Show us your city's SKYWALKS

[Swinefeld]

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.


Here's one of many at the Hospital at The University of Pennsylvania.








This one is bridging the gap between CHoP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at the Seashore House)




Graduate Hosp...I mean Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, crossing South Street.




Here's a rare skywalk twofer, Jefferson University.


The Mariott Hotel connecting to the Reading Terminal, crossing 12th Street.




A rather homely skying at the Magee Rehabilitation Center, Hahnemann Hospital.




An incredible SIX decker skywalk at Jefferson Hospital, crossing Sansom Street.




A brand spanking new one connecting Jefferson Hospital with their new parking garage, crossing 10th near Chestnut.


Some more at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.




Bridge the old with the new, Hill Pavilion, University of Pennsylvania.




Two late 1970s style skywalks crossing Filbert Street, The Gallery at Market East.






A massing walkway crossing Convention Center Blvd.




Lastly, my new favorite, Cira Centre connecting to 30th Street Station.

[huggkruka]

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.


Flickr: Elsamu

[bomberguy]

[rockyi]

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





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

• Video Link

[rush2112]

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

[rockyi]

Originally Posted by rush2112

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.

[HowardL]

Originally Posted by rockyi

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

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.

[rockyi]

Originally Posted by HowardL

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.

It is quite the whore, isn't it?

[pj3000]

Erie, PA Bayfront Convention Ctr




ljsilicon

[Boris2k7]

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 >.>)

[theWatusi]

Originally Posted by rockyi

• Video Link

Would be more fun with hallucinogens.

[texcolo]

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.

[rockyi]

Originally Posted by theWatusi

Would be more fun with hallucinogens.

That light show makes me dizzy even without the hallucinogens.

[Swinefeld]

More from Philly and a few from Baltimore.

Here's the skywalk over 10th Street, this time from the inside.




This gets my vote for the ugliest skywalk ever. These buildings are on Delaware Avenue.




Some skywalks from Baltimore's Charles Village neighborhood. Sweet.

[initiald]

Not my city (Tokyo):

[rockyi]

^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.....

[stormkingfan]

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

[volguus zildrohar]

Hey, proper Swiney.

[texcolo]

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

The Indianapolis Artsgarden, a $12 million towering glass dome suspended over the busy intersection of Washington and Illinois Streets, serves as a performance, exhibition and marketing space for the Indianapolis arts community. It also has the city's only centralized cultural concierge information service and connects to the Embassy Suites complex and Circle Center mall. It is linked by indoor skywalk to the Hyatt Regency, Canterbury, Omni, Westin and Marriott hotels as well as the Indiana Convention Center. Photographer: John Bragg.

[CapitalCity]

^ 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)