@ehBeth,
He has always been a smartie, that hamburgboy. Hello from me.
I know fair bits and pieces about building and other kinds of design, plus lots I don't, but I'm pretty much out of it re knowing about towers. I loved NYC as a kid for a year but was most interested in Macy's toy department. Oh, and the big ships lined up on the Hudson.
I went on a architecture tour with other a2kers at the 2006 Chicago meet (Thomas, Walter, Cicerone), but that didn't involve going to rooftops or much if any comments on tower design.
I remember fire escapes in New York. Even we had one up on the sixth and highest floor - am not clear if those still happen in tower building, nor if there were any on the Grenfell Tower.
(I happen to live in high desert flatville)