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OT: so I was bored today and wanted to visit a skyscraper or two, anyone else a skyscraper fan?


prodj101

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I've always been fascinated by skyscrapers, and I can spend endless amounts of time just staring at them. something about them really impresses me, and it makes me feel odd seeing everyone just walk by and not even seem to notice them. At first I thought "hmmm, well if they seem them everyday maybe they are just used to them" than I remembered I see them every day as well. I had been thurougly dissapointed after hearing the observation deck/resteraunt at the top of the IDS tower (the big blue glass one) was closed, as I had always wanted to make a trip to the top of it. the last I heard they were not allowing no one other than workers out of the lobby of these great buildings. so with that, I never even bothered to set foot in one until today. As I was walking to HiFi sound to give a fellow forum member's new B&W bookshelf speakers a listen, I walked by the South Sixth tower as I normally do, and decided "what the hell, I'm going to just walk in and if they stop me they do, and if they don't, well, I'll get to see what it's like to be 800 feet above the ground!" I strolled into the lobby playing the roll of someone who knew where he was going and why, and avoided confrontatoin with all building personel. I kept up this act until I saw a women, and her childern board an elevator without being stopped. with the pressure of being escorted to the door lifted from my shoulders I made my way to the elevator labled "floors 40-56" and pressed the call button. I still felt as if I was somehow in the wrong, so I was releived when the ready beep finally sounded, and the doors slid open. I stepped in, scanned the list of floors and selected 56 thinking "damn, thats a big *** number" (for lack of better words). The doors slid closed and the car began it's near 800 foot voyage to the top of the tower. As it began to accelerate my ears popped and I wondered if people who regularly made this trip could possibly suffer from hearing damage (does anyone know the answer to this?). After about a 20 second ride, the doors slid home, and I stepped out on to the floor. for some reason without even being able to see the outoors, it made me nerovous to think that there was now quite a ways between me and the ground. I made my way down a hallway towards a window, and could faintly hear the familiar sound of fingers on a keyboard. As I approached and caught my first glimpse of earth from 750 feet up, my heart sank as I read the words "no public observatory, authorized personel only." I stood in the hallway for a good 10 minutes debating whether or not to try to sneak over to the window, or just leave the building unsatisified. I finally brought myself to walk out of the hallway and into the large, open conference room where I had heard the typing and hoped that the person there had since left, or wouldn't care if I took a quick peak out the window. As I stepped into the room, I was met by a startled gasp from a lady sitting behind a desk who remarked "oh my gosh you scared me." I apologized for freightening her, and she continued a conversation she was having on a phone. I waited for her to finish so I could explain myself. she eventually hung up the phone, and I explained I only wanted to take a peak out the window, as I had never been in a sky scraper before. she explained to me that although they weren't supposed to allow people in the building, it was ok with her as long as I made it quick. Her boss was apparantly returning soon, and would punish her for this act of rule breaking. My spirits were instantly lifted, and I made my way toward the window sheepishly, not quite knowing what to expect. as I put my face up to the thick window and looked toward the distant ground, I believe my exact words were "holy fuc#, thats pretty damn high." Minneapolis looked much different from this angle, and in a good way. who ever knew building roofs could be so interesting? the roof I most clearly remember had gargantuan fans on the top, whose blades looked to be at least 10 feet each. I could almost hear their loud swooshing noises. at last feeling satisfied, I decided to make my way back to the elevator car so the lady wouldn't get in trouble. I told her thanks, boarded, and pressed "L" for loby. the ride down was quite a thrill; you could jump and stay in the air for Michael Jordan like lengths of time. I left the building in good spirits, proud of what I had accomplished. As I walked down the sidewalk, I looked back at the building in which I had just been and smiled.

The South Sixth is not in the picture shown here. The largest all glass blue tower is the IDS tower, which I also later visited, which was even better as they let me stay on the 50th floor for as long as I wanted. The Wells Fargo building is the goldish building farthest right, which is just 3 feet shorter than the IDS tower at 753 feet. I made it to the 56th floor of this tower, but there were no windows availible to look out of.

post-10107-138192498027_thumb.jpg

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Yup. I am a skyscraper geek.

I really haven't been in many skyscrapers, but I hope to change that. In San Francisco, there is a cafe at the top of the Bank of America building (the 2nd tallest one, big brown box) and you can look all you want.

The Transamerica building is totally off limits as there is no space/capacity for a sky deck.

ALL skyscrapers have good security (or, in theory they do...), and even when my dad worked in a 30 story skyscraper in San Francisco, you had to sign in and have a good reason (as in, being with someone who worked there or having a appointment - which would be confirmed by a phone call) to get to the elevators, so you just can't go into a building and go around - anyway, the building we were in was setup in a manner where you got off the elevator, and where in the core, and you needed a key card to get into the office areas. No getting off the elevator and walking up to a window. There was a lot of stuff that was the target of industrial espianage.

After I get out of college, I want to spend a few weeks in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Hong Kong will have a TON of stuff in another 5 years.

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I'd say avoid LA. I live smack in downtown amidst all the skyscrapers (granted, there are more in Long Beach as well) but nothing, NOTHING like what you'll find in tokyo, new york, or hong kong - where buildings have become an art form. The two blue "bond center" buildings built by an australian man are actually two trees with koalas climbing on them. The bank of china, i believe it's called, is crafted after a piece of bamboo. And there's another huge hotel skyscraper with a GIGANTIC hole (I'm talking 20 hotel rooms X 20 hotel rooms) carved in the middle for the "lucky dragon" to fly through.

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On 10/18/2003 12:15:41 PM nicholtl wrote:

I'd say avoid LA. I live smack in downtown amidst all the skyscrapers (granted, there are more in Long Beach as well) but nothing, NOTHING like what you'll find in tokyo, new york, or hong kong - where buildings have become an art form. The two blue "bond center" buildings built by an australian man are actually two trees with koalas climbing on them. The bank of china, i believe it's called, is crafted after a piece of bamboo. And there's another huge hotel skyscraper with a GIGANTIC hole (I'm talking 20 hotel rooms X 20 hotel rooms) carved in the middle for the "lucky dragon" to fly through.
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And remember, and major construction needs to be designed to comply with feig-shi (sp?), and that can get VERY expensive.

Tokyo isn't as exciting for skyscrapers, but that is changing. What makes Tokyo neat is the mid rises and whats in them, as far as having a 6 or 8 floor grocery store and seeing how they set it up.

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On 10/18/2003 12:15:41 PM nicholtl wrote:

I'd say avoid LA. I live smack in downtown amidst all the skyscrapers (granted, there are more in Long Beach as well) but nothing, NOTHING like what you'll find in tokyo, new york, or hong kong - where buildings have become an art form. The two blue "bond center" buildings built by an australian man are actually two trees with koalas climbing on them. The bank of china, i believe it's called, is crafted after a piece of bamboo. And there's another huge hotel skyscraper with a GIGANTIC hole (I'm talking 20 hotel rooms X 20 hotel rooms) carved in the middle for the "lucky dragon" to fly through.

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I have seen pictures of this hotel, very large attrium in the midle of it. I don't know if I'd trust myself walking around the railing 5.gif

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I've visited a few huge skyscrapers,when in NY the firs one was the most famous of them all the Empire State,the first(well second)huge tall building and to this day one of the tallest.Quite a feat considering it was build so long ago and in its time it was a marver,it is still a marvel to this day.

The lobby and outside view before the tower starts is amazing

After we visited the World Trade Center,the twin towers were huge.Two gigantic monoliths dominating NY.Sad they are no more,hope the airline cheap stakes will improve of the piss poor security before Sept. 11 attacks.Did not take a plane in a long time.

Air travel should cost two to three times more,to hell with those who find it expensive,travel by camel or sea turtle.Standards should NEVER be lowered too low or tragedy will strike sooner or later.

Anyway,was in the windy city a few times.The Hancock building and the giant Sears Tower are two important landmarks and anyone visiting Chicago should not miss them(duh,how can they).

Here in Canada,in Toronto the CN Tower is quite a giant structure.Again superb view and you can eat there too.If you are scared of great heights like me,you will eat while pooping at the same time. 8.gif

The rest of Toronto is standard big city fare,with many tall,but not too huge skyscrapers.

Here in my backyard in Montreal the city building limits prevents building very tall skyscrapers.So the Place Ville-Marie,Bourse de Montreal,IBM Building and 1000 are the tallest,under 800ft high.Damn limits,I say build them as tall as you can.

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If you want to take that sensation to the next level...

1) Take a ride in a hot air balloon. Nothing like standing in a little wicker basket a couple thousand feet up in the air. Doesn't cost a whole lot.

2) Take a couple of flying lessons. Doesn't get expensive unless you lose control of your facilities and decide you want to pursue getting a private pilot's license. First time up, typically in a Cessna 152 or something similar, you get to take control of the aircraft yourself and fly it around. A bit. Quite the rush.

3) Take a helicopter ride. Similar to #1, bit more mechanicle thrashing about, but faster.

On this topic - my little brother was in ROTC and the Army Signal Core, then went to work for a private security firm in Tampa. He ran security for Nation's Bank in Tampa when they were in this:

400nash.jpg

building, 30 some odd stories high. I got to go up on the roof a couple of times. Imagine a flat, circular expanse of concrete, totally flat except for a couple dozen short lightning rods sticking up. No safety precautions - roof was not intended to have curiousity seekers walking around. You could go right up to the edge and look over, which tended to make you, uh, not feel so good.

He rappeled down the side once with some National Guard that were practicing, uh, I'm not sure what, and once rode in a bosun's chair from the top of that building out across the Hillsborough River down to the ground in a park on the other side.

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I love sky-scrapers! I have been up quite a few myself. The Sears Tower and the Empire State Building being the two most notable. I have also been up a couple in Pittsburg as well as in Columbus, OH (Nationwide Building, for example). In fact, I even got my own little version of the Empire State Building in my living room!

esb1.jpgesb2.jpg

This spring, I am going to take a train up to NYC to spend a weekend - like to go up the Empire State Buildiing again as well as check out Coney Island, Statue of Liberty and a few others things.

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On 10/18/2003 12:27:02 PM kenratboy wrote:
And remember, and major construction needs to be designed to comply with feig-shi (sp?), and that can get VERY expensive.

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"Feng Shui" or "wind water." Yeah, you are right. The Chinese are obsessed with this.

Skonopa - that miniature building is tight. Where did you get it? I wanna bite off you and get one too.

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On 10/19/2003 12:45:11 PM nicholtl wrote:

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On 10/18/2003 12:27:02 PM kenratboy wrote:

And remember, and major construction needs to be designed to comply with feig-shi (sp?), and that can get VERY expensive.

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"Feng Shui" or "wind water." Yeah, you are right. The Chinese are obsessed with this.

Skonopa - that miniature building is tight. Where did you get it? I wanna bite off you and get one too.

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It looks like one of those 3D puzzles.

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prodj101 - I was also going to say, when it comes to skyscrapers, you can very easily lie your way around those places. Just act like you know what you are doing (as in, 'I have a reason to be here, don't talk to me.'), and even if you do get questioned, you can just play the 'dumb blond' card and just act dumb, and at the worse, security will kindly (literally) escort you out. If you have a camera, instead of bolt cutters and a portable hard drive, they will probably, and rightfully assume you were checking things out. It really isn't a big deal. In San Francisco, the securtiy is much tighter that other cities, from what I have heard.

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On 10/19/2003 12:45:11 PM nicholtl wrote:

Skonopa - that miniature building is tight. Where did you get it? I wanna bite off you and get one too.

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Kenratboy is correct, that is one of those Puzz3D puzzles. My parents gave that to me for Christmas some 8+ years ago. The one I have is the original version with a little over 900 pieces.

puzzbox.jpg

This site (click on "new products on the left and scroll to the bottom of the page) has the new version that just came out which has slightly less than 500 pieces (and seem to be about half as large). However, I see they got the Sears Tower! I so have to get that! Also, that huge NYC skyline looks awesome - 3000+ pieces!

post-3829-1381924980364_thumb.jpg

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