Skyscraper Stuff You're Not Meant to Notice

Рет қаралды 401,843

10 ай бұрын

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Ever wonder what all those pipes, valves, and weird details on skyscrapers do that you see along the sidewalk? Join me as I stroll through the streets of Chicago to explain these the intricate details of skyscraper design. We'll dive into how architects plan and design the bases of these tall structures, including standpipe connection valves, microclimates created by building proximity, and the delicate balance between aesthetic and function at street level. Materials, microclimates, construction, and infrastructure all play vital roles in shaping urban environments down here. Let's explore what often goes unnoticed in our day-to-day urban experiences. Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights every other Thursday!
_CREDITS_
Video co-produced and edited by Evan Montgomery.
Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Storyblocks, and Shutterstock.
Music provided by Epidemic Sound
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_About the Channel_
Architecture with Stewart is a KZfaq journey exploring architecture’s deep and enduring stories in all their bewildering glory. Weekly videos and occasional live events breakdown a wide range of topics related to the built environment in order to increase their general understanding and advocate their importance in shaping the world we inhabit.
_About Me_
Stewart Hicks is an architectural design educator that leads studios and lecture courses as an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also serves as an Associate Dean in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and is the co-founder of the practice Design With Company. His work has earned awards such as the Architecture Record Design Vanguard Award or the Young Architect’s Forum Award and has been featured in exhibitions such as the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Design Miami, as well as at the V&A Museum and Tate Modern in London. His writings can be found in the co-authored book Misguided Tactics for Propriety Calibration, published with the Graham Foundation, as well as essays in MONU magazine, the AIA Journal Manifest, Log, bracket, and the guest-edited issue of MAS Context on the topic of character architecture.
_Contact_
FOLLOW me on instagram: @stewart_hicks & @designwithco
Design With Company: designwith.co
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Architecture: arch.uic.edu/
#architecture #urbandesign

Пікірлер: 356

@The_Smith 10 ай бұрын

Never thought of it before, but this video made me realize what a transitional space it is where a building meets the ground, very much like a shore.

@mikepedersen1650 10 ай бұрын

I was thinking the same thing

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

Smith, your ocean/shore analogy is moving.

@b1646717 10 ай бұрын

Well said 👏 👌

@Mahalo_83 10 ай бұрын

🤦‍♂️

@josh2011miller80 10 ай бұрын

I think you stumbled upon a major psycho-architectural concept

@mrbyamile6973 10 ай бұрын

I work in the commercial HVAC industry. You really need to make a video showing how air is moved around inside skyscrapers including how they are heated and cooled. The machinery is massive and most people have no clue it exists except from a Die Hard movie 😊

@cinnion 9 ай бұрын

When doing this, you might consider comparing green certified buildings vs. traditional.

@threadtapwhisperer5136 9 ай бұрын

Can you actually crawl through the vents though? And get a machine gun? Cuz.... that's all I'm really worried about confirming. Haha

@mrbyamile6973 9 ай бұрын

@@threadtapwhisperer5136 😄 I know you're saying that tongue in cheek but I can answer some of that. Depending on the building there is return and supply ductwork that starts off a couple meters/yards in diameter and runs the vertical length of the building. You could potentially get from floor to floor through the return ductwork as the return air typically has large openings on each floor and they use whats called plenum return. Plenum return is just the approximate meter/yard high gap between the actual ceiling and the drop ceiling that everyone sees. You would need a rope as there is typically nothing to grab to get the approximate 4 meters/yards between each floor. As for the horizontal ductwork you are picturing, that would be the supply ductwork that branches off to each space. That for the most part would not be anything like the movies. Supply ductwork might start off big enough to slither through on your belly but before it splits into the supply diffuser you see people looking down into a room from in the movies it would go through a control device (VAV, FPB, variable air volume, fan powered box) that would be hard for anything but a rat to get through. And to top it off, the supply diffusers (that people look down through in the movies) are after these control devices and after the VAV or FPB it most often splits down into much smaller supply trunk then flex ductwork that would be difficult to even fit your head through. But yes, in a way there is incredibly large ductwork that makes me think of Die Hard that does exist, just not quite as its represented in the movies. Oh, and the machine gun question, I've never run across one in ductwork before but I'm always on the look out. I have found hand tools, flashlights and even a volt meter in ductwork or above ceiling tiles.

@tvviewer4500 6 ай бұрын

Why don’t you make it

@mrbyamile6973 6 ай бұрын

@@tvviewer4500 I seriously thought about it but am horrible with video editing and hate to hear myself talking in videos. I cringe at the thought but really would like to share what we work on with every day people that have no idea what goes on behind the scenes

@Quartz_Composer 10 ай бұрын

We’ve all heard the famous quote “form follows function” but when I started working at a large commercial architecture firm a mentor of mine told me that “form follows parking” Especially in these big skyscrapers, the geometry of the parking and loading dock effects every aspect of the design of the tower above. Great video!

@liambohl 10 ай бұрын

Especially in places with minimum parking requirements!

@arcanondrum6543 10 ай бұрын

Let's just hope that we don't all come to our senses and focus on public transit infrastructure. What WOULD we do with all those parking lots? Public Parks for lunch? "For shame!"

@arcanondrum6543 10 ай бұрын

Imagine "Not getting to" make a monthly payment on a FAST car that's stuck in traffic next to a not-as-nice car on one side and a car to "aspire to" on the other...

@marioz3760 10 ай бұрын

@@arcanondrum6543 eat ze bugs and be happy

@richardpendley3454 10 ай бұрын

4:27 is that the building from American psycho idk but it's ringing a bell somewhere on that note.

@apatsa_basiteni 10 ай бұрын

Not an architect here, just a 3D artist but the way you present information brings interest to us who are not even in your field.

@stewarthicks 10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@bigred1502 10 ай бұрын

Relatable, I'm a highschool student who just plans on becoming a carpenter and cabinet maker, and these are some of the best videos on KZfaq, I watch more of these then j do Abt videos of my own craft LMAO

@apatsa_basiteni 10 ай бұрын

@@bigred1502 Haha great. You never know where inspiration can come from.

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

I'm only at 0:36, but I just have to say this: Since I was a teenager, I was always fascinated with the exact point at which the towering skyscrapers actually touched the ground. Visiting the Sears Tower shortly after its opening I wanted to walk all the way around the base, just, well, looking at the joint between tower and ground, but my companions would have no part of it. Anyway, I'm excited about watching this video.

@checkoutmyyoutubepage 10 ай бұрын

I see what you mean. Especially for a building that is in an earthquake zone. It’s the sudden flatness and then verticality is what fascinates me at the point where it meets to see if it has any gaps or cracks.

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

@@checkoutmyyoutubepage Now *that's* a different perspective for me. (The only earthquake zone I've ever lived in had nothing higher than a two-story building.)

@theamigo42 10 ай бұрын

If you walk around it in the winter, you can see the effect of its heated sidewalk on the snow.

@loglad5394 9 ай бұрын

Are you neurodivergent per chance? I am and I also have this strange fascination so I'm wondering if it could just be something to do with that.

@BS-vx8dg 9 ай бұрын

@@loglad5394 No, I really am not. I think my adult sons may be, but I'm not.

@Flupperz 10 ай бұрын

I work as a site civil engineer in Chicago and it's always really cool to see the work that we do on the ground floor get recognized, also see a lot of these things talked about on calls on the daily from architects and other engineers.

@deborahmatatall 10 ай бұрын

I love the videos where you walk around Chicago, my hometown. I live about 2 hours away now and it’s hard for me to walk for any distance so I haven’t spent time just walking in Chicago for a long time. I have finally scheduled my hip replacement surgeries and your video has given me another post-surgery goal: explore Chicago on foot next spring. Chicago is really a beautiful city and I’m excited to look for all the details hidden in plain sight.🌸

@laylahassomethingtosay 10 ай бұрын

Right on! Best of luck to you, friend💕

@Cloudsurfer69 10 ай бұрын

Aww, very sweet comment! Glad things are moving forward for you. Best of luck with the surgeries, hope you can get to that walk asap, nice and well, living your best life! 🎉

@sharedknowledge6640 10 ай бұрын

I was the tenant side liaison of a new 10 story 140,000 square foot building and it was really interesting to learn about all the trade offs and how things work between building architects, interior designers, city requirements, building codes, tenant needs, costs, energy efficiency trade offs, use cases, etc. And I was able to work in that building for many years and see how well the design choices worked out in the end. It wasn’t a massive skyscraper but faced many of the same design challenges. And there are lots of building codes that dictate things I’m sure many think are just bad design but it’s required for safety reasons.

@matthewshultz8762 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the brief highlight of fire protection services! There's a lot of hidden engineering on the ground floor of big buildings like this. Pumps, chillers, boilers, electrical panels and switchboards, sanitary and storm water connections, and more! It can be a challenge to secure space for necessary equipment as the ground level is usually pretty desirable and the Architect wants to maximize the usable space.

@ironmatic1 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for typing my comment for me. Although, he did use some interesting terminology...

@Ma2xt 10 ай бұрын

A bit of misinformation on dry standpipe. But he got close enough.

@ironmatic1 10 ай бұрын

@@Ma2xt It's crazy how little knowledge many architects have about building systems. The garden hose wall hydrant at 7:26 is funny. And this guy is considered an authority in architecture academia.

@tofu4tortoise 10 ай бұрын

Just a quick correction regarding the difference between "wet" and "dry" sprinkler/standpipe systems: while the description of whether water is present in the piping or not (wet versus dry) is correct, there is a further segregation of system types to describe if the system is designed for fire department augmentation of the water supply or not and that is "automatic" or "manual" systems. As the naming convention implies, "automatic" systems are designed to achieve the required flow and pressure of water with the building condition (municipal water supply with or without a fire pump provided in the building). However, "manual" systems are designed to achieve the required flow and pressure of water only with fire department augmentation of the system by pumping the fire department connection. So, most commonly seen are automatic-wet, automatic-dry, and manual-dry systems. You can see some of this labeling above the FDCs at 6:20 in the video.

@baylinkdashyt 10 ай бұрын

I love the guy walking through your B-roll at 0:16, shooting his own thing oblivious to the fact that he's in yours.

@JasmineBrie99 10 ай бұрын

I only moved to Chicago a year ago, but thanks to you, I feel like I have a deeper appreciation & knowledge of the city than a lot of my friends

@Arjay404 10 ай бұрын

Would love a full video on hidden bollards and other safety features that large buildings have but that are hidden from being immediately noticed. It's just fascinating the extent that some architects go into making these things either hidden or a lot more pleasant to look at. The different art pieces at stadiums come to mind.

@RailBuffRob 10 ай бұрын

The "hidden standpipe" you showed in the video wasn't a standpipe, it was a hose tap, used for garden hoses which can serve a lot of cleaning purposes in addition to landscaping.

@charlescc1000 10 ай бұрын

Notice this error as well

@davidyarb5885 10 ай бұрын

Me too. He was doing so good up until then. Overall great video though.

@Trekeyus 10 ай бұрын

I noticed that error as well

@RichardBaran 10 ай бұрын

The wind tunnels are really cool. As a kid I felt like they were going to knock me over. The fake windows always fucked me up! Thanks for explaining that.

@Felix-nz7lq 10 ай бұрын

Coming from a city, honestly even a country, that only has like 2 buildings that could even be close to considered skyscrapers I find this sort of stuff fascinating. It really feels like peeking into another world separate from my own. And there's just something so inherently intriguing about multiple layers of horizontal movement to me, or these great indoor spaces connected by tunnels and bridges.

@3abxo390 10 ай бұрын

Lucky you, your city, and your country. Don't build skyscrapers. If you must, concentrate them in 1 very specific, limited district, like Zuid in Amsterdam or La Defense in Paris. Skyscrapers are best observed and enjoyed from a distance. And the greater that distance, the more enjoyment and the better the view. Come check out any city in the US. Most of them are an absolute mess, with no rhyme or reason to the zoning, the architecture, or they cityscapes. Oh, and f**k pedestrians. Walking and public transportation are for commie pussies. Don't build skyscrapers. Don't repeat America's mistakes.

@3abxo390 10 ай бұрын

It's much better to peek into this other world or to enjoy it as a tourist or immigrant than to have it consume your hometown...

@ltraina3353 10 ай бұрын

I’m trying to think what city/country has only 2 skyscrapers? Also, I agree that this sort of stuff is fascinating, it really is…

@mattmayo3539 10 ай бұрын

As a California country boy. My sister moved into a 40th floor high rise in San Francisco. Initially I was terrified to go inside. 1 month later and I’m a fan. I totally get it. My fear of heights is almost completely gone.

@pauld2810 10 ай бұрын

For many, many years, I thought those standpipes were for getting water *out* (like a fire hydrant). Thank you, once again, for teaching me things.

@ceegslug 10 ай бұрын

2:08 Does the American Radiator Building really keep the surrounding area warm at night? I can't find any other info showing this but if so, how absolutely thematic!!!

@rosezingleman5007 10 ай бұрын

This is just wonderful on several levels Stewart: firstly, you showed the complex where I was first employed as an architect (Illinois Center), secondly, stand pipes. Who among us dreamt that their careers would start with stand pipes? Well, mine did, and loading docks too. (Great learning experience actually.) And who doesn’t want you to walk around the Loop with your camera extolling the virtues of skyscrapers and our experience of them, up close? Great content.

@jayski9410 10 ай бұрын

When I lived in Seattle, so many of the downtown buildings were built on such steep sites it was hard to know which button to push on their elevators in order to get to street level. On the downhill side, street level might be 1 or B. While on the uphill side, street level might be 3 or 4. But that also meant that floors in between these choices had no street access at all.

@mrbyamile6973 10 ай бұрын

That used to get me in Seattle, I grew up in the country and hated cities then got a job filling vending machines in Seattle. Was always getting confused as to what floor I parked on.

@tonyyoung8256 9 ай бұрын

Totally! I lived on the 2nd floor of a 1020's tower in L.A. at the top of a hill--but somehow outside my window I was 5 floors up! I felt like I was getting away with a better apartment! 😂

@mattlang8603 10 ай бұрын

Chicago is an architecture wonder. A tapestry of architectural styles and history woven by successive generations. I wonder if you could do a similar walking tour with an architect tagging along to point out things that architects notice about buildings. That's what I felt like I needed on my walking tours of downtown Chicago.

@henryglennon3864 10 ай бұрын

Fun fact: the standpipe was named for its inventor, Sir Thomas Standpipe, who was filled with water during the great fire of London, and spat jets of water into the flames.

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

That's one of those naming factoids (like Thomas Crapper) that's just a bit too perfect for me to accept without documentation.

@StephenCoorlas 10 ай бұрын

lol

@liamr6088 10 ай бұрын

@@BS-vx8dg and yet the rest of that sentence didn't ring any alarm bells for you? :D "who was filled with water during the great fire of London, and spat jets of water into the flames."

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

@@liamr6088 🤦I am *so* embarrassed. But Liam, I have to give you thanks for pointing that out; I'd rather be embarrassed for a moment than to live on ignorance.

@liamr6088 10 ай бұрын

@@BS-vx8dg "I'd rather be embarrassed for a moment than to live on ignorance." A saying to live life by!

@alexr167 10 ай бұрын

This year I visited Chicago and i instantly fell in love with the city. As an Architect from Europe, seeing all the Mies buildings and history in the city was amazing. Thanks for the videos I really enjoy them.

@math925 10 ай бұрын

I really loved this video. Mostly commenting to boost your engagement metrics. Have a great day.

@stewarthicks 10 ай бұрын

Thank you! You too!

@ntatenarin 10 ай бұрын

3:59 The IBM Building! I think that's what it was called back in the day. Even though I'm a bit tired of large boxy buildings, before the Trump Tower was built and covering it, I remember seeing this building dominate the skyline from the Michigan Ave. bridge. I loved it so much with how simple and gigantic it was.

@chrisseidl8294 10 ай бұрын

When I worked near the IBM building in the 90's, in the winter they set up poles and ropes in the plaza because the wind was so bad that you couldn't walk through the plaza.

@fresusjeak 10 ай бұрын

Dude! Great writing as usual, but I felt like the amount of shots, and the consistency in your audio, was another step or two above what I've seen before. Way to go!

@stewarthicks 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for noticing! I did a deep dive into the audio world to figure out what I was doing wrong. I'm glad it shows.

@ryanwolfe2219 9 ай бұрын

@@stewarthicksthis is the first video I'm seeing from you and love the presentation so far! Not sure if it's your regular thing, but if you had a video or info on what you learned to improve the audio for these, I would love to check it out :D

@aspensareprettyneat4002 10 ай бұрын

I visited Chicago earlier this year and fell in love with it. The architecture and design was incredible. I want to live there someday. I’d rather live in a small apartment in the middle of all that than in a suburb housing development.

@thehirsch 10 ай бұрын

As a high-rise manager I really appreciate your videos. It's so good to see the thought processes behind stuff we have to work with!

@gabrieljackson5356 10 ай бұрын

I LOVE THIS CONCEPT, this is exactly why you’re among my favorites here on KZfaq! Keep up the great work

@theupstudioarchitecture 10 ай бұрын

Constantly impressed by the amount of shots you plan/capture to accompany these really well organized (and super informative) videos! Really well done!! 👏👏

@MatsGefvert 10 ай бұрын

I'm a bit surprised in some instances to see that there still is a "ground level" to talk about. I feel like the more cities grow and the downtowns become compacted, the sense of ground level is becoming increasingly eroded. I'm originally from Sweden and in the center of downtown Stockholm, I always struggled to get a sense of what the ground was, since the city continues underground through subways and underground shopping malls in several levels (I never quite figured it out). I hear people talking about transforming cities into 3D landscapes - didn't you have a video about that recently? - and I'm wondering if this tendency for the city to start both building above and digging below is just the start of things. Maybe we should consider finding some kind of spatial navigation language for it, since at least I lose my sense of direction and location in these 3D spaces. It's always fascinated me how we take this vast, open earth and transform it into a labyrinthian jungle with offices, malls, apartments, corridors, liminal spaces, and so on. For any reader of Asimov's books on future earth and the vast, underground colonies, it is both intriguing ... and food for thought. Thanks for your great videos.

@witchveil 10 ай бұрын

Love the videos you make about architecture but I've just realised that the reason I keep coming back is because I find your voice so calming and relaxing.

@loficampingguy9664 10 ай бұрын

This was a really good video, thank you for making it. Not only is it educational, but it is also a breath of fresh air. Many online conversations about architecture and design are often discussing negative aspects or outright condemning it, whether opinion or fact. It is super nice to see something that is _actually_ about learning and sharing information and not about just "new thing bad"or "urban bad." Cheers, mate!

@KarlWitsman 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for this. My wife and I have always been interested in these topics. Our eyes were opened to such things through geocaching and playing Munzee. It was great to see this done in Chicago, since I've been to or near many of these buildings.

@StephenCoorlas 10 ай бұрын

"At the opposite end that does all the skyscraping" That's good stuff.

@Albennnn 10 ай бұрын

Really interesting video, as an aspiring urban designer the area where imposing buildings meet the streetscape has always fascinated me. Good work!

@gaslitworldf.melissab2897 10 ай бұрын

Best wishes. So much politics to overcome, but it should be an interesting career, much in demand as cities continue to grow.

@Cypher791 10 ай бұрын

As a truck driver i find it unbelievable how many buildings seem to have been designed without giving any consideration to the fact that they are going to require daily services. Buildings with no loading facilities at all and sometimes things have to be taken through the front door or through a fire exit that was not designed to take huge deliveries. Hotels need a daily laundry service, hospitals need supplies, retailers need stock, everybody has refuse or recycling that needs collected and there’s no space for these trucks that end up blocking the whole street while trying to do their work.

@thomas6502 10 ай бұрын

We've been falling in love with Chicago from afar through your video treatment of the city. Thanks Stewart.

@stickmasterlukeRBX 10 ай бұрын

I love the camera work and boots-on-the-ground examples. Thanks!

@chrisseidl8294 10 ай бұрын

Great video - worked downtown from 1994 to 2015 in Illinois Center and Blue Cross building. Lower Wacker/Columbus was a different world and back then, a great source of cheap parking

@justanotherdude32 10 ай бұрын

I love your videos, Mr. Hicks! I've walked the streets of Chicago for a long time (been my second home since I was a small child, thanks to doctors visits) I fell in love with the cities beautiful skyline and streets, and I've always been curious about some of the things I see around up there. But now I understand everything has it's purpose! And has answered some curious questions I've had! Like, why are there so many metal poles? Noooow it all makes sense!

@marcberm 10 ай бұрын

2:08 "Radiotor building" indeed! 😂

@TahoeRealm 8 ай бұрын

I’ve always loved how the AMA Plaza opens up additional ground space along the river. And uses glass to further that feeling. Thought that was a really good idea.

@usa1mac 10 ай бұрын

Another home run Stewart! Thank you for your continued efforts!

@ShirleeKnott 10 ай бұрын

👍

@aviewer6299 10 ай бұрын

very cool to learn that about standpipes! the building i live in had the (now i know to be wet) standpipe freeze and burst. i always assumed those were fire hydrants because of the leaked water. that makes so much more sense though!!

@parkersmith1850 10 ай бұрын

Not sure why this showed up in my feed, but I'm glad it did. Great presentation, well done!

@davidhein8322 10 ай бұрын

Just watched on Nebula. So good. You’ve accelerated the pacing…it’s exciting, but now I have to watch more than once to get it all. 😊

@DINGOS30 9 ай бұрын

Wow this vid is just what I needed! I'm planning to make a 3D model of Chicago and all these little nuances and subtle details are what will make it feel alive! This channel rocks!

@Josh-yr7gd 10 ай бұрын

I used to work in construction and when we were stationed inside of high rise buildings, we often had to enter in through the loading docks. These were always near the dumpsters and we would walk down back hallways to avoid getting the lobby or other common spaces dirty. Although I really enjoyed carpentry, I was not a big fan of constantly being required to access the back doors and being out of sight of the general public. Kinda made me feel like a second rate citizen.

@clownfromclowntown 10 ай бұрын

I live right in the loop downtown so seeing you in all these places I pass by on a daily basis is so surreal! I get that chicago's a pretty well known urban environment but it's still so strange to see someone on a screen talk about a building I walked past *yesterday*

@RLJSlick 10 ай бұрын

Love this! Nicely done as always.

@chantellawrence7462 10 ай бұрын

Ohhhhhhh my keyboard is different colors lol

@Baigle1 6 ай бұрын

Great video, really furnishes the aesthetic details of high density function with form and scenic environment.

@ImARealHumanPerson 5 ай бұрын

😅

@aceadrianmendiola7932 10 ай бұрын

I love watching this kind of videos. It is my dream to become an architect but sadly, my life circumstances doesnt allow it. Anyway, thank you for this video I enjoy watching this. ❤ I'll just enjoy watching this kind of videos. Anyway, I know that in my heart I'm an architect 😁

@tehfurbolg4960 10 ай бұрын

Your videos are just lovely! And very interesting. Thanks a lot!

@mamotalemankoe3775 10 ай бұрын

wonderful pacing and explanations. Great vid.

@donnahume631 10 ай бұрын

This is amazing! I love Chicago so much, I wish I could live there, but next time I visit I'll definitely be looking for these details.

@Iris_and_or_George 10 ай бұрын

0:28 "at the opposite end of that does all the skyscraping" that's one hell of a way to say ground floor! 10/10

@tn15_ 10 ай бұрын

8:22 Fantastic bollard placement

@edrupp2318 10 ай бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. Obstructing one side of a fire exit door 😮

@nercopolis99 10 ай бұрын

Another great video! I was always irked by large blank walls, thank you for confirming my taste. The one on far north State street disappoints me greatly.

@moth.monster 10 ай бұрын

I find the big glass windows can have a bit of a greenhouse effect sometimes... they do look nice though. But perhaps some sort of blinds could block the worst of it while still letting some light through. (I work at a restaurant that's on the ground level of a new building. It's quite hot some days.)

@ryanwolfe2219 9 ай бұрын

I feel like those newer ceramic tints could do some awesome work here, I relate to the greenhouse effect in storefronts especially

@AmpedAL 10 ай бұрын

This is a lovely video that gave me a new perspective. Cheers!

@liambohl 10 ай бұрын

I'm certain this video has been growing in Stewart's head for months now. It's all the minor things an architect thinks about while walking past skyscrapers.

@radudeATL 10 ай бұрын

I learned all about Lower Wacker Drive 2 weeks ago when I visited Chicago for the first time and promptly got lost down there.

@davidinwashington 6 ай бұрын

FYI, dry standpipes still have a water supply (absent the fire department) but the sprinkler lines are kept dry and charged with compressed air during normal operation to prevent freezing. This is typical in areas with the potential for freezing temperatures. When a sprinkler head is activated, the compressed air rushes out and opens a valve allowing water to flow, generally required within 30 seconds at the most remote sprinkler head.

@rkalle66 10 ай бұрын

Every single home has this kind of transition. There it's called front porch, front door, driveway, garage entrance, main power switch and meter and many more. Not mentioned in the video are the transitions inside the ground levels of commercial buildings with concierge desk, elevators, stairs, cafe, lounge, restrooms, entrance gates, emergency exits, revolving doors, windbrake and many orientation/emergency signs and hidden the locker rooms, postal office, delivery check-in, storage rooms for cleaning and other stuff like winter sand/salt, unique spare parts/tiles, mobile barrier cords and posts/red carpets, chairs, garbage container like a mud room in a home.

@tonyyoung8256 9 ай бұрын

Excellent acting espcially at the beginning--I chuckled:) I teach at an art college myself and I recognize this energy!!

@marianaldenhoevel7240 10 ай бұрын

Every person notices different things and I love to be shown details that I miss. It is really cool to then start seeing them in other places, too. Thank you! I have never considered the problem of getting water up dozens of floors and now that you pointed it out I realize what a challenge that poses. I wonder wether systems like these standpipes, the hoses on the individual floors and the sprinkler systems are ever tested. To me they look like prime candidates for a vital system that is never used. And thus prone to not work when you actually need it. If there are tests or drills: How is that done? You can't just flood an office for fun.

@touge242 5 ай бұрын

The empty space approach of modern building first floor also addresses vision triangle requirements, making for a safer and less claustrophobic street. Vision clearance is often greater than zoning setbacks. Columns allow upper levels to utilize the full footprint while the hollowed ground level allows for "open air"

@onemore5952 10 ай бұрын

I always touch the surface of a scraper when I’m at outside at street level. I love to feel that connection with the huge structure next to me.

@thomaslanders2073 10 ай бұрын

I always boop the nose of any dog near me because if you go back far enough humans and dogs have a common ancestor 🤔

@BS-vx8dg 10 ай бұрын

I do that too! And then, when I see the top of that building from many miles away, I can think "I've touched that!!"

@stewarthicks 10 ай бұрын

I do too! My wife makes fun of me and I've tried to psychoanalyze it. For me, it's like a way of grounding myself in the environment or something.

@onemore5952 10 ай бұрын

@@BS-vx8dg I like the way you described it! 👍

@onemore5952 10 ай бұрын

@@stewarthicks 👍

@Davett53 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for explaining "stand pipes",...I have seen them my whole life, and wondered what they did.

@tvre0 10 ай бұрын

Great video, I really enjoyed it!

@tommywolfe2706 5 ай бұрын

I have seen videos about how buildings like St. Peters in Rome was built using parts of the older church and even palaces, temples and ancient buildings...but I dont recall ever hearing that reusing those old materials had an actual name. Even the Colosseum was looted for its marble and bricks and it crazy to think that there are parts of it that are making up some "mundane" modern building. I knew that it was a practice before our modern times.....easily accessible ways to get materials needed for building, and some really nice examples at that....but, this video shows it in a way that sort of turns the building into a museum. I think thats incredible! That wall in this video had a part of the "forbidden city" embedded in it! How cool!

@djlondon7956 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for popping into the frame from varying directions it did not go unappreciated 😂🎉❤

@anonymoususer3561 10 ай бұрын

Wow... I love that second "floor level" under the street, it's very cool

@anonymoususer3561 10 ай бұрын

Love merged/fused/mixed architecture

@matt_b... 10 ай бұрын

I dig the blocked fire exit at 8:23

@lesdesignmasterpieces4581 10 ай бұрын

This is a great and a lot of people don't know about the siamese connection, I've actually put them on projects I've done in Jamaica were I am located

@onstructures 10 ай бұрын

Another cool thing I’ve seen stone at the base of buildings do is protrude outwards, as though they’re being compressed and squeezed. Can’t remember the name for this though

@LuMaxQFPV 10 ай бұрын

Skyscraper maintenance is crucial on rooftop patios, pools, gardens, etc. to keep them clear and free of the little blue shavings that constantly build up on them.

@itisceez 10 ай бұрын

Wow! I didn’t learn this in my architecture school 👏

@barryrobbins7694 10 ай бұрын

It seems there is often a disconnect between architecture and engineering. So many utilitarian aspects of architecture are given so little design thought. It would be great if the two could become more integrated or reintegrated.

@icreatedanaccountforthis1852 5 ай бұрын

Love these videos

@lutzwolfsfell4828 10 ай бұрын

Here in Berlin I love exploring the few high rises we have and to understand where what utility is coming from. Some times I can sneak in to the utility space and just discover more. but also Other massive buildings like Malls or other big buinding been explored to find all the acces points

@johnross779 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video. 👌

@theprinceofinadequatelighting 10 ай бұрын

In my city you can get in trouble for trying to see Lower Whacker because technically it's in a private part of town. Even though it's supposedly recreational (for those with permission) and not nearly as functional as Chicago's Lower Wacker, my town's Whacker doesn't get many visitors and if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't even know it was there because it's so small. Often you can only see it when they trim the bushes and even then it can be hard to see from a distance. Some people wish it were more accessible, and the people who do go there often complain that it should be kept cleaner and that it's not big enough for their recreational purposes. I'm actually not the biggest fan of Lower Whacker in my city though (but to each their own, I say), anyway I prefer to spend my time down on Beaver or up around Twin Hills, whenever I get the chance - now there's a heckuva view.

@reluginbuhl 6 ай бұрын

This was a very good video. Interesting.

@steveurbach3093 10 ай бұрын

I had a need to go onto the roof of a very tall building in Chicago. It had an Air Lock to the roof. Because of the equipment I was bringing, we had to defeat the interlock. It took 3 people to close the door against the inside pressure. BTW the view was spectacular.

@philipmurphy2 10 ай бұрын

Well done Stewart.

@blankpaper43 10 ай бұрын

Very nice, I never knew this

@darienfalconi9480 10 ай бұрын

This video is great!

@patriotcanuck6485 10 ай бұрын

One thing I love about NYC, Chicago, etc are the old style buildings, they are so beautiful. Toronto and a couple but they built more glass garbage the last 50 years it looks horrible.

@matsv201 10 ай бұрын

8:20 That is intresting with two levels. In stockholm that is quite common to, but the levels is the other way around. The car level is the upper level and the pedestrian level is the lower level. This is so the level can be closed of in winter to keep some of the warmth in. Those are typical around subway stations where more pedestrian space was needed, so they simply added a other level where there was a lot of foot traffic. This way the Subway entrance is also already semi indoors.

@quasimodoshunchback 10 ай бұрын

love your content so much

@TheSuzberry 10 ай бұрын

Interesting that he chose Chicago. In the 1850s and 1860s the buildings in Chicago were raised to allow creation of a sewage system.

@tresbeans 10 ай бұрын

For me, the magic bullet informercial will forever be iconic

@kevcal7 10 ай бұрын

Great vid!

@TireSpare 10 ай бұрын

Please do review on structures of tall buildings around US. I am really curious how they are formed in foundations. thank you ! sending many loves from South Korea, Gyeonggi-do

@alohadave 10 ай бұрын

Yes, foundations and sub basements!

@nathantodd7433 10 ай бұрын

Woohoo Michigan. Based coffee. Oh and great video. Love Chicago

@pianoman47 10 ай бұрын

Great video!

@eaglescout1984 10 ай бұрын

And it's not just skyscrapers that will have those standpipe connections. Any "high rise" will likely be required to have them. And that can be buildings as short as 5 stories or less of the stories are high enough. And several factors can also play into the decision about standpipes, whether from a published building code, a municipal fire code, or owner preference. Usage is one; buildings that serve a more critical function like hospitals or communication hubs would be more likely to have a standpipe. Another is construction; wood frame is a good example of where standpipes can help fire fighters save the building. Or even just insurance costs; the more things you can put in a building to decrease the chance of death, injury, and property damage in case of a fire, the more likely an insurer will provide you with discounts for a safer building.