Illustrated Architecture Dictionary

Scupper

An opening in a wall or parapet for draining off water from a roof

Scuppers  are usually placed at or near ground level, and allow rain or liquids to flow off the side of the open-air structure, instead of pooling within the walls.

Buildings with railed rooftops can construct scuppers to let rainwater drain off, instead of pooling within the railing of the roof. Scuppers can also be placed in a parapet, for the same purpose.

Gargoyle: European Christian scupper

See also: Illustrations of hand carved natural stone scuppers (June 2011)

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Examples from Buffalo:

• Illustration above: Albright-Knox Art Gallery
  
  
• Statler House

• Guaranty Building

• 28 Universtiy Avenue

Other examples:

• Mortuary Chapel and Receiving Vault, Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, NY
  
  
• Parthenon, Acropolis, Greece
  
  
• Museum, Olympia, Greece
  
  
• Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

• Sultan Ahmet Mosque / Blue Mosque, Turkey

• Château de Bourdeilles, France

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