Show us your city's SKYWALKS
 

SKYWALKS
Bridging the gap and protecting us pedestrians from the hazards of traffic and weather, skywalks, or skyways, have got you covered! A relatively underrated architectural feature, skywalks can either be homely add-ons or aesthetically pleasing compliments connecting two buildings.

Here's a quick look at Philadelphia's many skywalks.

One of Philly's newest skyways is this one crossing University Avenue, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rMedCen_01.jpg

Here's one of many at the Hospital at The University of Pennsylvania.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Upenn_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Upenn_02.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../Upenn2_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../Upenn3_01.jpg

This one is bridging the gap between CHoP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at the Seashore House)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...eashore_02.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...eashore_01.jpg

Graduate Hosp...I mean Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, crossing South Street.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...PennMed_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...PennMed_02.jpg

Here's a rare skywalk twofer, Jefferson University.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...lks/twofer.jpg

The Mariott Hotel connecting to the Reading Terminal, crossing 12th Street.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Marriott.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../Marriott2.jpg

A rather homely skying at the Magee Rehabilitation Center, Hahnemann Hospital.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Magee_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Magee_02.jpg

An incredible SIX decker skywalk at Jefferson Hospital, crossing Sansom Street.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ks/Jeff_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ks/Jeff_02.jpg

A brand spanking new one connecting Jefferson Hospital with their new parking garage, crossing 10th near Chestnut.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/Jeff2_01.jpg

Some more at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...spUpenn_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...spUpenn_02.jpg

Bridge the old with the new, Hill Pavilion, University of Pennsylvania.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...avilion_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...avilion_02.jpg

Two late 1970s style skywalks crossing Filbert Street, The Gallery at Market East.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Gallery_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Gallery_02.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../Hilton_01.jpg

A massing walkway crossing Convention Center Blvd.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ConCenBlvd.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...CenBlvd_02.jpg

Lastly, my new favorite, Cira Centre connecting to 30th Street Station.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ks/Cira_01.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ks/Cira_02.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ks/Cira_03.jpg

I remember sharing Bill Bryson's amazement and incredulity when he described skywalks in his book about the US. To be fair, we have them in Europe as well, but I was only little when I read it, so I'd never seen one ;)

Here's one from Malmö, which is near my home town.

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6...14952a144b.jpg
Flickr: Elsamu

Here in the Quad Cities, we have the big daddy of all skybridges. It's in downtown Davenport.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...skybridge1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...eskybridge.jpg

It has a nice light show at night. (may cause seizures ;) )

• Video Link

Not my city (Tokyo):
http://www.pbase.com/bz3rk/image/61787177.jpg

^Yikes!! I wouldn't want to be on that during an earthquake. I'm sure they took that into consideration but, if the buildings weren't swaying in sync.....:eek:

Skywalks at higher floors would probably employ a pair of telescoping tubes and ball joints. Petronas Towers have these, I believe.

holy crap does security let anyone walk around in there during the lightshow? it looks badass

Yep, it's open 24 hours, and there were occasional problems. Not so much anymore since they have security cameras everywhere. Although, two idiots got caught, a few weeks ago, trying to steal the security cameras. :haha:

My conscience tells me that I should hate skywalks by default ... but this one is so tarted up and cool that I can't help but dig it.

:haha: It is quite the whore, isn't it?

Erie, PA Bayfront Convention Ctr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/...ec9f6541_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/...18d52bc5_b.jpg
ljsilicon

Calgary would take forever to document and show (being the largest such system in the world). The Plus 15 system downtown alone has about 60 bridges totalling about 16km. Then there's probably a half dozen at the University of Calgary, a few at the Foothills Hospital, and probably a few more elsewhere.

I would post some pics, but my entire collection was wiped out with my hard disk a few months ago (yeah, there goes over 15,000 photos >.>)

Hey, proper Swiney.

It's not my city or photo, but here's the Artsgarden in Indianapolis.

http://www.mswoods.com/in/Indianapol...artsgarden.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/...a3670f3c35.jpg

^ I remember standing under that with my band when we were in Indy for the 2008 Bands of America Regionals!! It was really cool. (But kinda spooky and dark underneath it) ;)

Would be more fun with hallucinogens. :crazy:

I guess these are more like pedestrian crossovers than skyways, since they don't go from building to building, but there's a series of these over I-25 in Denver. They connect the RTD light rail stations to both sides of the freeway.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/...1da4d0f1d6.jpg

http://lrt.daxack.ca/Denver/hires24.jpg

And now, the world's oldest skywalk! Ta da!

Bridge of Sighs, Venice
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...f_Sighs%29.JPG
Wikipedia