Walkie Talkie Skyscraper: Reflected Light Melts Cars
The Walkie Talkie skyscraper is blamed for reflecting light that melts cars. Martin Lindsay filed a complaint when his Jaguar XJ was warped by the reflected rays.
The unique London building is currently under construction by Canary Wharf Construction and Land Securities.
Lindsay says the construction companies agreed to pay for the repair. However, the building has caused similar problems for others.
As reported by City AM, Eddie Cannon’s Vauxhall Vevar suffered damage from the building as well. Cannon says the entire left side of his van, including the dashboard, was melted and warped.
Cannon says “a really strange light” was radiating from the building, leading him to question the safety of people walking around.
As reported by CNN, the construction company has acknowledged the issue. However, they are not sure how to fix it.
The City of London has banned parking in the affected areas while the situation is assessed.
The construction company released a statement, explaining that the angle of the sun contributes to the issue. They estimate that the phenomena only happens once per day, lasting around two hours.
They expect the issue to resolve itself within the next three weeks, as the angle of the sun shifts.
Officials with Canary Wharf Construction and Land Securities are exploring short and long-term solutions to prevent future damage.
In 2010, a similar situation happened at the Vdara Hotel in Las Vegas. A hotel guest complained that reflected light burned his hair and a plastic bag.
The Walkie Talkie skyscraper was nicknamed by London residents. The building’s appearance is similar to a hand-held radio device. The official name is 20 Fenchurch.
As reported by Skyscraper Center, construction of the office building began in 2011. It is expected to be complete in 2014.
The building is over 500 feet tall. The completed building will feature 38 floors and 33 different elevators. The outside is covered in over 355,000 square feet of glass.
The Walkie Talkie skyscraper was designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects.
[Image via Flickr]
