Archinect - News

The world's first renewable energy-powered, glass-bottomed sky train unveiled in Chengdu

2021-07-12T18:20:00-04:00

Touted as the world’s first renewable energy-powered, suspended sky train, a new transportation system has been unveiled in Chengdu, the capital city of China’s southwest Sichuan Province.

Photo: CCTV

The project, titled the Dayi Air Rail Project, is a first-of-its-kind demonstration line, approximately seven miles in length and featuring an aerial-suspended train that uses lithium battery packs as traction power. The project was primarily developed by Zhongtang Air Rail Technology Co Ltd.

Photo: CCTV

The train offers 270-degree views through generous floor-to-ceiling glass paneling on three sides, along with a glass bottom. The train is made of lightweight carbon fiber and composite foaming materials, which greatly reduces its weight. In a nod to its hometown, the cars are painted to resemble a panda, paying homage to Chengdu, the home of China’s panda breeding program. Each train car has a maximum capacity of 120 people per car and can travel up to 50 miles per hour.

Photo: ...

103 floors up, Chicago's renovated Skydeck reopens at Willis Tower

2021-04-23T15:25:00-04:00

Three years in the making, the renovated Skydeck Chicago is reopening Friday for public tours of the 45,000-square-foot space that has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation the general manager calls “part Chicago museum, part selfie museum, part architectural river tour and part children’s museum.”

A design collaboration of SOM, Thinc Design, and Chicago Scenic Studios, the re-envisioned Skydeck experience on Willis Tower's 103rd floor (of 110 in total) reopened to the public today.

Photo © Dave Burk | SOM

"In creating the new Skydeck, we wanted to honor the structural clarity and simplicity of the tower’s original design approach," explains SOM Design Partner Scott Duncan. "We wanted to create a quiet backdrop for people to be fully immersed in the city’s skyline and allow the view to speak for itself."

Photo © Dave Burk | SOM

Dozens of Chinese glass bridges closed amid safety concerns

2019-10-31T16:15:00-04:00

China’s growing obsession with glass bridges may be coming to an abrupt end, after a series of accidents led one province to close down all its glass-bottomed attractions. Hebei, a scenic mountainous province in northern China, has quietly closed all 32 of its glass bridges, walkways and mountain viewing platforms over the past year for safety reasons [...].

Despite being breathtaking engineering marvels, China's fascination with glass-bottom bridges hasn't been without setbacks: in August 2016, the world's highest and longest glass-bottom bridge, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge, opened in central Hunan province — but had to close again for safety inspections after only 13 days in operation.

Other provinces have experienced accidents, some fatal, which led to the decision to close all 32 glass bridges and walkways in Hebei province (including the terrifying 'cracking' East Taiheng Glasswalk) for safety reasons.

Downtown LA skyscraper with cantilevered glass-bottom swimming pools gets thumbs-up from city planning commission

2019-09-13T15:02:00-04:00

Plans for what could become one of Downtown’s most unique-looking skyscrapers received unanimous approval today from the city’s planning commission. With cantilevered swimming pools jutting out of its upper floors, the tower proposed for across the street from Pershing Square has been said to look like an in-progress game of Jenga. Commissioner Samantha Millman called it an “ambitious and audacious project.”

The Arquitectonica-designed 53-story hotel and condo tower with its precariously cantilevering glass-bottom swimming pools (hey, it's LA!) first appeared on Archinect last fall and quickly became the subject of much debate.

Additional renderings were released in May this year.

Image courtesy of Arquitectonica

If all goes as planned, JMF Development Co. aims to have the 784-foot tower completed by 2023.

China's newest glass bridge breaks records

2019-08-01T16:21:00-04:00

We want to create a resort where tourists can be entertained and enjoy sports and leisure as well as health care, by integrating innovatively the elements of leisure, recreation, stimulation, amusement and health care," said Pan Zhaofu, director of the Huangguoshu Scenic Area

According to CNN Travel, China's Guizhou Province will be home to a new walkway made of glass. Measured at 1,804 feet, the new bridge is considered to be the longest glass bridge in the world, breaking the record of another famous bridge, which is also located in China.

Set to open sometime in August, the new bridge will allow visitors to walk and enjoy the views the of the Huangguoshu Scenic area.

Construction for the bridge began in March and is said to have cost an estimated $1 million to build.

This 360-degree rooftop infinity pool could make a splash in London

2019-06-06T17:37:00-04:00

For thrill-seeking swimmers, the chance to take a death-defying dip might not be far away. Plans to build a rooftop infinity pool -- with 360-degree views of the London skyline -- are in motion. The designs for the 600,000-liter pool and 55-story building, named Infinity London, have been unveiled by Compass Pools.

Infinity pools? Seen those before. On a skyscraper rooftop? Please. 360 degrees? Now we're talking!

"The pool is made from cast acrylic rather than glass, as this material transmits light at a similar wavelength to water so that the pool will look perfectly clear," British pool maker Compass Pools explains its lofty proposal for London. "The floor of the pool is also transparent, allowing visitors to see the swimmers and sky above." Of course it is.

Image: Compass Pools

How do people get inside that thing, you ask? "Swimmers will access the pool through a rotating spiral staircase based on the door of a submarine, rising from the pool floor when someone wants to get in or out." Cool. What could possibly go wrong.

Image: Compass Pools

But doesn't the pool water from 200 meters high up in the sky end up all over the neighborhood when the London wind is in a gusty mood? "Other advanced technical features include a built-in anemometer to monitor the wind speed. This is linked to a compute...

New renders of a tower planned across the Pershing Square

2019-05-15T13:54:00-04:00

The 5th and Hill development, slated for an L-shaped property wrapping the historic Pershing Square Building, is a product of real estate investment firm JMF Development Co. Plans call for the construction of a 53-story, 784-foot-tall building which could feature either 1) 160 condominiums or 2) a combination of 31 condominiums and a 190-room hotel. Both use options include a mix of restaurant space and amenities, with parking to be located in a five-level podium and two subterranean levels.

The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council's Planning and Land Use Committee is holding a public meeting on the 21st of May, where one of the projects discussed will be the proposed 53-story tower, new images of which have recently been made public.

The mixed-use structure is designed by Arquitectonica and features an array of protruding masses that begin as balconies, and increase in size to become cantilevered glass-bottom pools toward the top of the tower.

Image courtesy of Arquitectonica

The project is estimated to be completed in 2023.

Ole Scheeren's MahaNakhon tower in Bangkok now complete with glass 'Skytray'

2018-11-27T19:22:00-05:00

The new Mahanakhon SkyWalk, however, is a thrilling addition to Bangkok's roster of family-friendly tourist attractions. Located at the top of Thailand's tallest completed building, King Power Mahanakhon, it's a 314-meter-high (1,030 feet) observation deck and rooftop bar that offers 360-degree views of Bangkok. The terrifying bit comes in the form of a large glass floor, which juts out over the edge of the building.

With the opening of its glass-floor observation deck high up above Bangkok's Silom/Sathon central business district the Büro Ole Scheeren-designed King Power MahaNakhon tower is now considered completed (construction of the main building concluded in 2016).

Photo: Srirath Somsawat © Büro Ole Scheeren

"The idea behind MahaNakhon was to take the life of the city and bring it up the tower in a dramatic, spiralling movement," explains Ole Scheeren.

Photo: Wilson Tungthunya © Büro Ole Scheeren

"Even the very top of the tower is surrendered to the public, so there is not only a public square at the ground, but human activity rises along the pixelated shaft to the top floors of the building which are given back to the public domain. It is a project that is strongly embedded in the city and the public realm, and expressively proclaims itself as an active part of it."

Photo: Wilson Tungthunya © Büro Ole Scheeren

The MahaNakhon SkyWalk consists of an indoor observation deck with 360-degree panor...

Arquitectonica designs a 53-story Jenga-like tower near LA's Pershing Square

2018-11-05T13:49:00-05:00

JMF Development Co. [...] hopes to construct a 53-story tower on the vacant, L-shaped lot which wraps the historic structure. [...] Arquitectonica is designing the proposed 784-foot-tall glass-and-steel tower, which is highlighted by a collection of cantilevered, glass-bottom pools for residents on the building's upper levels. While some of the protrusions would extend over the Pershing Square Building, none would hover above the public right-of-way.

Image: JMF Development Co., via urbanize.la.

A rather dramatic example of the stacked-boxes scheme might go up at 5th and Hill, near Pershing Square, in Downtown Los Angeles soon.

Designed by Arquitectonica, JMF Development Co. proposes the 53-story tower with its fiercely protruding glass-bottom swimming pools as two potential options: few condominiums + hotel/restaurant if signs of a lurking next recession became clearer vs. plenty of condos + ground-floor retail space if the economic outlook stays strong.

Seattle's Space Needle reopens after major renovation—now sporting a rotating glass floor

2018-08-08T14:52:00-04:00

Those who have a fear of heights might not want to look down next time you go up to the Space Needle. One of the centerpieces of the landmark’s massive remodel, designed by Olson Kundig, is now complete: a rotating glass floor, allowing visitors to look down at the 500 feet between them and the ground.

After receiving a massive $100 million Olson Kundig-designed makeover, the 55-year-old Seattle icon recently reopened to the public with an improved visitor experience, enhanced views (floor-to-ceiling glass panels further opened up the 360-degree views of the Puget Sound), and, what it claims to be, the world's first and only revolving glass floor.

"Oh look, there's our car!" Photo courtesy of John Lok and Space Needle LLC.

"Through the glass floor, guests are able to see the mechanics of the turntable, which consist of a series of 12 motors," explains the project description. "The power transmission relies on rolling peg gears to minimize friction and wear."

East Taiheng "Glasswalk" terrifies tourists with glass-cracking effect

2017-10-11T16:28:00-04:00

East Taiheng Glasswalk in China is different from other glass-bottomed walkways; it cracks under your feet as you walk on it.

But don't worry too much, the cracking is just a special effect to scare visitors, and it works! Watch the video below:

Seattle's Space Needle is getting a makeover: new renderings revealed

2017-10-04T14:36:00-04:00

Seattle's 55-year old landmark Space Needle is undergoing a $100 million renovation headed by Seattle-based design firm Olson Kundig. The venture's aim is to reveal the historic tower’s internal structure and harken back to the original concept sketches, all while expanding and improving the Space Needle’s iconic views and guest experience.

Image Credit: Olson Kundig

Enhancing the iconic view involves the addition of a lot of glass—176 tons to be exact will be added to the Observation Deck and restaurant level. Expanding the views by more than 25%, the observation deck above the restaurant will feature floor-to-ceiling glass panels on the interior and exterior to enhance the 360-degree views. At the restaurant level, the tables, chairs, windows, and rotating floor of the reimagined space will all be made of glass.

Construction began earlier in September with the impressive installation of a 28,000 pound platform 400 feet in the air to rest in place just below the Space Needle’s Top...

Chicago's Willis Tower to get $20 million expansion of the hair-raising Skydeck

2017-03-28T19:04:00-04:00

Not for the faint of heart, the Blackstone Group is planning on expanding the Skydeck, the popular observatory on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, according to Chicago Business. The skyscraper, still commonly referred to as the Sears Tower, was the tallest building in the world for nearly 25 years before being overbuilt by the Petronas Towers. The new owners acquired the space in 2015 for $1.3 billion, the highest price every paid for a US property outside of New York City, and are considering ways to further develop the property.

In 2009, the building then held by London-based insurance broker Willis Group, added retractable glass balconies. This panic-inducing attraction extends approximately 4 feet out into the sky, allowing those who dare the ability to stand 1,353 feet in the sky from a glass box referred to as The Ledge. Building on this popular attraction, the fresh proprietors of the tower are considering a $20 million expansion. With glass-bottomed attractions popping u...

China's record-breaking glass bridge already closed again after two weeks

2016-09-13T14:40:00-04:00

A glass-bottomed bridge in China that was heralded as a record-breaker when it opened just 13 days ago has closed. Officials said the government was planning urgent maintenance work in the area and the bridge closed on Friday, with a re-opening time to be announced. [...] He said there had been no accidents and the bridge was not cracked or broken. [...] The bridge can accommodate 8,000 visitors a day but the spokesman told CNN that 10 times as many people wanted access daily.

Yibada reports that the bridge upgrades were going as scheduled and that the attraction was set to re-open to the public this week.

Previously in the Archinect news:

World's longest and highest glass bridge opens in China

2016-08-25T13:55:00-04:00

It's touted as the "world's highest and longest" glass-bottom bridge, elegantly stretched between two mountain peaks in central China's Hunan province. And as of this weekend, it's open to visitors. Now, one can walk the 470-yard length of the glass bridge, which is positioned a vertigo-inducing 328 yards above the ground, as China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The bridge is located in the Zhangjiajie National Forest [...].

Now THAT's a skywalk! Jin Mao Tower to open world's highest fenceless, all transparent walkway in Shanghai

2016-07-27T15:04:00-04:00

Looking for something new to do in Shanghai? Well, if you're someone who enjoys dangling off a terrifyingly high ledge with nothing but a safety rope to stop you from plunging to your death, then have we got an activity for you! Tomorrow, a skywalk will open outside of the 88th floor of the Jin Mao Tower in Lujiazui. [...] it will be the highest fenceless, all transparent walkway outside a high-rise building in the world and is sure to scare you senseless, 340 meters above the ground.

For more terrifying photos, head over to Shanghaiist (if you can handle it).

Chinese glass-bottom walkway cracks below tourists – 3,540 feet above ground

2015-10-07T14:00:00-04:00

A section of a new glass-bottomed walkway at Yuntai Mountain Geological Park in Henan Province, China, cracked at around 5 p.m. Monday afternoon, causing the tourists on it to understandably freak out. [...] The walkway is suspended at a height of about 1,080 meters, or 3,543 feet. [...] Glass walkways and bridges have become extremely popular in China: The walkway at Yuntai opened on Sept. 20, and just days later a 900-foot glass suspension bridge opened in Yunnan province.

"A spokesperson for the Yuntai Mountain tourism bureau told People's Daily Online that the cracks occurred after a tourist dropped a stainless steel mug on the walkway."

Related on Archinect:

China opens 590-foot-high glass-bottom bridge

2015-09-28T13:28:00-04:00

The recently completed span is a glass walkway suspended a stomach-flipping 180 meters (590 feet) above a sheer drop in China's central Hunan Province. Haohan Qiao, as it's known in Chinese, is the latest in a series of glass-floored attractions to open in China and the rest of the world. Each of the glass panes is 24 millimeters thick and 25 times stronger than normal glass. Hunan is due to open another glass bridge later this year in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area [...].

Previously: China announces world's longest and highest glass bridge

China announces world's longest and highest glass bridge

2015-05-26T19:03:00-04:00

Zhangjiajie, a scenic national park in the country's Hunan province, is set to open the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge in July. Spanning two cliffs in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area, it will stretch 430 meters (1,410 feet) long and 6 meters (20 feet) wide, hovering over a 300-meter (984-foot) vertical drop. In comparison, the Grand Canyon Skywalk in the United States is 21 meters (69 feet) in length and stands 219 meters (718 feet) above the canyon floor.

UPDATE: World's longest and highest glass bridge opens in China

Glass Cracks Below Tourists in Chicago Skydeck

2014-05-29T13:30:00-04:00

In what could have been a nightmare come true, part of the glass floor in a viewing box high above Chicago cracked right below a group of California tourists. [...] Alejandro Garibay and his family were taking in the sights at Chicago's Willis Tower on Wednesday night. The tower's Skydeck, which opened in 2009, is on the 103rd floor, about 1,353 feet above Chicago's downtown. [...] While on the glass, Garibay heard cracking.