Video of the ride on famous elevators at the Sears Tower in Downtown Chicago, Illinois. These elevators are some of the fastest in North America, reaching a top speed of 18.2 mph or 29.3 km/h. The fastest elevators in North America are located at the John Hancock Center in Chicago and the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas, which reach a top speed of 20.5 mph or 33.14 km/h.