Pieces of ice from skyscrapers fall on passers-by in New York: what is happening

Ice is falling from super tall skyscrapers in New York City, including 11 West 57th Street on Billionaires' Row. Chunks of ice have already led to injuries to motorists and road closures over the weekend. Numerous reports from New York describe cases of ice falling from the city's tallest buildings. dezeen.

On February 25, a piece of ice fell from a recently completed building at 11 West 57th Street, injuring a motorist.

Videos of large chunks of ice falling from the 435-meter residential skyscraper "Steinway Tower" were published on social networks.

On the subject: Red London telephone boxes are being installed in New York: why is it needed

Falling ice forced police to temporarily close 6th Avenue near 57th Street. In addition, rpoison with a skyscraper One vanderbilt, designed by KPF, there were more reports of ice falling, leading to the closure of 42nd Street.

Another incident resulted in a lane closure on the George Washington Bridge over the weekend. Social media videos have shown ice falling from the Brooklyn Tower, which is still under construction.

The massive icefall incidents were attributed to the sudden warming on February 25th. Prior to this, cold and wet weather had formed chunks of ice on the glass buildings.

Over the past decade, several cases of ice falling from skyscrapers above 300 meters. In 2014, ice reportedly fell from the One World Trade Center in midtown Manhattan.

Although the history of ice falling from skyscrapers began in the 1930s, the materials and shapes of modern skyscrapers have exacerbated the problem.

“The threat is stronger today due to the surge of new, corner towers that reach enormous heights and are built from materials such as glass and steel that actually contribute to more ice accumulation,” journalist Matthew Haag wrote in a 2019 New York Times op-ed. .