Strange, but true, tale

[Capt Lightning]

No wish to drag out the discussions about number conventions for floors, but I thought this tale might be amusing...
Back in my work days, I was working on a short project for a bank in Turin, Italy. The bank building was constructed on sloping ground in the city outskirts and I was working in an office on the 3rd. floor.

One day I found that I needed some cash so I asked a colleague where the nearest ATM was. He said it was on the ground floor and he would show me the nearest route. As we walked along the corridor, he pointed out a line on the floor and explained that this was where the old and new parts of the building joined. When we reached the lift, he explained that since the building was built on sloping ground, the new part which we were now in, started one storey lower, but the floors were still numbered Ground, 1,2 etc... So..to get to the ground floor, I should press 0, but when I wanted to return to floor 3, I had to press 4.

 

[jujube]

When they added onto the main building at the hospital where I used to work, building codes had changed and each floor had to be "taller" than in the old building.

Elevator banks were sandwiched between the old and new buildings and opened at both ends. Floors were designated 1 and 1 1/2 and 2 and 2 1/2, etc. You'd get on at 2 through the front door and travel about 6 vertical feet and exit at 2 1/2 through the back door. It was a bit confusing at first.

 

[Medusa]

When they added onto the main building at the hospital where I used to work, building codes had changed and each floor had to be "taller" than in the old building.

Elevator banks were sandwiched between the old and new buildings and opened at both ends. Floors were designated 1 and 1 1/2 and 2 and 2 1/2, etc. You'd get on at 2 through the front door and travel about 6 vertical feet and exit at 2 1/2 through the back door. It was a bit confusing at first.

Sounds like an, Alice in Wonderland, building.

 

[Alizerine]

Not quite as dramatic but at a local hospital the parking garage levels do not coincide with the floors so which number to punch in the elevator is a mystery that not even the information desk could help me with. I think it has something to do with switching elevators.

 

[Been There]

No secret about this. In the Pentagon, there are 2 floors below ground. Depending on the person’s clearance will allow their ability to go 0, 1 or 2 floors underground. If I wanted to go to either of the underground floors, I had to first scan my ID badge then tap on button “M” or “B”. If you tried to go to one of the floors underground and your badge was rejected, an alarm would sound, which would bring a guard to the elevator and you would have some explaining to do. There are about 90-100 video surveillance cameras in operation 24/7.

 

[Alizerine]

Let me just add that the signage was poor. A couple of days ago I was dropping off a neighbor and was told to turn left at the Diagnostic Center. However, that building was labeled Outpatient Clinic. When I asked about this later, I was told the Diagnostic Center is located in the basement.
Sometimes they assume we know things we have no way of knowing.