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When you make a point of observing good manners, revolving doors can become quite the challenge. Should a gentleman enter first to start the motion for his lady companion? Or does the “ladies first” principle still apply? This question is no coincidence when you approach a revolving door—it was actually designed to create such moments of hesitation.
Some etiquette experts argue that it is proper for a man to open doors for a woman, letting her go in and out before him. However, with revolving doors, this traditional gesture of chivalry flips around. Men should enter first, as Park Hyatt Chicago's doorman Joe Snyder shared with Real Simple: “A gentleman should always go first and help the woman through the revolving door, and I observe this daily.” This approach spares women from the task of pushing the door and is viewed as a more considerate action. Chivalry isn't gone, just evolved for today's world.
Interestingly, this thoughtful act would have upset the creator of the revolving door, Theophilus Van Kannel. He reportedly disliked the custom of men holding doors open for women so much that he invented a new kind of door to avoid the situation. Thankfully, Van Kannel's invention was supported by his technical expertise, even if it unintentionally introduced a new rule to replace the old one.
On August 7, 1888, the Philadelphia inventor patented what we now recognize as the revolving door. Building on H. Bockhacker’s 1881 German patent for the “Tür ohne Luftzug” or “Door without Draft of Air,” the first revolving doors were installed in 1899 at Rector’s, a restaurant in Times Square. Over a century ago, Times Square was a hub of innovation, but today it is better known for oversized cartoon characters and tourist jokes—further proof that the world Van Kannel knew has long since changed.
Fortunately, Van Kannel’s invention served more than just alleviating his own concerns. Revolving doors help maintain a building's energy efficiency by controlling its temperature and air pressure. For example, on a hot summer day when air conditioning is blasting, opening a door lets out cold air while allowing warm air to rush in, forcing the cooling system to work harder. The opposite happens in the winter. Revolving doors minimize this loss of air when people enter or exit. In addition to their thermal benefits, revolving doors also block out street noise and fumes.
Replacing traditional swing doors with revolving ones can result in up to a 30 percent reduction in energy costs. As Rockefeller University points out, “267 BTUs of heat energy, about the same as 1.3 hours of incandescent lighting, 4.3 hours of compact fluorescent lighting, or .06 miles of fuel for a car.”
Despite the clear advantages of revolving doors, a 2006 MIT study revealed that only 20 to 30 percent of people use them when available. A few years later, New York City designer Andrew Shea noticed a similar trend and decided to take action in his area. At Columbia University, Shea posted signs promoting the environmental benefits of using revolving doors. Thanks to his efforts and interesting facts—such as how revolving doors can save 14.6 tons of carbon every year—usage rates surged from 28 to 71 percent.
After his invention, Van Kannel founded The Van Kannel Revolving Door Co., which he eventually sold to International Steel, later becoming the International Revolving Door Company. It might not surprise you to learn that he never married, choosing instead to dedicate his life to refining his invention. Van Kannel earned recognition during his lifetime, receiving Philadelphia’s John Scott Medal for the societal value of his invention. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contributions. Hopefully, everyone used the revolving doors while entering and exiting the ceremony.
