Have you lived or worked in a skyscraper?

Tommy

Tommy

Senior Member
Location
New Hampshire
As we approach the anniversary of the cowardly attack on the World Trade Center, it got me thinking about extremely tall buildings in general. Has anyone here ever lived or worked high up in one of these?

I'm wondering what it's like getting to/from a home or office on, say, the 80th or 90th floor of one of these. I don't recall ever going up into a building much over 10 or 12 floors. With hundreds of people trying to move around such a building, especially during busy periods, I would think the elevator travel time would be extreme.

How does that work exactly? Do folks generally pack a lunch for the trip? :unsure:
 

I've only been as high as 15th floor... but I have to say that when I see videos of apartments in NYC skyscrapers, I get such a feeling of longing, especially when the city is lit up. I can't think of a sight or place anywhere that gives me that same feeling. It kind of lessened after 9-11, but it still has the same effect on me, just that I'm more mindful of the dangers now. 🌇🌆
 

Tommy said:
As we approach the anniversary of the cowardly attack on the World Trade Center, it got me thinking about extremely tall buildings in general. Has anyone here ever lived or worked high up in one of these?

I'm wondering what it's like getting to/from a home or office on, say, the 80th or 90th floor of one of these. I don't recall ever going up into a building much over 10 or 12 floors. With hundreds of people trying to move around such a building, especially during busy periods, I would think the elevator travel time would be extreme.

How does that work exactly? Do folks generally pack a lunch for the trip? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Many years ago I did go to the rooftop of the Empire State Building. Amazing. The elevators were very fast; people all over the place.

Coincidentally, just last night I started watching a documentary about the rooftops of NYC since drones have been able to capture so many of them. However, I fell asleep. I didn't want to, but.....

Save it for later...
 
Not really, but generally I stay away. The highest residence I've lived in was 4 floors. Last one, we had two floors, but no balcony, it was stifling. When you're wee bit uncomfortable in enclosed space it isn't welcoming.

Work wise, it was just for a month's contract but it was terrifying as I'd read "Towering Inferno" nail bitting...

It was on the 12th floor. Just above us were 3 floors with all the mechanical engineering such as the water filtration system and septic tanks. The electronics and other paraphernalia for heating/lighting and power plus water to run the whole building.

I believe there were another 12 floors above that. It was also a hot weather month. So, had to be inventive. Summer maxi dress from home to work. After entry and signing on, made beeline for ladies washrooms. Changed to accepted uniform (lol) pants, loafers, t-shirt and cardigan.

Yes, the cardigan was required as the blast from AC was worst than the North Pole. After the month done, I couldn't work for fortnight, I'd caught a nasty cold from the building (found out later that the building was suffering from the "sick building syndrome", they had to overhaul the air system and all).

I told my handler for contracts, never again, I was worried every day with all the noises from that building... Phew!
 
I've never "lived" in a skyscraper, but I've been in several. In NYC, I went to the top of the WTC (before it was destroyed), The Empire State building, and the Chrysler building. In Chicago, I went to the top of the Sears (now Willis) Tower. The heights are a bit scary, but it's kind of fun.
 
Many years ago, I worked in a thirty-story building in downtown Denver, Colorado. At the time, that was a pretty tall building in Denver, not so now.

I had an office on the 21st floor, with windows looking on a major downtown intersection. It had a nice view of the downtown area, which was nice to look at, especially at night. I cannot recall exactly, but I think we had four elevators. Regardless, waiting for an elevator was not that long and the elevators were real fast going up and down. So that was not a big deal.
 
I worked in the Empire State Bldg. On the fourth floor.
I attended meetings on the top floor of the old Trade Towers. Forget which one. The top floors appeared to sway. Didn't like it, felt otherworldly. Too high up for me. The Express elevators were too fast.
 
I recall eating in the restaurant in the Seattle space needle sometime during the '90s. It's roughly equivalent to a 50-story building and I believe the trip to the restaurant took less than a minute. That isn't comparable though, because there are no intermediate floors - just one straight shot. I've had it take longer to get to the fourth floor of a busy building stopping at each floor. :rolleyes:
 
My first job in corporate was working in a tall corporate office -- I think we were on the 50th floor? They had 6+ elevator bay, so it was never more than a 2-3 min wait for the elevator.

When the wind picked up, you could hear the building creak in the stairwells...Was a bit unnerving.
 
I’ve stayed in tall hotels. Highest floor was 47. The view was so impressive that I’d go out on the balcony and I’m terrified of heights. There were different banks of elevators. Think it was sets of 15. It was fast.
 

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