Growing glass crack appears at Michigan Ave. Apple store in Chicago
A large crack recently appeared in one of the windows at Apple's Michigan Avenue store, and has not only gone unfixed but actually gotten bigger, photos show.
Image Credit: 9to5Mac
The crack -- spanning multiple feet -- has reportedly been present for several weeks. A new photo reveals that the crack is branching out, 9to5Mac observed on Monday.
The damage is unlikely to affect the structural integrity of the building, but could pose a safety hazard to shoppers or passersby if the glass shatters.
Apple has been keen to highlight the unusual design of Michigan Avenue, but the outlet became a subject of criticism early on when the company had to rope off surrounding areas to deal with falling ice and snow -- a problem any building in Chicago should be equipped for. A spokesman blamed the issue on a malfunctioning warming system, and said the system was quickly reprogrammed.
Despite this, heating issues continue, 9to5Mac claims. When it works the system should melt ice and snow, allowing runoff to drain through internal support columns.
Image Credit: 9to5Mac
The crack -- spanning multiple feet -- has reportedly been present for several weeks. A new photo reveals that the crack is branching out, 9to5Mac observed on Monday.
The damage is unlikely to affect the structural integrity of the building, but could pose a safety hazard to shoppers or passersby if the glass shatters.
Apple has been keen to highlight the unusual design of Michigan Avenue, but the outlet became a subject of criticism early on when the company had to rope off surrounding areas to deal with falling ice and snow -- a problem any building in Chicago should be equipped for. A spokesman blamed the issue on a malfunctioning warming system, and said the system was quickly reprogrammed.
Despite this, heating issues continue, 9to5Mac claims. When it works the system should melt ice and snow, allowing runoff to drain through internal support columns.
Comments
Around the US and the world some shopping malls have structural problems. Some are in the process of being closed down with buildings / store fronts in disrepair.
During harsh winters the problem of falling ice is common with buildings in cities which experience such cold weather.
It's interesting how there is a vast audience for architecture news with stories which trash Apple for window cracks and the potential for falling ice.
But it's interesting that it cracked at all. The roof seems to apply an uneven load to the glass sheets.
If true it won't help to just exchange the glass, the next one would crack as well...
Glass curtain walling would not normally be part of the structural integrity of the building. I have no knowledge of how much glass like this expands and contracts or how flexible the expansion joints could be. The Architects and Structural Engineers should have taken this all into consideration when designing the building.
If everything is properly designed and the loss of the roof heating was not critical then it might be an issue with just one glass window. If it is not a one off then that is possibly more significant and could required alterations to the design.
Next week: "Someone spilled a milkshake near the iPhone cases in a Miami Apple store and it still haven't been mopped up!"
sincerely,
macrumors/9to5Mac comment section
/s
My wife and I have had two homes built over the last 30 years. In both of them, tempered glass skylights and/or doors glass have spontaneously broken, usually shortly after construction/move-in, on sunny days. The temperature stress, coupled with flaws in the tempered glass, was enough to trigger the crack. When I was in college, the new engineering school lost a few tempered glass windows for exactly the same reasons. This is not unusual, nor is the general public's ignorance of expected minor failures in new structures.
definitely the case.
all commercial glass is "custom" (ie you cannot cut this glass down to size, it is always manufactured to the specific dimensions.)
so they are waiting for the replacement.
probably also some argument as to who is paying for it as well.
eating that one piece could be a large chunk of the glazier's profits.
was the glass smacked by another trade? was it an edge defect? and installation issue? did someone pop the trim off & put it back on wrong?
a 5 pound V of glass can cause a lot of arterial damage from 8 feet up.
if it really is above a door, i am shocked more hasn't been done to secure it.
As mentioned by Sandor, all of these panels are custom made for Apple, they aren't standard windows that one buys at Home Depot or Lowe's.