The fascinating history of the century-old sport of ‘buildering’

Alex Honnold's recent free solo climb of Taipei 101, streamed live, drew massive attention and introduced many to "buildering," the act of climbing buildings. Buildering, which has existed for over a century, started with early alpinists and evolved into free climbing on rock faces. Now, buildings, especially skyscrapers, present the new ultimate challenge for climbers. Dan Goodwin, a veteran builderer noted that buildings demand repetitive movements, leading to specific muscle fatigue and increased danger. The history of buildering started in the early 1900s, with early examples in college campuses and then by the 'human flies' in the 20th century. By the 1980s and 90s, buildering was televised and gained attention, with climbers like SpiderDan and Alain Robert. Building designs influence the difficulty, with smooth glass facades requiring specialized tools like suction cups. Goodwin's motivation to climb the Sears Tower arose in response to a challenge and his desire to showcase the potential of climbers, following a tragedy. Many skyscrapers, like Taipei 101, offer unique architectural features, making them more climbable. Despite a small community, Honnold's climb might inspire more urban climbers in the future. Goodwin believes that the future of buildering requires regulations, safety standards, and rules.