We’re an increasingly fit and healthy society – but how many of us would risk taking the stairs in the world’s tallest buildings? Even the most gym-obsessed workers probably hop in the lift to reach the top of their office blocks.
But how long? Nifty Lift is a company that know a thing or two about large buildings, as they manufacture cherry pickers and other working at height platforms, and they’ve studied just how long it’d take to reach the top of these buildings compared to taking the lift.
The walking speed of pedestrians can vary heavily on weight, build and fitness. However, gym equipment gives us a good indication – the average stair stepper can reach speeds of 174 per minute, but the average person will find 100 steps per minute a ‘high cadence.’ On average, you burn 0.17 calories per step.
Disclaimer: We don’t expect any average person to actually manage 100 steps per minute up a skyscraper. You’d need to stop for rests! That figure also doesn’t take incline, elevation or members of the public slowing you down on stairwells.
Taipei 101
Situated in Taipei, Taiwan, this building is a supertall skyscraper that commands stunning views and is inspired by the bamboo plant.
At 448 metres, with 101 floors, the building has 2,046 stairs that get you up to the 91st floor. Based on a stair stepper speed of 100 per minute, it’d take an elite stair runner 20 minutes & 30 seconds to reach the top – but that’s without stopping or catching your breath, which is virtually impossible. For an average person taking the stairs at leisure, you’d also burn 347 calories on the trip, which is around the same as a bacon sandwich.
However, it only takes the superfast elevator 37 seconds to reach the 89th floor of the building. No sweat, huh?
One World Trade Centre
The pride of Manhattan, One World Trade centre is an incredible sight that stands in defiance and memoriam of the terrorist attacks of 2001.
It’s also a workplace for people who have to ascend its 541m height to make their way to work if they’re on the higher floors. There are 2,226 stairs in the building which would take around 22 minutes & 15 seconds to climb at an unrelenting running pace – although the record by champion stair runners currently stands at 14 minutes 26 seconds. If you walked at a normal pace, you’d burn around 378 calories, which is the same as 100 grams of blueberry muffin.
Of course, you could take the lift – it’ll cut your journey down thanks to its super-fast elevator that travels at 23mph and reaches the 102nd floor in 60 seconds.
The Empire State Building
One of the most iconic buildings in the world, the Empire State Building was the first true skyscraper. It stands 443m/1453ft tall at its tip, or 381m/1250 ft to its occupied height and features 1,576 steps. That’d take approximately 15 minutes 45 seconds to climb. If you walked normally, you’d burn approximately 267 calories — around the same as a Mars Bar (260 calories).
Taking the lift would cut the journey down, with a 22 km/h elevator that can reach the top floor in 62 seconds.
Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest building is a marvel of engineering – a jewel of Dubai that holds the accolades for the highest number of stories, highest occupied floor, highest outdoor observation deck and the longest travel distance of any elevator. Standing at 828m/2716ft, the building is 1/10th the height of Mt Everest!
With 2909 stairs, the Burj is a staggering challenge. Even at your fastest ‘high cadence’, you’d have to spend 29 minutes and 5 seconds climbing, but perhaps only the most elite athletes on earth could manage such a speed across such a tall building. Even at a leisurely pace, you’d burn 494 calories, which is almost as much as a chicken nugget Happy Meal from McDonalds.
Alternatively, you could take the lift. The world’s tallest building’s elevators travel 36km/h or 600m/minute. You’ll reach the top of the building in 1 minute 22 seconds.
Final thoughts
It seems fairly obvious that for all but the most physically inclined people, the elevators of the world’s tallest buildings are a must-use. However, for those looking to test themselves, taking the stairs presents a calorie-burning, endurance-testing experience.
Source
http://livehealthy.chron.com/average-stairstepper-speed-10281.html
https://www.stepjockey.com/content/docs/Stair_Climbing_Facts_StepJockey.pdf
https://cyfar.org/sites/default/files/cyfar_research_docs/How%20High%20Can%20You%20Climb.pdf
