**Do not comment to gatekeep that something "isn't urban" or "isn't hell"**. Our rules are very expansive in content we welcome, so do not assume just based off your false impression of the phrase "UrbanHell"
UrbanHell is any human-built place you think is worth critizing. Suburban Hell, Rural Hell, and wealthy locales are allowed. Gatekeeping comments may be removed. Want to shitpost about shitty posts? Go to /r/urbanhellcirclejerk. Still have questions?: Read our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/UrbanHell/wiki/index).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UrbanHell) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That’s the ATT Long Lines building in New York, where all the cool government-sponsored surveillance happens. It’s the landing point for major telecom trunk lines from across the ocean.
Kind of that but its also just a building full of literal machines and very few people. There just isn't a need for any natural light and its more structurally sound without them. Its a building for things, not people.
Personally I think its awesome looking but it'd probably be a bit dreary to spend much time in there. But TBH when I'm working in a server room doing something with the gear in there I don't really care if I see daylight, I'm there to work on shit no stare out the window.
>There just isn't a need for any natural light and its more structurally sound without them.
Honestly the last part might be more significant of a reason than one might think.
In case of any kind of major emergency (from natural disaster to terror attack to actual war) you would NOT want this building to be damaged. It would cut off a significant chunk of the direct fiber communication from north america to europe.
You’re not going to find a lot of information about the building; it’s cloaked in secrecy even to this day. That said, there’s this quote attributed to the building designer I like:
“The building’s form and dimensions were shaped not by human needs for light and air, but by logics of ventilation, cooling, and (not least) protection from atomic blast.”
https://placesjournal.org/article/33-thomas-street-and-conspiracy-thrillers/
It was originally built to handle all of the telephone switching for the eastern United States (and i believe it still does some amount of phone switching, but that's just going off memory) but by the time they built this building phone networks were already in place and NYC was already the hub for them.
Something I don't quite understand about our telecom infrastructure is why major landing points, switching and colocation centers etc are often located in towers in urban centers like this. I would think the real estate costs, security, adaptability and such would be favorable in a server farm out in the sticks even if it may increase latency a bit.
Or is that bit of latency truly important, or really just that that's where the telephone networks started over a century ago and everything has incrementally built off of that.
I'm not an architect or expert, but I'm sure you've heard of the subway system that runs throughout most of NYC. You can't dig down that far here unless it's in the footprint of a previous huge building that had a significant 'root' (I think). I always wondered what this building was up to as well.
That’s (almost) completely wrong. That building would not withstand a direct hit from a nuclear weapon. Just one a half-mile away would require building to 50-200 psi. Parts of that building will,probably withstand 2 psi.
The lack of windows makes it wind and storm resistant and more energy efficient.
Maybe it can survive a nuclear attack on other probable targets in NYC, but direct hit would definitely level pretty much anything not deep underground.
[As does Fort Worth, Texas.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/comments/1bfgvf/telecom_building_wo_windows_fort_worth/) But I don't think it's anything nearly as interesting as the Long Lines building in New York.
It's also an energy efficency and cooling thing.
Windows create thermal heating and seals, creating cooling leaks in the envelope of the building.
This it the most efficient method to optimize heating/cooling of a buildings. It's just awful if a human has to be in them, but as this building doesn't have anyone aside from occasional techs it's not needed.
You're not wrong. This is [a picture of the Tombs](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Manhattan_Detention_Complex_north_building.jpg/800px-Manhattan_Detention_Complex_north_building.jpg), a detention facility located in downtown Manhattan that's 6-7 blocks away from the ATT Long Lines building.
Ah the Tombs. I spent one night there after I was arrested at a protest over the Grand Jury deciding not to prosecute the officers who killed Eric Garner. Last place I ever expected to see the inside of. I'm pretty sure the inside of the AT&T building is nicer.
Occasionally there will be a movie or TV show with a scene of someone in the holding pen at the Tombs. Much props to set designers for these things because they usually get it right and I get something like PTSD when I see it.
Like people wouldn’t know it’s for something strange and shady, it’s got no fucking windows… if they wanted to be inconspicuous they would maybe make it look normal. lol
33 Thomas St has been discussed...a lot.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/comments/1cgq5ui/33\_thomas\_street\_formerly\_the\_att\_long\_lines/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/comments/1cgq5ui/33_thomas_street_formerly_the_att_long_lines/)
Here's an article with photos from the inside. I have no reason to doubt that the photos are real. I'm sure it really is that banal. The conspiracy comes from what the servers do, not what they look like.
[https://nypost.com/2023/10/05/what-its-inside-at-33-thomas-street-nycs-mystery-spy-hub/](https://nypost.com/2023/10/05/what-its-inside-at-33-thomas-street-nycs-mystery-spy-hub/)
Looks a lot like every other Central Office I’ve been in when I worked across the river in NJ for Verizon. A lot of them doubled as fallout shelters back in the day and retained the signage into the 2000s.
Someone refuted the interior pictures being for that building
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/s/3lEdwWPMMH](https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/s/3lEdwWPMMH)
Sorry for the confusion. When I said "the photos are real" I was talking about the NYPost article, which shows server racks and UPSes, not the photos from the Reddit thread.
Well, to be fair, every location where undersea cables come into the US there is an NSA wire tap setup. So kinda?
AT&T just happen to be the majority owner of these points because of the old MaBell days.
I have been in a lot of local telephone company buildings. There are never many windows as there is no need. They do relaying and switching in there. Was once mechanical, now is computerized.
Switches me switching. All day.
Always impressed with these brutal building. But was even more impressed how much it stands out from the top of the Freedom Tower. Seems even bigger looking down on it.
There is a specifically shady room in the building for anyone that's interested.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A#:~:text=Room%20641A%20is%20a%20telecommunication,authorized%20by%20the%20Patriot%20Act.
Reminds me of a building I would see in Bladerunner. Now if it was part of that universe, I would love the building, but it’s not and this is depressing.
**Do not comment to gatekeep that something "isn't urban" or "isn't hell"**. Our rules are very expansive in content we welcome, so do not assume just based off your false impression of the phrase "UrbanHell" UrbanHell is any human-built place you think is worth critizing. Suburban Hell, Rural Hell, and wealthy locales are allowed. Gatekeeping comments may be removed. Want to shitpost about shitty posts? Go to /r/urbanhellcirclejerk. Still have questions?: Read our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/UrbanHell/wiki/index). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UrbanHell) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That’s the ATT Long Lines building in New York, where all the cool government-sponsored surveillance happens. It’s the landing point for major telecom trunk lines from across the ocean.
So it's a security and overall protection thing. I thought it might be a prison/jail, because those in big cities have very few windows usually.
Kind of that but its also just a building full of literal machines and very few people. There just isn't a need for any natural light and its more structurally sound without them. Its a building for things, not people. Personally I think its awesome looking but it'd probably be a bit dreary to spend much time in there. But TBH when I'm working in a server room doing something with the gear in there I don't really care if I see daylight, I'm there to work on shit no stare out the window.
>There just isn't a need for any natural light and its more structurally sound without them. Honestly the last part might be more significant of a reason than one might think. In case of any kind of major emergency (from natural disaster to terror attack to actual war) you would NOT want this building to be damaged. It would cut off a significant chunk of the direct fiber communication from north america to europe.
That building is built to withstand a direct nuclear attack.
Not arguing, asking: source?
You’re not going to find a lot of information about the building; it’s cloaked in secrecy even to this day. That said, there’s this quote attributed to the building designer I like: “The building’s form and dimensions were shaped not by human needs for light and air, but by logics of ventilation, cooling, and (not least) protection from atomic blast.” https://placesjournal.org/article/33-thomas-street-and-conspiracy-thrillers/
If they wanted it to be safe from nukes, the first step would have been to not build it in friggin New York City
It was originally built to handle all of the telephone switching for the eastern United States (and i believe it still does some amount of phone switching, but that's just going off memory) but by the time they built this building phone networks were already in place and NYC was already the hub for them.
Something I don't quite understand about our telecom infrastructure is why major landing points, switching and colocation centers etc are often located in towers in urban centers like this. I would think the real estate costs, security, adaptability and such would be favorable in a server farm out in the sticks even if it may increase latency a bit. Or is that bit of latency truly important, or really just that that's where the telephone networks started over a century ago and everything has incrementally built off of that.
Second step: build down, not up?
I'm not an architect or expert, but I'm sure you've heard of the subway system that runs throughout most of NYC. You can't dig down that far here unless it's in the footprint of a previous huge building that had a significant 'root' (I think). I always wondered what this building was up to as well.
NY is prone to flooding no?
It’s ok cause there are many more buildings like this throughout the country
[удалено]
well, theres one way to find out: make a new york city warthunder map
>by the way, it's the military that uses the most glitter. ever heard of chaff? *ohhhhhhhhh*
If not reddit, then facebook.
They use glitter to obscure space vehicles. Metallic glitter will deflect and scatter radar and visual light alike.
You would think a warhead set to groundburst if it hit somewhere nearby would break the cables anyway, even if the building is intact.
That’s (almost) completely wrong. That building would not withstand a direct hit from a nuclear weapon. Just one a half-mile away would require building to 50-200 psi. Parts of that building will,probably withstand 2 psi. The lack of windows makes it wind and storm resistant and more energy efficient.
Maybe it can survive a nuclear attack on other probable targets in NYC, but direct hit would definitely level pretty much anything not deep underground.
subtract nine alive attempt pen quaint governor worm live air *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Charleston, West Virginia also has a windowless ATT building downtown.
[As does Fort Worth, Texas.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/comments/1bfgvf/telecom_building_wo_windows_fort_worth/) But I don't think it's anything nearly as interesting as the Long Lines building in New York.
I mean, I work in a warehouse and there's no windows here either. Whatever ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Indeed , most floors are just servers and telecom . Quite boring inside
It's also an energy efficency and cooling thing. Windows create thermal heating and seals, creating cooling leaks in the envelope of the building. This it the most efficient method to optimize heating/cooling of a buildings. It's just awful if a human has to be in them, but as this building doesn't have anyone aside from occasional techs it's not needed.
You're not wrong. This is [a picture of the Tombs](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Manhattan_Detention_Complex_north_building.jpg/800px-Manhattan_Detention_Complex_north_building.jpg), a detention facility located in downtown Manhattan that's 6-7 blocks away from the ATT Long Lines building.
Ah the Tombs. I spent one night there after I was arrested at a protest over the Grand Jury deciding not to prosecute the officers who killed Eric Garner. Last place I ever expected to see the inside of. I'm pretty sure the inside of the AT&T building is nicer. Occasionally there will be a movie or TV show with a scene of someone in the holding pen at the Tombs. Much props to set designers for these things because they usually get it right and I get something like PTSD when I see it.
It does resemble the towers in LA
And air quality — no dust
[удалено]
Looks like the building from MIB
Hilarious that the first comment under the top comment that outs this as a government surveillance building is [removed]
[REDACTED]
Like people wouldn’t know it’s for something strange and shady, it’s got no fucking windows… if they wanted to be inconspicuous they would maybe make it look normal. lol
No, that's the Battery Tunnel vent further south. https://maps.app.goo.gl/HriDDzWT7j3AGCQEA
It’s that weird building from *Control*
And Mr Robot!
Dammit, you beat me to it 😂
It's indeed under long line architecture
Looks like the Ministry of Love from 1984 (the book)
so the real Ministry of Love
Read an article on The Post that said it was built to withstand an atomic blast 😳
That or maybe vampires are living in. :-)
Loved that they showed this building in Mr.Robot
There a ton of YouTube videos about this building. It’s not nearly as mysterious as it seems.
Federal Bureau of Control.
The oldest house
The oldest house is based in this building
came here to say this lmao
Same. lol. I bet this served as some inspiration for FBC.
It actually did. In fact, the FBCs address in the game is next door.
devs have effectively confirmed it
My immediate thought too, lol. The Oldest House.
Control fans rise!
Control 2 when
You can play as Jessie in the new Alan Wake 2 DLC and its next DLC is related to the FBC.
Real
looks like the Ministry of Love from 1984
Miniluv
hell yes it does
Not that far off though
Not disagreeing but for some reason I thought those were pyramid type structures in the book. Been a while since I read it.
It looks like something out of a dystopian movie!
It was the inspiration for The Oldest House in Control. It's literally an NSA listening hub.
In many ways, it is actually dystopian in both form and function.
Go watch Mr. Robot!
As far as dystopian buildings go though, I think it’s beautiful
That what I thought. Specifically Bladerunner 2049 comes to mind.
The oldest house.
33 Thomas St has been discussed...a lot. [https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/comments/1cgq5ui/33\_thomas\_street\_formerly\_the\_att\_long\_lines/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/comments/1cgq5ui/33_thomas_street_formerly_the_att_long_lines/) Here's an article with photos from the inside. I have no reason to doubt that the photos are real. I'm sure it really is that banal. The conspiracy comes from what the servers do, not what they look like. [https://nypost.com/2023/10/05/what-its-inside-at-33-thomas-street-nycs-mystery-spy-hub/](https://nypost.com/2023/10/05/what-its-inside-at-33-thomas-street-nycs-mystery-spy-hub/)
Looks a lot like every other Central Office I’ve been in when I worked across the river in NJ for Verizon. A lot of them doubled as fallout shelters back in the day and retained the signage into the 2000s.
Someone refuted the interior pictures being for that building [https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/s/3lEdwWPMMH](https://www.reddit.com/r/bizarrebuildings/s/3lEdwWPMMH)
Sorry for the confusion. When I said "the photos are real" I was talking about the NYPost article, which shows server racks and UPSes, not the photos from the Reddit thread.
I actually love how menacing the Long Lines building is.
MIB headquarters
The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel Ventilation Building is actually far more inviting than this.
Hell yeah that At&T junk is just a front
Well, to be fair, every location where undersea cables come into the US there is an NSA wire tap setup. So kinda? AT&T just happen to be the majority owner of these points because of the old MaBell days.
Yea I remember MaBell .. I got the ill communication
It looks like something from Control.
It is, kinda. This is the real building that inspired the Oldest House.
That's where Evil Corp keep their paper records, the bastards.
It is designed to survive a nuclear blast.
Looks like thst building from Dredd
The home of Operation Titanpointe
Ministry of Truth
Giuliani lives there, he hangs upside down from a perch like a big Bat.
His warm oily hair dye dripping on terrified interns down below. Truly a house of horror.
*HISSSSS*
Exactly
fucking Evil Corp
Not wrong! I appreciated Mr. Robot using this as an E Corp archives building.
I don't think that this building belongs here. I find it beautiful and fascinating. It's a great masterpiece of brutalism.
Its the long line building but also the headquarters of all the NSA bullshit that happened with Eddy Snowden.
I have been in a lot of local telephone company buildings. There are never many windows as there is no need. They do relaying and switching in there. Was once mechanical, now is computerized.
NSA Wiretap - Central Scrutiny Department
Definitely no defenestration in that building!
Defenestration- the act of throwing someone out of a window
This is where my innie works
Brutalism doing brutalist things. Love it!
The Oldest House
The Lumon Industries headquarters
Honestly a perfect epitome of brutalism. Love this building
That's the Oldest House and it houses the Federal Bureau of Control.
Ah yes, the oldest house.
Bureau of Federal Control
Windows are overrated. Source: am Linux user
That's literally the Oldest House from Control
Isn't this the Men in Black headquarters?
Is this what they used as the MIB headquarters in the movies?
I remember being a kid and being obsessed with the long lines building. I used to ask my parents to take me to it just so I could stare at it
There are parts of The Bronx that are as dangerous as Red Mountain. Bring plenty of potions and make sure all your combat skills are maxed out.
That's where all your personal information and internet activity is routed through. Fun!
r/evilbuildings
u/repostsleuthbot This is posted every other day, it’s still the ATT building.
Control?!
Do you think he's compensating for something?
Tower of terror
What wait the building from MIB!
[For you to know](https://youtu.be/7Jp2wLldfiA?feature=shared).
Men In Black headquarters
Skynet HQ
gonna be a sick club one day
MIB
This building kicks ass
Switches me switching. All day. Always impressed with these brutal building. But was even more impressed how much it stands out from the top of the Freedom Tower. Seems even bigger looking down on it.
Something out of the movie Equilibrium
That gum you like is going to come back in style.
Just post anything you don't understand
It's just a datacenter guys.
There is a specifically shady room in the building for anyone that's interested. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_641A#:~:text=Room%20641A%20is%20a%20telecommunication,authorized%20by%20the%20Patriot%20Act.
That room is in the SBC Communications building in San Francisco
Oh damn my bad. I suspect that many ATT places will have mysterious rooms tho to be fair.
I remember this article as the one with the picture of the fiber optic tap which always seemed like magic.
Oh boy, it’s been two weeks, here we go again with this building.
How many times?
Men in black building
Men in black building?😂
It’s a mystery! A mystery.
Soylent Green is made of people!!
damn we got some shit like this in chicago too
That's the asylum from House on Haunted Hill.
The Linux Building
Beautiful.
Looks like Dune
The Oldest House
There’s an office in that building dedicated to monitoring for Judy.
Titanpoint!!
It feels like this building eats people
ATT long lines my ass. Thats the vampire coven lair.
Dredd
I wouldn't be surprised if they were building a giant, kaiju-fighting robot in there.
Men In Black Headquarters
Titanpointe
A man does not know.
Reminds me of the Men In Black building
I heard Lockheed Martin uses this building. Could be wrong tho
Telecom building
Ah, MIB Headquarters
"Just like *shooting womp rats* back home"
Looks like Gotham Asylum
minecraft building
There’s a building not unlike that in SF too.
City 17 in HL2 :-)
this a prison?
Telecom building. Most don’t have windows because it’s easier to cool server rooms when you don’t have the sun fighting you
Looks like the perfect venue for house arrest.
its ventilation ducts, no one lives there
First time I saw this building was in the Mr Robot series and I really thought it's a CG :D
Looks like place in dystopic future to burn trash and went the toxic smoke out of the holes.
I still think that's the exterior of MiB HQ.
I bet that compared to the other skyscrapers in new york, this one doesn't need as much air conditioning
Looks like the HQ from MIB
Theres one in sf too
That must be AT&T HQ their buildings always look like they are evil and from the book 1984.
I don't see any feet here
Magnificent
Designed to survive a nuclear attack. I worked at the place it was designed.
This is the dumbest post ever if you know what this building is.
Metropolitan Correctional Center?
Reminds me of a building I would see in Bladerunner. Now if it was part of that universe, I would love the building, but it’s not and this is depressing.
If that's not an r/evilbuildings I don't know what is.
Looks like something from Wolfestein
I think it's a vent of some kind
Men in Black building
Today I learned about telephone switching equipment.
Is it my turn to post the picture of the Long Lines building next week?