15 Fascinating Rooftop Water Towers That Add Character to the Urban Landscape
The city skyline is dotted with rooftop water towers, which are not only functional but also add a unique aesthetic element to the urban landscape. These towering structures have been around for over a century and continue to play an important role in providing water supply to buildings.
Here are some of the most fascinating rooftop water towers that you can discover during your urban exploration:
1. The Woodside Water Tower – Queens, New York
Located at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and 63rd Street, this historic tower was built in 1910 and has become an iconic landmark in Woodside. It stands at 120 feet tall and has a capacity of 155,000 gallons.
2. The Chelsea Water Tower – Manhattan, New York
This tower is located on top of the London Terrace apartments on West 23rd Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues in Chelsea. Built in 1930, it stands at 200-feet tall and holds up to one million gallons of water.
3. The Williamsburg Water Tower – Brooklyn, New York
This tower is located on top of the former Domino Sugar Refinery building along the East River waterfront in Williamsburg. Standing at almost 300 feet tall, it was once used as a backup water supply for firefighting purposes.
4. The Flatiron Building Water Towers – Manhattan, New York
The iconic Flatiron Building has several small water towers scattered throughout its roofline which adds character to this beautiful landmark building.
5. The Park Slope Water Towers – Brooklyn, New York
Park Slope is home to many stunning brownstones that are topped by cylindrical wooden or steel tanks that provide gravity-fed water pressure throughout their homes.
6. The Chicago Avenue Pumping Station – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Located along Chicago Avenue near downtown Minneapolis lies an ornate brick structure with a prominent rooftop tower visible from far away through surrounding trees.The pumping station served as vital infrastructure when it opened over a century ago and still impresses today with its intricate detailing.
7. The Water Tower Place – Chicago, Illinois
The Water Tower Place is a high-rise building that was built in 1976 on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. It has multiple water towers atop the structure to provide water supply for its residents.
8. The Wilshire Grand Center – Los Angeles, California
Standing at 1,100 feet tall, the Wilshire Grand Center is the tallest building in Los Angeles and features several rooftop water towers that add an industrial feel to this modern skyscraper.
9. The San Remo Water Towers – Manhattan, New York
The San Remo apartment building on Central Park West has two distinct cylindrical tanks perched atop each of its twin towers giving it an iconic look that can be seen from different angles throughout the city.
10. The Brewery Rooftop Water Towers – Los Angeles, California
Located near Dodger Stadium in Downtown LA lies what used to be Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery which now serves as a multi-use complex including apartments and offices. Several cylindrical water tanks are visible from far away adding character to this historic landmark.
11. The Millennium Park Garage Rooftop Tank – Chicago, Illinois
Millennium Park garage is located within walking distance of many popular attractions such as Cloud Gate (the Bean) sculpture and Maggie Daley park.This garage features a large steel tank painted bright blue which adds color to this prominent concrete structure.
12. The Boston Custom House Tower Tank- Boston Massachusetts
The Boston Custom House Tower was built in 1915 and stands at around 500 feet tall making it one of Boston’s most recognizable buildings.The tower has two wooden rooftop tanks which were once used for firefighting purposes but have since been decommissioned.
13. Stahl House Water Tanks- Hollywood Hills, California
Stahl house is famous for being one of the most iconic mid-century modern homes designed by architect Pierre Koenig. The house features a rooftop water tank that adds to the architectural design of this stunning building.
14. The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower- Brooklyn, New York
The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower is a historic landmark in Brooklyn and has several wooden cylindrical tanks on its rooftop which have been visually prominent since it was built over 100 years ago.
15. The Grand Water Tank – St Louis, Missouri
Located at 20th and Market Streets in St.Louis lies an old brick water tower that used to supply water to surrounding buildings. Once abandoned, the structure has been restored into apartments with many original details including the large steel tank perched atop its roofline.
In conclusion, these rooftop water towers not only serve as functional structures but also add character and uniqueness to their surrounding urban landscape. They have become iconic landmarks and are worth exploring during your next urban adventure!