Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1088 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.52.102
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 1:56 am: | |
and continuing down from the Book Tower to the section along the Book Building... Questions: 1. Has anyone had the pleasure of climbing down or up all 38 floors of the fire escape on the Book Tower/Building? 2. Is this the tallest fire escape in the world? (fire escape meaning an external escape on a conventional building) Once skyscrapers grew to this height, it seems they stopped putting fire escapes on the outside. |
Thecarl
Member Username: Thecarl
Post Number: 724 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.14.30.175
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 2:24 am: | |
until you get your answer... We began building upward in the mid-nineteenth century. Six and seven-story office buildings and tall tenement houses came before the creation of elevator-served, steel-framed skyscrapers. Many of those old buildings had only one open wooden stairwell. When there were stairwell doors, they often opened inward. Historian Sara Wermiel tells how, when catastrophic fires reached those buildings in the 1870s, state legislatures finally enacted laws requiring means for getting people out. All this meant new technology, and what means were devised! Elementary: equip each upper room with a long rope. Fantastic: a hat-like parachute, anchored under the chin, and boots with highly elastic soles. Practical: canvas escape chutes, like those used on jet airplanes today. Rube Goldberg: a rope and pulley system that let a person lower herself in a canvas seat. The familiar American 'skeleton' fire escape finally emerged. And that artifact has become as familiar as the farm windmill or the railroad depot. Yet where are they? Here in the young city of Houston, fire escapes are very hard to find. You'll do better looking for them in older towns -- New Haven or St. Paul. In fact, they have many huge shortcomings. Fires come out windows in floors below the one you're on. They invite traffic jams. The final ladder, raised above street-level to thwart thieves, very often jams when you reach it. And, despite that lad-der, fire escapes can provide unwanted access into buildings. The beginning of the end for the old iron fire escape was New York's terrible Triangle Shirtwaist fire where 145 garment workers died in 1911 as their ten-story factory building burned. Many died on fire escapes as flames billowed up from the windows below them. Fire escapes melted and buckled, dropping people to their deaths. Today's solution is the closed, insulated stairwell, protected by fire doors that keep smoke from getting in. That's a still-evolving technology. But it's one that saved countless lives before the burning World Trade Center towers finally collapsed. In-deed, a new development is a closed stairwell built outside the building itself, as a kind of enclosed fire escape. http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1 803.htm |
Urban_shocker Member Username: Urban_shocker
Post Number: 265 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.8.67
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 2:38 am: | |
If that's the fire escape from hell, is this the birdhouse from hell? (Message edited by Urban_Shocker on April 22, 2006) |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 3580 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 2:58 am: | |
That is most likely and elevator penthouse. BTW, there are taller skyscrapers with longer fire-escapes, namely the Mirante do Vale (Palácio Zarzur Kogan) is Sao Paulo, Brazil, which stands 558 feet (to the Book Tower's 475 feet) with an exterior firescape on one of its side's spanning the entire height of the building. |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 142 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 1:09 pm: | |
Doesn't look much like the same kind of Fire Escape to me! But, I guess it could be another version of “The Fire Escape from Hell” I still vote for Dougw’s photo of “The Fire Escape from Hell” from the Book Tower to the Book Building!! Credit: Emporis Buildings Livedog2 |
Erikto Member Username: Erikto
Post Number: 344 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.228.108.143
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 1:30 pm: | |
I'm not sure of the site's address, but there is a really scary fire escape running outside a silo in Toronto at Bathurst and Lakeshore in the long abandoned Canada Malting Company. It's something of a shrine among "urban explorers" and some crazy kids documented their walk down this truely perilous fire escape which actually drops off in portions and has other stairs falling out of place. There are some far out pictures of this place including the last staff schedule on a wall (1980) and one of the rooms has a disturbing doll collection inside. I'm not sure how tall it is, but these silos blend in height-wise with the surrounding high rises. Worth a look. |
Tayshaun22 Member Username: Tayshaun22
Post Number: 85 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.14.101.116
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 1:52 pm: | |
http://invisiblethreads.com/po td_i/2004_05/20040528.jpg There's a pic of the dangerous fire escape you just mentioned. |
Shark Member Username: Shark
Post Number: 216 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 65.43.46.177
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 3:07 pm: | |
I wonder how often that Book Building escape is maintained and checked for structural integrity? |
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 11 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.217.174.222
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 3:32 pm: | |
I love the "fire escape from Hell"! It gives the Book Tower character. By the way, I hear the fire escape on the building Oslo is in is being dismantled in order to renovate the building. |
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave
Post Number: 385 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 67.149.185.244
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 4:09 pm: | |
they have some real nice pics of fire escapes on the wurlitzer building on the snweb.com website http://www.snweb.org/pic/sp_in dexn.php?file=./wurl/det7202.j pg http://www.snweb.org/pic/sp_in dexn.php?file=./wurl/det7211.j pg http://www.snweb.org/pic/sp_in dexn.php?file=./wurl/det7207.j pg |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 719 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 6:55 pm: | |
Rocket_City work is currently being done on the Oslo building...So, looks like your right |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1089 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.248.42.122
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:05 pm: | |
Alright, that building in Sao Paulo definitely counts as a taller fire escape. Although it looks considerably newer & safer than the Book Tower's. I still wonder if there are any taller fire escapes in the U.S. Since external fire escapes fell out of favor some time ago in this country, I'd think New York or Chicago would be the only possibilities. Even then, fire escapes on skyscrapers taller than 20 stories or so are pretty rare. |
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria
Post Number: 88 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | |
Book Tower is such an attractive building. I think the fire escape adds to its character and historical significance. It reminds me of something you'd see in one of Tim Burton's 'Batman' movies along with Zug Island and the Ford Rouge Plant. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 3583 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | |
The question was "Is this the tallest fire escape in the world?" and I showed you one guys one taller regardless of how much newer or safer it is. I wasn't aware we were talking about a specific type of fire escape. lol |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1070 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.232
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:39 pm: | |
Dougw, nice job on the cropping for the post. Here is another angle of the Book Tower from WSU/VMC, showing the Death Escape From Hell.
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Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria
Post Number: 92 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:41 pm: | |
These posts/photos are amazing ... and Book Tower is so cool!!! |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1090 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.248.42.122
| Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:57 pm: | |
Thanks Hornwrecker. It was kind of a fun way to show more detail and get around the 550x550 limitation on picture size. Works nicely for tall, narrow buildings. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1071 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.232
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:09 am: | |
Yeah, my brother was the first, I think, to get around "THE MAN", by using the multiple crop technique. A lot of work, but useful for the right subject. I spent a bit of time when I was a kid in the 60s, when my mother worked for Gale Research, in that building. It was a lot of fun roaming around, but I wish I could remember more. I wonder if that previous photo was taken from the top of the Book-Cadillac? I'd like to see a newer version of it. This is the back escape of the Kales Bldg, from around 1930, again a WSU aerial.
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Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1091 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.248.42.122
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:21 am: | |
Nice pics there... the Kales Bldg escape is nothing to sneeze at. (Although that pic is a bit lo-res to bother with the multiple crop technique. ) |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1072 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.232
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:27 am: | |
Hey, I was playing around with locking guides and stuff, to get some accuracy. Still learnin' the PShop. |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1148 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 8:02 am: | |
Walking out of the front door of the DAC last night on the way to the opening night of Aida at the DOH, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the back of the Milner hotel has now been painted a light beige(?) and makes for a "softer" view than before. Even the backside of the Milner beats the depressing view of the former Madison-Lenox. And it looks to me the Milner's two sets of fire escapes seem to compliment each other. P.S. Aida was spectacular. |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 144 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 3:40 pm: | |
I found a half eaten Big Mac with a few soggy fries with catsup on them along Woodward Ave in one of my favorite thrashcans. I washed them down with some cold coffee I found in the same thrashcan. What a bonanza! Then I went down to the DOH for Aida for some of what I thought might be some good panhandling. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even get a look from the upscale patrons going inside let alone some "spare change." P.S. The photo that the detroitblog guy took of me and gave me a copy of was spectacular. I hope you enjoy it, too! +<(:-)~ Livedog2 |
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria
Post Number: 94 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 3:44 pm: | |
Livedog2 needs a haircut !!! |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1092 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.33
| Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 2:08 pm: | |
Agreed Rock, the Milner is looking pretty good lately. Hysteria: I've also often thought the Book Tower would make a great lair for a villian in a Tim Burton or similar movie... I can picture it with storm clouds & lightning overhead, with its grimy, ominous facade. There aren't too many skyscrapers like it. LMich: Yeah, yeah, the Sao Paulo building wins for tallest fire escape. It seems that the Book Tower may be the tallest in the U.S., though. I haven't found any references to any fire escapes nearly as tall in other U.S. cities. |
Kenp Member Username: Kenp
Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 216.93.121.82
| Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 2:20 pm: | |
That pic was great, notice all the air conditioners in the windows of the building. I wonder if any have ever fallen out? |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 277 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 4:12 pm: | |
Funny thread. LOL. Fire escapes make nice balconies though (definitely not their intended purpose). The fire escapes on the Boydell building always have plants and lawn chairs on them. |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1103 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.220.224.184
| Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 12:44 am: | |
Maybe this is old news, but I just noticed that the obnoxious satellite dishes and cell phone transmitters have largely been removed from the top of the Book Tower sometime in the last two years... Especially the dishes kind of ruined the look of the tower. Kudos to the owner for cleaning these up, since they apparently weren't needed. To see the difference, check out this pic from two years ago: http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=281995 Compared with this one last week:
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The_aram Member Username: The_aram
Post Number: 4833 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8
| Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 1:44 am: | |
I'll tell you this- the views from the top floor of the Book Tower are magnificent. |
Thecarl
Member Username: Thecarl
Post Number: 727 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.14.30.175
| Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 1:52 am: | |
interesting note: in new york city, the last thing anybody wants is an apartment with a fire escape. they make way for easy entry by street urchins. |
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck
Post Number: 16 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194
| Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 4:42 am: | |
is the Book Tower still in use (or "semi-" use?) |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 3614 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197
| Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 5:33 am: | |
Yes. Relatively recently, the tower was filled to near full occupancy, if I remember right, after the tenants in the adjoining 13-story Book Building (the original construction) were moved to the Book Tower to make room for possible lofts in the Building in the future. |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 403 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.24.141
| Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 7:08 pm: | |
Dougw-- Those antennae on the top may have looked ugly, but for a long time they were a major source of rental income to keep the building operating and maintained. |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1105 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.220.224.184
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 12:39 am: | |
Yeah, I can imagine that, Burnsie. Still nice to see them gone, though. |