Architecture

Why take the stairs when there's a glass slide outside?

Why take the stairs when there's a glass slide outside?
The Skyslide is 1,000 ft (305 m) above the ground
The Skyslide is 1,000 ft (305 m) above the ground
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The Skyslide is 1,000 ft (305 m) above the ground
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The Skyslide is 1,000 ft (305 m) above the ground
The Skyslide is made of 1.25-in (32-mm) thick clear glass
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The Skyslide is made of 1.25-in (32-mm) thick clear glass
The Skyslide is installed at the OUE Skyspace LA observation deck of the US Bank Tower
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The Skyslide is installed at the OUE Skyspace LA observation deck of the US Bank Tower
The Skyslide descends from level 70 to level 69 of the building
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The Skyslide descends from level 70 to level 69 of the building
The Skyslide is 45-ft (14-m) long
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The Skyslide is 45-ft (14-m) long
The Skyslide weighs 7,000 lb (3,175 kg)
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The Skyslide weighs 7,000 lb (3,175 kg)
Over 5,000 tickets were said to have been sold for the opening day alone
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Over 5,000 tickets were said to have been sold for the opening day alone
Passes for Skyslide timed slots cost $8 on top of OUE Skyspace admission
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Passes for Skyslide timed slots cost $8 on top of OUE Skyspace admission
The entrance to the Skyslide is on level 70 of the US Bank Tower
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The entrance to the Skyslide is on level 70 of the US Bank Tower
An attendant provides instruction to individuals riding the Skyslide
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An attendant provides instruction to individuals riding the Skyslide
The Skyslide is fully enclosed
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The Skyslide is fully enclosed
The US Bank Tower is located in Los Angeles, US
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The US Bank Tower is located in Los Angeles, US
The observation decks cover 2,500 sq ft (232 sq m) of space
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The observation decks cover 2,500 sq ft (232 sq m) of space
The observation decks give visitors 360-degree views of the surrounding area, up to 34 mi (55 km) into the distance
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The observation decks give visitors 360-degree views of the surrounding area, up to 34 mi (55 km) into the distance
The Skyslide was airlifted onto the 69th floor observation deck via helicopter, before being hoisted into place and installed
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The Skyslide was airlifted onto the 69th floor observation deck via helicopter, before being hoisted into place and installed
View gallery - 15 images

Pushing yourself out over the edge of a building may not seem like the wisest of ideas, but at the US Bank Tower in Los Angeles, US, you can now pay to do just that. As part of the new OUE Skyspace LA observation deck, a glass "Skyslide" has been installed on the side of the building.

OUE Skyspace LA, which was announced earlier this year, occupies levels 69 and 70 of the US Bank Tower, with two outdoor observation decks on level 69 that face NW and SE. The decks cover 2,500 sq ft (232 sq m) of space and give visitors 360-degree views of the surrounding area, up to 34 mi (55 km) into the distance.

Level 70 of the Skyspace accommodates a private event space and bar that can be hired for the likes of corporate meetings, social events and weddings. It also houses the entrance to main attraction: the Skyslide.

The Skyslide was airlifted onto the 69th floor observation deck via helicopter, before being hoisted into place and installed
The Skyslide was airlifted onto the 69th floor observation deck via helicopter, before being hoisted into place and installed

The fully enclosed slide is made of 1.25-in (32-mm) thick clear glass. It clings to the side of the tower 1,000 ft (305 m) above the ground and stretches diagonally down for 45 ft (14 m) from level 70 to level 69. Weighing in at 7,000 lb (3,175 kg), it was airlifted onto the 69th floor observation deck via helicopter, before being hoisted into place and installed.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony with a evening of performances was held at OUE Skyspace LA on June 24, after which it opened to the public for the first time on June 25. Over 5,000 tickets to the Skyspace were said to have been sold for the opening day alone, with over 2,400 people riding the slide.

Source: OUE Skyspace LA

View gallery - 15 images
3 comments
3 comments
bobflint
How do they clean the outside of the glass after a smoggy rainy day...
stevenkelby
Maybe the same way they clean the outside of the glass on the rest of the building, and every other building everywhere in the world?
Timelord
Richard Pryor's character did it better in Superman III.