History of New York Skyscrapers
The World Building – 1890
The World Building (also know as the Pulitzer Building) was originally owned by Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World. Its architect was George B. Post and construction began October 10th, 1889. It was opened on December 10th, 1890, and was the first building in New York to surpass the 284 feet. The New York World Building was the tallest of several high-rise structures built for major newspapers in the late 19th century. The number of stories is disputed; estimates range from the 26 stories claimed by the World to the 16 or 18 suggested by recent scholars. The World Building was 309 feet tall and was demolished in 1955 for the expanded automobile entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Manhattan Life Insurance Co. Building 1894
The Manhattan Life Insurance Company Building was constructed in 1893 and was opened in 1894. In 1892 the Manhattan Life Insurance Company held a competition for its headquarters, selecting architects Kimball and Thompson as the winners. The structure was intended to be the tallest in New York. The building featured a few engineering firsts designed by engineer Charles Sooysmith. The interior was heated and cooled through one of the first uses of electric ventilation. Manhattan Life was demolished in 1930 to make way for the Irving Trust Bank’s headquarters, the masterpiece One Wall Street.
St. Paul Building – 1898
This building was named after the historic St. Paul's Chapel located across the street. The St. Paul Building was constructed in 1895 and was 315 feet (96 meters) tall. The building was opened in1898 and its General contractor was Robinson & Wallace. The St Paul Building was called by one critic of the time "perhaps the least attractive design of all New York's skyscrapers."
The Park Row – 1899
Building originally owned by William Mills Ivins, the head of investment syndicate. The building was constructed in 1896 and took three years to complete. The building is 386 feet (118 meters) tall and its architect is R.H. Robertson. The building is 30 stories tall, the interior could accommodate up to 1,000 offices, and its engineer was Nathaniel Roberts. The Park Row Building still stands today facing City Hall Park in lower Manhattan.
Singer Building – 1908
The Singer building was construced in 1906 and opened in 1908. The first design by architect Ernest Flagg was a thirty-five story tower, but the company soon decided to nearly double that height with a tower of almost 600 feet.
When studying an ancient culture, it is important for one to comprehend the many unique elements that make up that culture. The study of architecture enables historians to deepen their understanding of a culture and identify the modern influences of that society. Architecture is an essential aspect of ancient Greek culture and its long lasting influence is evident in most cities today. The Greek Revival style dominated American architecture during the nineteenth century. Many prosperous citizens believed that the ancient Greece architecture embodied the spirit of democracy. When analyzing the architecture of New York City, one will find many examples of Greek Revival architecture, the most notable examples being the Old Custom House on 28 Wall Street, the first National City Bank building on 55 Wall Street, and Saint Peter’s Church at 22 Barclay Street.
The story of the Sistine Chapel starts with the building itself, built in 1473 under the supervision of Giovannino de Dolci. It is located in Vatican, Which is almost like the capital for catholicism. Vatican being the home the pope and college of cardinals. The chapel being famous in todays day in age for being the conclave of the cardinals, where the new pope is voted on and elected. The main attraction to the Chapel today is the ceiling painted by Great renaissance Artist Michelangelo.
The plan for an American Crystal Palace originated with Edward Riddle, a Boston auctioneer and carriage-maker. He assembled a group of New York bankers who had either visited or heard marvelous stories about the London exhibition and were more than willing to invest in a similar project in the United States. Riddle tried but failed to interest the famed entrepreneur, P.T. Barnum, in the project. The group of investors soon petitioned the Board of Aldermen in New York City for use of Madison Square, located in lower Manhattan where Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet at 23rd Street, to build a "house of iron and steel for an Industrial Exhibition.
The architect of the Supreme Court Building is Cass Gilbert. He was the president of the American Institute of Architects from 1908-1909. Gilbert was most commonly known for designing the Woolworth building in New York City. The architecture of the building is called Neoclassical. Neoclassical architecture is the revival of the classical style from Greece and Italy. The purpose of the Supreme Court Building is to determine the Constitutionality of laws in the US. Some other intentions of the building are to settle arguments between states and to interpret the Constitution. "The Supreme Court Building is the ultimate arbitrator of the Constitution...
Have you ever heard of the Rockefeller Center? Manhattan’s sky high building is a historic place that people like to visit year-round.
2. Pamela Scott and Antoinette Lee, Buildings of the District of Columbia. New York, NY:
The interesting history of the capitol building begins back in 1810. This is when Harrisburg was named the new capital city of Pennsylvania (“CPC Home Page”). Since then, three buildings have sat upon Harrisburg’s Capitol Hill. Local architect, Stephen Hills, was chosen to design the first building. In 1819, Hills began to construction on the structure. The building was completed in 1822, and cost a total of $135,000. The first capitol building existed for seventy-five years, until a fire destroyed it in 1897 (“Capitol”).
Gentrification is the keystone for the progression of the basic standards of living in urban environments. A prerequisite for the advancement of urban areas is an improvement of housing, dining, and general social services. One of the most revered and illustrious examples of gentrification in an urban setting is New York City. New York City’s gentrification projects are seen as a model for gentrification for not only America, but also the rest of the world. Gentrification in an urban setting is much more complex and has deeper ramifications than seen at face value. With changes in housing, modifications to the quality of life in the surrounding area must be considered as well. Constant lifestyle changes in a community can push out life-time
His design was a Neo-classical plan that followed the classical style of ancient Greece and Rome. He drew a building that consists of two wings that extended north and south of a centural section. A huge cast-iron dome rests on the central section of the building.(World, 196) President Washington was very pleased with Dr. Thorton's plans and he was awarded first prize. Now it was time for Washington to lay the cornerstone on September 18, 1793.(National Park)
The first major construction on the island started in the year 1020 and was completed in 1135. In time structural problems arose with the building, therefore in 1170 Abbot Robert de Toringy started building a new facade on the side of the church.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, in London, England, was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren. Approval of this most significant architectural project took six years just for the plan. Construction, which began in 1675, took thirty-five years until finally complete in 1710. It was built to replace a church that had been leveled by the Great Fire of 1666. St. Paul's is the largest cathedral in England, and said to be Wren's masterpiece. He brought a range of new forms, and architectural combination into English architecture. Masonry, brick, timber, and cut stone were used to form the structure of the cathedral. St. Paul’s Cathedral has been one of the main socially significant buildings in London. Cathedrals all around, have always played a large role in the communities they serve. Their fundamental purpose is to bring people closer to God, but over the centuries they have served as a focal point for trade, as a stronghold and a place of safety in times of war, and as immense status symbols. The functions, of a cathedral, take on an additional significance for St Paul's, because it’s known as the cathedral of the capital city and, of the nation. The present building is also the first cathedral to have been built since the creation of the Church of England in 1534, when religion was brought under the direct control of the monarch. This quote from Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage really shows the significance the Church has made in England. “St Paul's Cathedral is the internationally recognized signature of London and the capital's most important historic and architectural focal point. Only St Paul's and the Palace of Westminster are protected by strategic views but the proposed tower disregards this legal protection and the significance of the Cathedral as the icon of London.” The West Front, which faces the heart of the City of London, is an iconic image with great national significance. It is through the famous West Doors that so many British monarchs and distinguished figures have entered the Cathedral. The nation’s “best-loved” church, St Paul’s has hosted some of the most important commemorative events in British history. In recent years the memorial service for the victims of 9/11, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday. Also, it was where the funeral services of Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Winston Churchi...
One World Trade Center (WTC) is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere measuring up at 1776 feet tall. The built output sets new standards of design, construction, and prestige. Its beauty in New York City’s magical skyline makes it an icon. It is the most recognised and desirable office address in the world. In this essay I plan to argue that the social, political and economic status of society has affected the built output of this building considerably, for the good. Making the building one of the best skyscrapers in the world.
The Eiffel Tower is so amazing. It stands 1,063 feet tall in Paris and took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 weeks to build which is an impressive time for such a tall building.The Eiffel Tower is a strong yet delicate building. It was made from puddle iron and many rivets.(rivets are kind of like big nails) It used to be the tallest structure in the world,but many buildings have past it's height since it was first built in 1887. The Eiffel Tower comes from four different feet that are held in the ground by many rivets. All of the feet meet up in the middle and go up for 984 feet until the top. The Eiffel Tower has three different platforms at different heights. The intermediate platform is just above the meeting of the feet. All the platforms are reached by stairs and elevators. The Eiffel Tower has been visited by more than 167 million people since it first opened in 1889. (http://www.eiffel-tower.us/Eiffel-Tower-Why-Was-the-Eiffel-Tower-Built.html),(http://corrosion-doctors.org/Landmarks/eiffel-history.htm),(Munro,16+17)and,(http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/world/eiffel-tower.html)
This building is capable of such thing by including shops, museums, offices, restaurants and apartments within (Jodidio, 2012, p. 91). The purpose of the design is to be “a sharp and light presence in the London Skyline” (Piano, 2000). The London Bridge Tower opened in 2012 and is currently the tallest building in Europe, although for Renzo, the height of The Shard was never something he strived for (Jodidio, 2012, p. 91) (The Shard,
The new building needed a new architect which the Royal Commission chose. The architect of choice was Sir Christopher Wren who was not actually an architect but an astronomer. Dr James W.P Campbell, ‘Ancient Mega Structures’ [Episode 8, National Geographic Channel],[Thursday June 18 , 2009] states that professional architects did not exist during the time the Cathedral needed to be reconstructed. He also states that “Architecture was seen as mathematics and Wren was a leading mathematician at the time”. Wren was a perfect candidate for the job because the construction of this building was far more complicated than people thought. Many builders ...