Wallenda’s precise path confirmed

(Above) Stages are being built on the 61st floor observation decks of both Marina City towers and some equipment has been added to the top of the west tower mechanical penthouse. This image was captured late Wednesday afternoon from the roof of Leo Burnett Building by Howard Swartz, Vice President of Production & Development at Discovery Channel. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

29-Oct-14 – Nik Wallenda will walk a high wire from the tiptop of Marina City’s west tower mechanical penthouse to the roof of Leo Burnett Building. For his second stunt, he will walk blindfolded from the observation deck of the west tower to the observation deck of the east tower.

Even after the stunt was announced on September 16, Wallenda’s exact path was still being determined. But with television production crews now building sets on the tops of Leo Burnett Building and both of Marina City’s towers, Discovery Channel, which will broadcast the event live to 220 countries, has confirmed the details of the route.

The penthouse is an extension of the tower’s core, topping out at 588 feet above ground. It is 47.5 feet to the outer edge of the main tower three stories below.

Also on Wednesday, there was more information on the lightweight cables that have been strung across the river.

There are two such cables between the northeast corner of the Leo Burnett Building roof and the southwest corner of the AMA Plaza roof. One of the cables is for a camera that will track alongside Wallenda as he walks to Leo Burnett Building. The second line has reflectors and is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to alert any air traffic of low hanging wires.

The cables stretching from Marina City’s west tower to Leo Burnett Building, and between Marina City’s two towers, are fiber optic cables over which video will be sent for the live broadcast.

(Left) Preparations on the roof across the river at Leo Burnett Building. (Photo by Howard Swartz.)

Late Thursday night, the main high wires and supporting cables will be raised. A lighting rehearsal is scheduled for Friday night, a production rehearsal on Saturday night, and the event will happen on Sunday starting at 6 p.m. Central Time.

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