The brick building was built in 1895 as a dormitory with operable windows.   The window hung air conditioners were added in the 1970's.   

What happened to us that this ugly energy consuming mess of hanging compressors became necessary and the norm?    Is it just that the modular technology became available ?   Is it because we  became soft as pudding?   Was it because the globe is heating up?  Because cities especially are heating up?   Or all of the above except for the first option - because air conditioning technology was available for large buildings in 1895.