The Big Apple's Supertall Struggle: Counting Skyscrapers and Avoiding Vertigo
Ah, New York City. The city that never sleeps, the land of opportunity, and the home to buildings that make you feel like a dang hobbit. But how many of these giants, these supertall skyscrapers, grace the NYC skyline? Well, buckle up, because this is where things get interesting.
Defining "Supertall": Not Your Average High-Rise
First things first, let's not get all skyscraper-happy and count every building that casts a shadow over your bodega breakfast burrito. We're talking about the elite of the elite, the buildings that pierce the clouds and make pigeons reconsider their career paths. There are different height thresholds depending on who you ask, but generally, a supertall building needs to be at least 1,500 feet tall to earn bragging rights.
So, How Many Supertalls Does NYC Actually Have? It Depends Who You Ask (and When You Ask)
This is where things get a bit more complicated than a rush-hour subway commute. Here's the thing: building construction takes time, and architects are constantly one-upping each other with even taller, shinier monstrosities (affectionately referred to as buildings, of course).
As of today, April 29th, 2024, there seems to be a bit of a disagreement. Some folks, like the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (fancy name, right?), say there are a solid 17 supertalls in the Big Apple. Others, like the Skyscraper Museum (because, well, they would know!), are throwing around a number closer to 20.
Why the discrepancy? Well, it could be a new building just reached the magical 1,500-foot mark, or maybe someone at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is having a serious case of Monday blues and accidentally erased a skyscraper from their list.
The moral of the story? The exact number might be a little fuzzy, but one thing's for sure: New York City has a whole lot of supertall buildings, and that number is only going to climb higher (quite literally).
Fun Facts About NYC's Supertalls (Because Who Doesn't Love Fun Facts?)
- The Tallest of the Tall: One World Trade Center takes the crown at a whopping 1,776 feet, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere (sorry, Toronto, not this time).
- Not All Work and No Play: Some of these supertalls have pretty cool features besides just office space. For example, 30 Hudson Yards boasts an observation deck that supposedly makes you feel like you're floating amongst the clouds (because apparently, regular skyscraper views aren't enough anymore).
- The Future is Supertall: There are a bunch of supertall contenders in the works, so this whole counting game is only going to get more interesting (and possibly a little nausea-inducing).
So, there you have it. The next time you're gazing up at the NYC skyline and wondering how many of those buildings could house your entire hometown, well, now you have a pretty good idea (and a newfound appreciation for comfortable walking shoes, because you're definitely going to want to explore these giants).
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