Skyscraper Stuff You're Not Meant to Notice
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2023
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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 UA-cam 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
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.
I was thinking the same thing
Smith, your ocean/shore analogy is moving.
Well said 👏 👌
🤦♂️
I think you stumbled upon a major psycho-architectural concept
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!
Especially in places with minimum parking requirements!
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!"
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...
@@arcanondrum6543 eat ze bugs and be happy
4:27 is that the building from American psycho idk but it's ringing a bell somewhere on that note.
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 😊
When doing this, you might consider comparing green certified buildings vs. traditional.
Can you actually crawl through the vents though?
And get a machine gun?
Cuz.... that's all I'm really worried about confirming. Haha
@@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.
Why don’t you make it
@@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
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.
Thank you!
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 UA-cam, I watch more of these then j do Abt videos of my own craft LMAO
@@bigred1502 Haha great. You never know where inspiration can come from.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.)
If you walk around it in the winter, you can see the effect of its heated sidewalk on the snow.
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.
@@loglad5394 No, I really am not. I think my adult sons may be, but I'm not.
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.🌸
Right on! Best of luck to you, friend💕
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! 🎉
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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.
Thanks for typing my comment for me. Although, he did use some interesting terminology...
A bit of misinformation on dry standpipe. But he got close enough.
@@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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Notice this error as well
Me too. He was doing so good up until then. Overall great video though.
I noticed that error as well
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.
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.
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.
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...
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…
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.
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.
I really loved this video. Mostly commenting to boost your engagement metrics. Have a great day.
Thank you! You too!
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.
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.
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! 😂
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.
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.
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!
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.
@@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
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.
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.
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.
That's one of those naming factoids (like Thomas Crapper) that's just a bit too perfect for me to accept without documentation.
lol
@@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."
@@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.
@@BS-vx8dg "I'd rather be embarrassed for a moment than to live on ignorance."
A saying to live life by!
8:22 Fantastic bollard placement
I was thinking the same thing. Obstructing one side of a fire exit door 😮
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.
2:08 "Radiotor building" indeed! 😂
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.
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.
"At the opposite end that does all the skyscraping"
That's good stuff.
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.
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!
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
I learned all about Lower Wacker Drive 2 weeks ago when I visited Chicago for the first time and promptly got lost down there.
I dig the blocked fire exit at 8:23
I LOVE THIS CONCEPT, this is exactly why you’re among my favorites here on UA-cam! Keep up the great work
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.
Constantly impressed by the amount of shots you plan/capture to accompany these really well organized (and super informative) videos! Really well done!! 👏👏
I love the camera work and boots-on-the-ground examples. Thanks!
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
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.
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.
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 😁
We've been falling in love with Chicago from afar through your video treatment of the city. Thanks Stewart.
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!
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.
Not sure why this showed up in my feed, but I'm glad it did. Great presentation, well done!
Really interesting video, as an aspiring urban designer the area where imposing buildings meet the streetscape has always fascinated me. Good work!
Best wishes. So much politics to overcome, but it should be an interesting career, much in demand as cities continue to grow.
Love this! Nicely done as always.
Ohhhhhhh my keyboard is different colors lol
Great video, really furnishes the aesthetic details of high density function with form and scenic environment.
😅
Another home run Stewart! Thank you for your continued efforts!
👍
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.)
I feel like those newer ceramic tints could do some awesome work here, I relate to the greenhouse effect in storefronts especially
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. 😊
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"
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!
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.
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*
Excellent acting espcially at the beginning--I chuckled:) I teach at an art college myself and I recognize this energy!!
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!!
wonderful pacing and explanations. Great vid.
Wow... I love that second "floor level" under the street, it's very cool
Love merged/fused/mixed architecture
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.
Your videos are just lovely! And very interesting. Thanks a lot!
For me, the magic bullet informercial will forever be iconic
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.
Thanks for explaining "stand pipes",...I have seen them my whole life, and wondered what they did.
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.
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.
3:10 Well, a building is in reality, a pile of things 😂 i miss Chicago 😞
When I was young, I saw the signs near the stand pipes on the side of buildings which read "auto sprinkler". I thought these pipes had something to do with putting out car fires.
This is a lovely video that gave me a new perspective. Cheers!
Thanks for popping into the frame from varying directions it did not go unappreciated 😂🎉❤
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.
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.
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.
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.
I always boop the nose of any dog near me because if you go back far enough humans and dogs have a common ancestor 🤔
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!!"
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.
@@BS-vx8dg I like the way you described it! 👍
@@stewarthicks 👍
Wow! I didn’t learn this in my architecture school 👏
Great video, I really enjoyed it!
Interesting that he chose Chicago. In the 1850s and 1860s the buildings in Chicago were raised to allow creation of a sewage system.
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
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.
I'm getting 99% invisible vibes and I love it
I love it when buildings have the hyper polished hose fittings. HATE that they don't get cleaned 😂😂😂😂😭
Everytime i watch your videos i feel like im actually in Chicago again.
For many years, I thought the Fire Department Connections were hydrants that fire trucks could hook up to. I figured that they were supplied by the building's internal water supply.
Super Mario is always jumping down pipes and emerging in unexpected places... its part of the modern urban experience :)
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
I recently went on a rabbit hole about mechanical floors in skyscrapers and the so called “Mechanical Void Loophole” that is somewhat controversial in NYC. I’m not sure if you’ll ever read this comment but I think that would make a great video
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
Yes, foundations and sub basements!
Love these videos
Well done Stewart.
1:37 -- I always wondered why those seemingly pointless louvered "awning" structures were put over windows. They don't extend out far enough to really block much sunlight, even if they weren't made up of thin vertical bars that are also unable to block sunlight. Never occurred to me they might be there to break up wind currents.
Very nice, I never knew this