Beware of Glass Boxes in the Sky

Many of these new buildings feature very large glass windows, or window walls. The windows are great for sprawling city views, but according to a recent review by industry experts, most of these towers will require retrofits costing millions of dollars within fifteen to twenty-five (15-25) years after they’re built to deal with issues like water leaks, insulation failures, and significant increases in energy and maintenance costs. “We believe that somewhere between, say, five and 15 [years], many, many of those units will fail,” said David House of Earth Development, which bills itself as a socially responsible property developer.