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Saturday, June 7, 2008

Climbing the Times

The Times Building, Times Square
Photo by myself of the New York Times Building near Times Square at 41st Street and Eighth Avenue.

The new headquarters for the New York Times was designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano and only completed last fall. The building is a 'green building'. Among its many environmental features, the louvered facade is the most noticeable; the porcelain horizontal struts help provide light while shading the building during the hottest times of the day.

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The other morning we woke to news on New York 1, the local 24-hour news channel, that two people had separately climbed the New York Times Building in protest. The first, a Frenchman, was protesting for his environmental cause. The second climber wanted to promote awareness of malaria.

On the way to work all I saw were photos of the climbers on page one. It was bound to happen - the building design is just asking to be climbed.

Personally, I'd have trouble climbing a 52-story building pulling a banner and without using equipment. I have a hard enough time looking out the window of a 10-story building.

Some people will do anything for attention.


For more on the Times Building, click here.

For a photographic tour of the building by Annie Leibovitz, click here.

Related posts: Building For a Greener Environment and Things to Come.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would say the two climbers had to be strong and either brave or one sandwich short of a picnic.

I like the architecture and wonder if they have a green roof == trees, flowers, grasses?

I read the NYT every morning online. And this is a nice photograph of that new home.

Kitty said...

Morning Mr Lincoln
I don't think the building has a living roof, but there is an interior atrium. I read about it and it sounded dramatic - there are birch trees inside.

Click here for a photo in the sidebar on the second page.

Anonymous said...

From your photo, the louvered facade - at least where the Times' logo appears - makes me think of newspaper columns... wonder if that was the intent?

Nice shot!

Pat said...

I like the photos on your blog, and this one especially. Isn't it interesting how it's often French people who climb or attempt daredevil feats like Philippe Petit between the Twin Towers and Charles Blondin across Niagara Falls? :<)

Dana said...

love the angle of this shot! really terrific pictures this week...especially the shadows.. you are always so clever Kitty!

• Eliane • said...

Hi there! I just discovered your blog (mieux vaut tard que jamais) via Ken, a new comer in the NYC DP family.
This is a great picture of one of my favorite building. I saw this building grow up from the window of my office.
Our office building was finished a few years earlier and it is supposed to be green too. Last month being "bike month" I asked if they had a bike room or anything foreseen for employees wishing to bike to the office. Nothing! Bikes are strictly verboten! But they are looking into it... That a "green" building does not even have a bike room or something like a bike rack is rather amusing to me.

Mom Knows Everything said...

I won't even climb a ladder. Way too scary for me.

Kitty said...

Hi Spandrel
well, the masthead logo came after the building was designed. There were other designs proposed that were larger, but the paper wanted the masthead.
I'm not sure whether Piano consciously referenced a newspaper. Interesting theory!

Welcome Bibi
I look forward to reading your blog. And I'll have to investigate this French tendency. How funny?

Thanks Dana!
I took this one while Mark and I drove by on our way to Jersey. I was just plain lucky. I'd wanted to take a photo of this building for so long. We were at a stoplight for two seconds, lol.

Welcome Elaine
Great to meet more daily bloggers in NY.

Well, the building is not completely 'green'. It's not LEED certified, but is using the eco-terminology anyhow.

I'd think they'd have a lot of security in that building, since it is so visible. 'Green' buildings should think larger than their own energy conservation. Allowing bikes would be a great bonus!

lol, Tammy!

Olivier said...

Notre "Spiderman français", Alain Robert, a escaladé jeudi dernier la façade de cet immeuble.
Our "french Spiderman" Alain Robert, climbed last Thursday the facade of the building.

Fredrik said...

An employer I might be interested to work for!

Kitty said...

Hi Olivier
Cool that one of your superstars decided on this building. He has good taste!

Hi Fredrik
That would be so cool to work for the Times. I could not imagine.