US, skyscrapers look kinda old?

[yellowboy06]

What I mean is it seems "Our" (USA) skyscrapers and skyline have a lot of skyscrapers that are particulary old?



I think its just because I think glass buildings look better, newer.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by yellowboy06

What I mean is it seems "Our" (USA) skyscrapers and skyline have a lot of skyscrapers that are particulary old?

it seems that way because it's actually true. the skyscraper building type was invented and pioneered in our nation (new york and chicago in particular), and no country on our planet has anywhere near the type of historical skyscraper inventory as can be found in the good old USA. we taught the world how to build skyscrapers, and they've now become ubiquitous in cities all around the globe, but america is where it all started.

[theWatusi]

yellowboy, you need to give proper credit for any picture you post that are not yours.

[M II A II R II K]

Too bad they don't make them look as artistic as they used to with intricate carvings. That is in comparison to the average boring glass box buildings of course.

[JManc]

i used to think that way until i started appreciating all those old buildings.

[M II A II R II K]

I asked an architect about that one time and she said these days people don't want to pay the extra money to make their highrises into a work of art.

[DecoJim]

As someone commented some of the skylines ARE old and it takes time for new construction to substantially alter the "inertia" of an older city's skyline.

It might be interesting to have everyone compute that average age of the 25 tallest buildings for their city.

For Detroit, the top 25 buildings range from 103 to 220 meters and were built over a period of 1924-2009.

Detroit: Average age of tallest 25 buildings: 51 years.
This includes 7 skyscrapers (159m+) and 18 high-rises (103m+)
You can get completion dates from SSP city diagrams or www.emporis.com

I used the following formula:
Avg. age = ( <current year> X <# buildings> - sum [years of completion for each building] ) / <# buildings>
current year = 2009
# buildings = 25

[The North One]

i dont really understand what you mean by "old", you think trump tower, sears tower, and new wtc look old?

if you mean buildings like the empire state, id much rather have that then a cheesy not well done, glass skyscraper, that seem to be being built by the barrow full in china and dubia. if thats what "new" is, then no thanks. Id rather have buildings done with taste.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by DecoJim

It might be interesting to have everyone compute that average age of the 25 tallest buildings for their city.

that would be interesting to see.

Chicago - average age of 25 tallest buildings: 17 years.

[213]

Los Angeles, 25 years.

[ColDayMan]

I think you're bluffin' with your muffin if you think "glass buildings" look "better" than the Chrysler/ESB/*insert classic building here*

What is this US? Strictly Houston and Charlotte? Springfield, Missourah's tallest? That beehive Emerald looking building in San Diego???

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by ColDayMan

I think you're bluffin' with your muffin if you think "glass buildings" look "better" than the Chrysler/ESB/*insert classic building here*

What is this US? Strictly Houston and Charlotte? Springfield, Missourah's tallest? That beehive Emerald looking building in San Diego???

Quiet, you. Toledo's One Seagate is the greatest contribution to modern skyscraper construction EVAR.

[ColDayMan]

Silence, B.O.B.'s Big Boy. That Chase Tower in Phoenix destroys your precious One C-Hate Tower.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Yeah, but I'll take Albuquerque's BoA Tower anyday over your ugly-ass LeVeque. They don't make shit like that anymore for a reason.

[ColDayMan]

Says the man living in a city who's tallest building makes salty french fries and McShakes.

[Nowhereman1280]

That average age of tallest buildings statistic is an interesting measure of skyline change. I'm surprised that Chicago's top 25 are a good deal younger than LA's.

Then again something like 50% of Chicago's top 25 were constructed in this boom. Too bad the Spire and Waterview aren't there to bump a few more older buildings off the list.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Versus threads aren't allowed here. As someone who was a member of this site when they were legal, believe me, they were epic amounts of fail.

Still, at least there's only one city with a shitty Kettering Tower.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by yellowboy06

What I mean is it seems "Our" (USA) skyscrapers and skyline have a lot of skyscrapers that are particulary old?

I think its just because I think glass buildings look better, newer.

Great topic! What other brilliant nuggets of wisdom will you impart on us from your unedited stream of consciousness? That first "question" isn't an even a queston.

Old buildings are old, indeed. Sorry, but this is just getting ridiculously stupid; it's not even funny, anymore.

[M.K.]

-

[ColDayMan]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

Versus threads aren't allowed here. As someone who was a member of this site when they were legal, believe me, they were epic amounts of fail.

Still, at least there's only one city with a shitty Kettering Tower.

Which is about the same height as your state's tallest "building." You know, the one next door to the same parking lot I got trashed at while my fingers were burning at 111 degrees.