American’s Pride in Skyscrapers

Its exterior materials include Indiana limestone and granite, trimmed with aluminum and ... ... middle of paper ... ... The Empire State building is important for any reasons ranging from an architectural marvel to a revenue generator for the City of New York. Most important of all, it is a historic landmark. It is a symbol that every American knows and is proud of. Its functions are many: landmark, office building, tourist attraction, shopping mall, telecommunication/ broadcasting center, symbol of New York (and the U.S. to many foreigners).

The Willis Tower is currently located in Chicago, IL. on S. Wacker Drive (Gallun, 2003). Let us go to the building when it was the Sears Tower, which was built by the company called Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Currently Sears). When the Sears Tower was built, it was the tallest building in the world with a height of 1,450 ft. architectural height! The Willis Tower was the tallest building for 25 years!

Since the 10-story steel-frame Home Insurance Building, the world’s first skyscraper, which was opened in Chicago in 1885, architects have had to think about wind pressure, or “wind loading,” as they’ve built higher and higher. Today, wind engineering is an integral aspect in the design of any high rise building. As Garber explains, a building is like “a giant sail” with a great deal of area that the wind can push against. “The wind is blowing on the building causing it to sway and twist,” he says. “For certain shapes, the wind can form a wake similar to what you’d see behind a boat with vortices shedding off, alternating on both side and pushing the building from side to

On October 8, 1871, the fire viped out the city. 18,000 building were burnt. Economic potential of the city was still there. The citizens were determined to rebuild. Architects and Engineers came from around the world and started building just what it was like before.

Curtis, W J. "11. Skyscraper and Suburb: America between the Wars." In Modern architecture since 1900, 144-158. London: Phaidon, 1996.

Larson said, “the tower not only assured the eternal fame of its designer, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel but also offered graphic proof that France had edged out the United States for dominance in the realm of iron and steel…”(15). To accomplish this, architects led by Daniel Burnham and John Root made numerous buildings and beautiful scenery

All these things from the industrial revolution caused one the greatest changes in architecture in history. Works Cited http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/peopleevents/p_sullivan.html

(14 Dec. 2009). Roza, Greg. The Incredible Story of Skyscrapers (Kid's Guide to Incredible Technology). 1 ed. New York: Powerkids Press, 2004.

With the rapid advancement of technology and the influence of fame and wealth, sky is limit for the next generation of skyscrapers. Work cited Bennett, David. Skyscrapers Form & Function New York 1995 Conway, Hazel and Rowan, Roenisch. Understanding Architecture: An introduction to Architecture and architectural History. London and New York: Routledge 1994.

During an era of rapid urbanization, America’s production of resources struggled to keep up with the demands of growth. As westward expansion in America reached a close, the need for more industrialized cities increased. Major US cities, such as Chicago, began to rise not only in wealth, but also in population and height. The increase in population caused hazardous situations, however, resulting in many man-made disasters such as the Great Chicago fire of 1871 that destroyed a large portion of the city. To rebuild, the architects needed a new material that was strong but malleable.