Tessa Quinn
Many people have a fear of the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia, and this fear can trigger severe anxiety in its sufferers. In recognition of this, many hospitals do not have a room 13 or a 13th floor. Some hospitals that do have a 13th floor have chosen to label it as the 14th floor. However, some hospitals do have a 13th floor, such as the UCSF Medical Center, which decided to stick with the number 13 due to a lack of compelling evidence to support the superstition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do most hospitals have a 13th floor? | Many hospitals do not have a room 13 or a 13th floor, but some do. |
| Reason | Superstition, triskaidekaphobia, and consideration of patients and families who are superstitious. |
| Exceptions | New York City's Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and all Hilton International hotels all have 13th floors. |
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What You'll Learn
Some hospitals do not have a 13th floor due to superstition
Many hospitals do not have a room 13 or a 13th floor, with some staff and patients believing that these are bad omens. In one case, a hospital labelled the 13th floor as the 14th, and some hospitals avoid room number 13. This is not a new phenomenon, as buildings over 12 stories tall have often had a missing 13th floor, with elevator buttons skipping from 12 to 14.
This superstition is not limited to hospitals, as some airline terminals omit Gate 13, and some high-rise buildings in New York only have a 13th floor 5% of the time. In the early 20th century, New York architects were advised to build below 13 floors. A 2002 estimate from Otis Elevators found that 85% of their elevators did not have 13th-floor buttons. Apartments located on the 13th floor of their building sold 18% less frequently.
In San Francisco, the UCSF Medical Center initially considered renaming the 13th floor to appease those concerned about the unlucky number but decided against it due to a lack of "compelling evidence" supporting the superstition.
Some famous buildings do include a 13th floor, such as the Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and all Hilton International hotels. While the number 13 is generally considered unlucky, it is still regarded as a lucky number in certain areas and cultures. For instance, in pagan cultures, the number 13 is considered "powerful and dynamic" due to the existence of 13 lunar months in a year.
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The number 13 is considered unlucky
The number 13 is often considered unlucky, and this belief has influenced the design of many buildings, including hospitals. While some hospitals do have a 13th floor, others choose to skip this number, either by not having a 13th floor at all or by renaming it as the 14th floor. This decision is typically made to accommodate the superstitions of patients and their families, who may feel uneasy about being assigned to room or floor 13.
The fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, and it is a widespread phenomenon that has influenced various aspects of culture and daily life. For example, some airline terminals omit Gate 13, and it is not uncommon for buildings to skip the 13th floor, with elevator buttons jumping from 12 to 14. This practice is especially prevalent in hotels, where accommodating guests' superstitions can be a logical economic decision, as rooms on the 13th floor tend to sell less frequently.
In some cases, buildings that originally had a 13th floor have been renovated to remove it, even going so far as to change the room numbers on all the floors above. This was the case with Chicago's Hotel Burnham, built in 1895, which saw its 13th floor removed by later owners. However, some notable buildings, such as the Empire State Building and all Hilton International hotels, do include a 13th floor.
The superstition surrounding the number 13 has also influenced street naming conventions. In San Francisco, for instance, there is no 13th Avenue; instead, it is called Funston Avenue. Interestingly, while the number 13 is widely considered unlucky, it was viewed as a lucky number in ancient pagan cultures and still is in certain parts of the world. According to astrologer Jack Fertig, the number 13 is "powerful and dynamic," as there are 13 lunar months in a year.
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Some hospitals have a 13th floor, but no room 13
While some hospitals have a 13th floor, many do not have a room 13. This is due to the superstition surrounding the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia, which can trigger severe anxiety in its sufferers. In a 2007 Gallup poll, 13 percent of respondents admitted they would "feel uneasy" staying on the 13th floor. This has led to some hospitals removing the 13th floor or relabelling it as the 14th floor.
Similarly, some hospitals have chosen to omit room 13 altogether or refer to it by a different number. This is often done to accommodate patients and their families who may be superstitious, rather than out of institutional belief. For example, one hospital staff member shared that they make their Asian patients happy by putting them in room 8 on the 8th floor, as the number four is associated with death in many Asian cultures.
The decision to omit the 13th floor or room 13 can also be influenced by economic considerations. Apartments located on the 13th floor of a building sold 18 percent less frequently, according to a study by Realting.com. This suggests that including a 13th floor or room 13 could result in lower occupancy rates and, consequently, lost revenue for hospitals.
However, not all hospitals give in to superstition or economic pressure. The UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, for example, chose to keep its 13th floor despite discussions about renaming it. They decided to stick with the number 13 due to a lack of "compelling evidence" to support the superstition. Additionally, some famous buildings, such as the Empire State Building and all Hilton International hotels, also have 13th floors.
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The 13th floor is sometimes relabelled as the 14th
The number 13 is considered unlucky, and many people fear it. This fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia, and it can trigger severe anxiety in its sufferers. In fact, in a 2007 Gallup poll, 13 percent of respondents admitted they would "feel uneasy" staying on the 13th floor. This has led to many buildings, including hospitals, omitting the number 13 from their floor numbering.
Some hospitals do not have a 13th floor, while others choose to relabel it as the 14th floor. For example, one hospital staff member on Reddit shared that during their residency, they rotated at a hospital that labelled the 13th floor as the 14th. This is often done to appease superstitious patients and their families, rather than out of institutional superstition.
The practice of skipping or renaming the 13th floor is common in other types of buildings as well. For instance, in high-rise apartment buildings or hotels, it is not uncommon for elevator buttons to skip directly from 12 to 14, or to have a button labelled 12A between them. In some cases, building owners have even gone to the expense of removing the 13th floor and changing the room numbers on all the floors above to fall in line with the superstition.
However, not all hospitals and buildings avoid the number 13. For example, the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco chose to keep their 13th floor, deciding that there was a lack of "compelling evidence" to support the superstition. Additionally, some famous buildings such as the Empire State Building, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and all Hilton International hotels have 13th floors.
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The absence of a 13th floor can be a logical economic decision
In recognition of this, many hospitals and hotels do not have a room or floor numbered 13, instead skipping from 12 to 14. Some buildings that originally had a 13th floor have even gone to the expense of removing it and changing the room numbers on all subsequent floors. In other cases, the 13th floor is relabelled as the 14th, meaning that the 13th floor still exists, but in name only.
The decision to omit the 13th floor can also be influenced by cultural considerations. For example, in China, the number four is often avoided in building design due to its association with the word for 'death'. Similarly, in areas with large Asian populations, hospitals and hotels may avoid the number 13 to cater to these cultural beliefs.
While some may view these decisions as superstitious, they can ultimately be seen as economically prudent, ensuring the comfort of guests and patients while maintaining the marketability of the property.
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Frequently asked questions
Many hospitals do not have a room 13 or a 13th floor, instead skipping from 12 to 14 due to the superstition surrounding the number 13.
Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13, is a common phobia that can trigger severe anxiety in its sufferers. As a result, some buildings avoid labelling the 13th floor as such to appease those with this phobia.
Many high-rise hotels and residential buildings do not have a 13th floor, with elevator buttons skipping from 12 to 14. For example, 85% of Otis Elevators' elevators do not have a 13th-floor button, and in New York, only 5% of residential condominium buildings have a 13th floor.
Yes, some famous buildings do have a 13th floor, including New York City's Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, and Waldorf Astoria Hotel, as well as all Hilton International hotels.
No, the superstition surrounding the number 13 is not universal and is more prevalent in certain cultures. For example, in China, the number 4 is often considered unlucky due to its association with the word for "death".
