Today, skyscrapers can be found in nearly every major city. In fact, cities seem to compete to see who can build the tallest building. Though buildings keep getting taller, engineers have faced many challenges along the way. Engineers continue to use new materials and develop new methods to overcome these challenges.
The word “skyscraper” was first used in the 1880s to describe some of the first tall buildings in the United States. Before this time, most buildings were made of wood or stone and didn’t reach heights greater than seven stories. But as populations grew, cities began to run out of room. Buildings needed to be taller to make room for the people that lived and worked in the cities. Engineers began to use iron to make the buildings taller. Iron is a metal that was used as a frame. However, engineers soon reached their limit because iron could only support the weight of so many floors.
During the Industrial Revolution, engineers invented a process to produce large amounts of steel. Engineers began to use steel beams to frame the buildings. Steel is a very strong and lightweight metal that can support the weight of many floors. With steel, the sky was the limit!
Engineers continued to develop new methods and tools that allowed them to build up. They invented elevators and made the foundations and frames stronger. Today’s skyscrapers are built to withstand wind and even earthquakes. Engineers continue to develop new and innovative skyscraper designs as the battle for the sky continues.
What Do You Think? What are some other challenges engineers might face in designing a skyscraper?
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