I’m often struck by buildings with safety measures that have clearly been added on later, e.g., railings, fences, etc. Like this view from a proposed observation deck on the Chrysler building: https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19989364/Screen_Shot_2020_05_20_at_11.07.25_AM.png (from https://ny.curbed.com/2020/5/20/21264740/chrysler-building-new-observation-deck)
Even the original railing itself looks like it was an afterthought. Why would the original designer think that a knee-height wall was a sufficient safety measure for a terrace?
In: 15
A lot of times, uses change, code changes, incidents cause changes…
When older skyscrapers were built, they weren’t built for tourists. Roof access was probably only for maintenance guys, window washers, etc. When buildings realized the value of allowing tourists views, they retrofit the roof for safety but safety regulations 50 or 75 years ago were very different. Sometimes existing structures are grandfathered in, and only need to conform to new code when replaced/repaired, etc. There could also be incidents like suicide jumpers that cause changes. I used to live in a high rise condo building with a 43rd story sundeck. After a resident jumped, they increased the wrought iron railings from waist high to something like 8 or 10 feet. Didn’t stop a maintenance guy who had access to the roof beyond the fence, however…
Latest Answers