The incident happened at The Hub, a mixed-use tower that rises above the TD Garden arena on Boston’s West Side, when a police officer responded to reports of a “dangerous situation” after an exterior window on the 13th floor cracked from the heat.

The building manager heard a cracking sound and discovered the broken window. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Verizon employees working in the building immediately took action to surround the area where the glass had fallen. Their quick response prevented any possible injuries from falling shrapnel.

The impact of the heat wave

The building inspector who arrived at the scene stated that the most likely cause of the accident was extreme heat, noting that the surface temperature reached 95 degrees due to the heat.

Skyscrapers, with their glass, steel and concrete structures, are particularly sensitive to heat. These buildings often resemble vertical greenhouses that trap heat and make cooling difficult. In extreme cases, the coating on the glass can even amplify the sun’s rays, creating additional heat-related problems for the streets below.

• One infamous example is the Walkie-Talkie skyscraper in London, which even melted a car parked nearby in 2013 due to the reflective coating on the glass.
• The current heat has also caused other infrastructure problems, such as a suspension bridge in New York remaining open because the steel expanded significantly under the heat.

As temperatures continue to rise, we are sure to hear about various events triggered by abnormal temperatures around the world. Also, as scientists have stated, 2024 will not be a record year and much greater turmoil awaits us in the coming years.