Twitter user @NBastel posts this photo of a dormitory at Virginia Tech. Yes, those are accessible, not decorative, balconies over indoor space. According to redditor mchoward, who lived near this building during his time at Virginia Tech, the design led to precisely the drunken shenanigans that you're imagining:
About a decade ago, the people that lived in this building used to throw massive parties in this common area. It would get absolutely packed and the cops were always called. One time, the apartment complex sent an employee to take pictures. They then sent the pictures to all the residents to shame them ("Look at how dumb you all look!"), which included pictures of students pouring drinks from the balconies to the people below as well as students climbing into the ceiling tiles to get to different balconies without having to go down (apparently one person fell through the ceiling). Of course, no one was embarrassed by the pictures, and they sent them to their friends which resulted in even bigger parties.
-via Super Punch
I'd rather have the extra three feet in my room instead of the hall.