Housely
Few major cities are without a skyscraper, which is defined today as a building that’s over 40 floors or 150 meters tall. They’re mostly used for commercial purposes, but skyscrapers can also be architectural masterpieces. It has been the goal to construct big buildings as a show of influence and power for centuries, but it wasn’t always practical due to costs and safety issues. Once the world’s first safe elevator was developed by Elisha Graves Otis in 1853, things changed and people felt safer going into buildings with several floors. As buildings started to get taller and an electric motor was added to the elevator’s design, the time became ripe for the design and construction of the world’s first skyscraper.
Skyscrapers have been made of a wide range of materials and some contain intricate details and innovative facades, but there’s one thing they all have in common: they’re built to be strong and resilient. Designing and constructing a skyscraper takes a unique vision and set of skills, as tall buildings necessitate the need to be more thoughtful about safety. During the early years of skyscraper development various problems had to be solved, from swaying, unstable buildings to loose windows that would often send heavy glass panels crashing to the streets. Architects and builders had to come up with some key innovations, and then the modern skyscraper that we know today came to fruition.
Throughout the world, these buildings are used to create impressive landmarks and make a statement. The skyscraper’s rich history and legacy of innovation started in the US. Here are ten skyscrapers that changed the landscape and culture of America.
1. The World Trade Center’s Twin Towers (New York City, NY)
Before being destroyed in the attacks on September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers were an icon in New York. They formed part of the World Trade Center, were each 110 stories tall, and their construction was completed in 1973. In addition to being the center of NYC’s Financial District, the Twin Towers were a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of strong progress and ingenuity. Without the towers standing, New York’s skyline looks quite different.
2. Empire State Building (New York City, NY)
New York City is home to many iconic skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building. Architects Gregory Johnson and William Lamb designed the Empire State Building. Construction of the 102 story skyscraper began in March of 1930 and was completed in May of 1931. Midtown Manhattan simply wouldn’t have the same vibe without this building in its background.
3. Home Insurance Building (Chicago, IL)
This skyscraper was the first ever built, and it was constructed right in Chicago in 1885. The Home Insurance Building was designed to be ten stories tall by architect Major William Le Baron Jenney. While few would be impressed by a ten story building these days, this skyscraper set the standard and proved to the world that it was possible to develop tall, stable, and safe buildings.
4. Terminal Tower (Cleveland, OH)
For a long time, Terminal Tower was the tallest building Ohio, and was even the fourth tallest building the world in the 1930s. This 235 meter tall skyscraper was dedicated in June 1930, and is now known as an important landmark. During various holidays and sports seasons of the year, the Terminal Tower’s 508 external LED lights are often lit up in different color schemes. In addition to being a key business enter, Terminal Tower has payed a big role in American pop culture.
5. The Trump Building (New York City, NY)
The address 40 Wall Street in New York City is synonymous with the Trump Building. Formerly known as the Bank of Manhattan Trust building, the Trump Building took only 11 months to construct and opened in April 1930. It is 283 meters tall, and for a short time was the world’s tallest building. Today, it is New York City’s tallest mid-block structure and was designated a landmark for the city in 1998.
6. Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco, CA)
While some skyscrapers are known for simply being very tall, San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid is known for its height and unique shape. The 48 floor building was designed by architect William Pereira and was completed in 1972. Aside from the shape, this skyscraper is known for its stately glass pyramid cap and color, which is due to the building’s facade being covered in crushed quartz. It’s so iconic that even after the Transamerica Corporation moved their headquarters out of the Transamerica Pyramid and on to Baltimore, Maryland, the company still kept a silhouette of the skyscraper in its logo.
7. The Tribune Tower (Chicago, IL)
Today, most skyscrapers are built for function and efficiency, but many skyscrapers of yesteryear were detailed gems with beautiful designs. One such example is the Tribune Tower, which is a Gothic revival that replaced the original Tribune Tower that was built in the mid 1800s. This 36 floor skyscraper is home to many offices and a restaurant, and also serves as the headquarters of several world renowned companies, including Tribune Media.
8. Columbia Center (Seattle, WA)
Washington State’s tallest building isn’t just a skyscraper, it’s a thing of beauty. Columbia Center — formerly known as both the Columbia Seafirst Center and Bank of America Tower — stands 76 floors tall, was designed by architect Chester Lindsey, and opened in March 1985. The geometric and concave features of the building give it a distinctive look, and its height makes it the second tallest building on the US West Coast.
9. Seagram Building (New York City, New York)
Today, we usually think of skyscrapers as being modernist figures that are akin to tall, dark boxes. The Seagram Building, completed in 1958, was the model for the trend. It has 38 floors — a skyscraper used to be defined as a building at least 10 stories tall — and was designed by architects Philip Johnson and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
10. John Hancock Center (Chicago, IL)
Chicago’s John Hancock Center, which was completed in 1969, is a super tall skyscraper. The 100 story building is now the 7th tallest in the US, and it’s one of the largest mixed use buildings in Illinois. Its 700 condos comprise the third highest residence in the world, and John Hancock Center is also host to business offices and restaurants. One restaurant on the 95th floor provides amazing views of Lake Michigan and the city, while its Observatory has the only open air SkyWalk in Chicago and is a major tourist attraction.
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