TRENTON, N.J. — City officials and business owners received a shock this week when a new 12-story downtown office building designed by paraplegic architect Tim Sterling opened with a single entrance on the roof and a note pinned to the welded-shut front doors reading, “Now how do you fucking like it?”
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, onlookers waited in confusion and reporters snapped photos as Mayor Reed Gusciora read Sterling’s note before angrily slicing it into pieces with his giant scissors.
Tenants of the building searched for some time but could not find a way in.
“All the windows were just paintings of windows,” said Linda Velasquez, a chemical manufacturing executive whose new company offices are in the building. “And the fire escape ladders are sort of treadmills that keep sending you back down.”
As construction crews scramble to rectify the situation, there is a hum of activity outside from a patchwork of conveyances moving employees to and from their offices. When they aren’t needed elsewhere, firetrucks stop to raise their staircases and a police helicopter cycles people between the street and the door. A window washing company has loaned a boom lift to the effort and local dads with rock-climbing gear are operating a pulley system.
“I’m not necessarily comfortable with all this, but we’re desperate,” remarked Gusciora, standing outside and observing the clamor. “I drew the line when a circus offered to lend a cannon.”
The mayor went on: “The way this building is, it’s making it so hard for these people to get to their jobs, to operate their businesses and make a living. Look at how much effort has to go into just getting people where they need to be. I don’t think Sterling realizes how challenging this is for us.”
Sterling agreed to a remote video interview but could not provide comment due to unrelenting fits of laughter. He held a drink with a large cocktail umbrella in it, and behind him was a beach resort whose location he would not disclose.