildings in the city lit up for St David’s Day.

Top of the list is the is a 110-storey, 1,451-foot (442.3 m) tower which was the world’s tallest building when it was opened in 1974 and still ranks as one of the tallest in the world at

The Welsh society was formed in 1999 and every year since 2009 have arranged to get landmark buildings in the city lit up to celebrate March 1.

In addition to the city’s famed Wrigley building, the Willis Tower will join in the Welsh celebrations, with more still to be announced.

Society chairman Dave Parry, who is originally from Aberystwyth and moved to Chicago in 1998, said: “We have had the tower of the Wrigley Building Illuminated white, red and green on St David’s Day since 2009. In 2017 I applied to have St David’s Day to be recognised by the Chicago BOMA Building Lighting Program. We received approval and every year since I’ve been contacting the management companies of various buildings in Chicago.

In the past The Wrigley Building, Two Prudential Plaza, The InterContinental Hotel and the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier in thre city have all agreed to light up for the night.

In addition, the society has also had music by Welsh artists played on Chicago area radio stations during the day, while this year the group is planning a grand get together of more than 50 members for a St David’s Day party.

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