So some discussion in the "Calgary Construction XXIV" thread got me wondering what constitutes as a spire when it comes to building height. A few examples to peruse...
Jamieson Place...
Arriva 34...
Oxford proposal...
So what constitutes a spire - all of the above three buildings/proposals have elements at the top that could be considering spires. If the space is just an extension of elements of the building (the pointed peak on Arriva 34), then is that considered a spire or not. Jamieson certainly appears to have two smallish spires - would they be considered as a part of the official building height or not?
Some information gleaned from the internet for all that is worth...
Jamieson Place
- SkyScraper - Spire height 558 feet, roof height 518 feet
- WikiPedia - Spire height 568 feet, roof height 560 feet
- Emporis - Spire height 568 feet, roof height 518 feet
Arriva 34
- SkyScraper - Height 420 feet - no mention of spire
- WikiPedia - Height 420 feet - no mention of spire
- Emporis - Height 418 feet - no mention of spire
It's amazing that for even just two buildings that one can find such discrepancies - obviously some web sites must have some erroneous information or their determination of heights and the elements measured are different.
I'm torn on this - I do see spires as a part of a building but at the same time I do understand how a spire can be used to artificially increase the height of a building just to attain some record. Arriva 34 would be an even more interesting point as there's probably nothing in that peaked section but girders and such to affix the outside cladding to and yet most would not consider that to be a spire - in fact, there are many iconic buildings that have similar elements at the top of them that may or may not be considered spires. Thus I remain confused as to what constitutes a spire element and what does not - is the antenna structure at the top of the Calgary Tower included in it's official height or not? Is that a spire element or not? And what about the iconic Empire State Building - spire element or not? WikiPedia lists three different height references, tip, roof and top floor which all happen to be different.
Yeah, I know people have differing opinions on building heights - to me there should be an overall height measurement, top floor height and roof height although Arriva 34 and Jamieson Place just mess me up.