Leland,
We become accustomed to seeing our significant architecture through images
laid out for us in books. Take another look through your architecture books.
How many images show us what people really see from the sidewalk?  Tall
building-skyscraper Architects design all to often as if their building were
standing alone in a field and we were 1/2 mile away to be able to admire it.
Either that or meant to be admired or envied by the workers and tall building
owner next door (only they never get to see the bottom of the structure).
This is one reason why I prefer cities built on a human scale.  I want to
cross the street and admire the whole building at once.
Candy B