Yet it creates an urban signature of the kind that defines a city. I think it will be a memorable place. And while it may be unusual for a single building to become an economic engine, there s no question that a memorable building is a major urban asset. The Empire State Building in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Sydney Opera House. If there is an icon for cities in general, said Ivy, it is the tall building.
Tall buildings describe cities because they describe population density.
Perhaps because of all this symbolism, city dwellers are famous for getting emotional about buildings. Debates rage on this topic, Ivy said. The most common debate, said Ivy, is new vs. old. Old typically wins, he said. Many people see a city s buildings as part of its historic fabric, he said.