The First Modern Skyscraper: New York & Chicago
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www.vidyarthiplus.com The The First Modern Skyscraper: New York & Chicago By: Matthew Tucker Ryan Ho Jonathan Megallon www.vidyarthiplus.com 1 www.vidyarthiplus.com Table of Contents: 1. History 2. Culture 3. Style 4. Materials and Procedures 5. The New York World Building By: Matthew Tucker 6. The Chicago Park Tower By: Jonathan Megallon 7. The Chrysler Building By: Ryan Ho www.vidyarthiplus.com 2 www.vidyarthiplus.com History Aspect A rising time: the History of the Skyscraper in New York and Chicago Skyscrapers have always represented the rising industrial age of American society in the 1900’s, and when people think of the skyscraper they imaging massive, fifty stories plus, high-rise structures. However, the term skyscraper was first applied to the first ten to twenty story buildings that began to rise in New York in the 1880’s. While in contemporary culture these building may not compete with the high-rising giants that line the skyline of New York and Chicago, during the time they were built very few building could go up beyond 8 stories with out facing serious structural issues. In 1855 a process to refine and strengthen “pig iron” (raw iron) and turn it into steel was patented by Sir Henry Bessemer, solving the structural load bearing issues that arose with large high-rise structures. Steel is vital to the development of the modern skyscraper as it provided the internal support needed to solve the structural issues that prevented architects from building massive multistory structures safely, and in the 1880’s architect Figure 1Henry Bessemer George A. Fuller created a system utilizing a “cage” of steel bars that created the support structure used in the Flatiron building (the first true New York skyscraper), and is still used as the bases of all modern skyscrapers. The skyscrapers themselves served two major historical functions: they were a symbol for America’s rising social, global, and industrial power and they solved geographical and social issues that were rising in the early 1900’s. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s America was rising as one of the major world powers in the world. Socially and economically they were becoming world leaders, and in the area of technology they were leading the world with new advancements. The skyscraper was a monumental symbol of America’s technological triumphs, as the system of supports that skyscrapers are based off of was developed in America, and in New York the major international gate of America during this time skyscrapers were heavily ornamented with this in mind. The skyscraper served in all respects as massive monumental symbols to America’s rising power and glory in the world. However, skyscrapers also served a practical purpose as they solved the issues of over population in major metropolitan areas and the issue of the vulnerability to the elements that prior building had. With the rise in American success the issue of over population began to develop, particularly in cities like New York and Chicago that were major hubs in America at the time. With the advent of the skyscraper, however, this problem became controllable as city designers could now develop buildings that could hold hundreds of office spaces and apartments all in a compact area, thus conserving and utilizing as much space as possible. Moreover, skyscrapers could be built far sturdier and more resilient then previous building, as their materials and structural design could withstand the destructive effects of the elements, and after the Chicago fire of 1871 this attribute became a major focal point. www.vidyarthiplus.com 3 www.vidyarthiplus.com Culture Chicago was the area for architects to come and build in the 1900’s. Chicago has very little space but once had the world’s greatest amount of high rise buildings. Even though humans have been making great structures since ancient times Chicago was home to many of the innovations that are used for high rise office buildings that are being built today. Important innovations that contributed to the development of the modern high rises were efficient transportation systems. These systems would carry large amounts of people to office buildings and jobs such as catalog sales; which takes a lot of people a lot of people to work in that department. Several buildings in the 1880’s sank to the ground because of poor support but were soon replaced with much larger and much sturdier support systems. In certain areas buildings were only allowed up to three stories and were to be built on 25 X 125 lots. Residential buildings were built from the working man made wood cottages or brick tenements and the elaborate brick and stone mansion to the wealthy. Multi family buildings were starting to become popular i.e. two to three flats and large apartment buildings. Buildings in the 1900’s are either now modern day skyscrapers or buildings that are being preserved through public and private groups that donate to keep the older buildings standing. www.vidyarthiplus.com 4 www.vidyarthiplus.com STYLE Early skyscraper design relied on a variety of inspiration from centuries past, including Classical, Gothic and Renaissance models. Gothic style was extremely popular throughout the 1800’s and a derivative of the style dubbed, Victorian gothic also became popular in the late 1800’s. Renaissance revival and International styles were also widely used in the early The Art Deco movement emerged around 1925 and remained a predominant style until WWII. Gothic Revival became popular in the United States after the Civil war. It can be characterized by contrasting brick color patterns, asymmetry, large pointed arches, steeply pitched roofs, curvilinear trim, towers and battlements. The earliest skyscrapers were typically a rectangular shape with a flat roof, a tripartite division of the façade, and were reminiscent of Gothic and Roman architecture. The base was usually two stories, the shaft consisted of multiple floors with a repeating window pattern and a capital was typically capped with some terra-cotta decoration. Modern and International style buildings became popular around 1920. The style can be best described as rectangular and simple with frequent use of glass. The buildings are plain and free of ornamentation. The form and function of these buildings is very straightforward with obvious expression of the buildings interior skeleton. Art Deco, popularized in 1925, took its name from a Paris exposition in 1925. This flashy style embodied the idea of modernity and influenced all areas of design. Art Deco placed emphasis on geometric form through the use of hard- edged, low relief ornamentation around doors and windows as well as decorative motifs of parallel lines, zigzags, chevrons and stylized floral patterns. Art Deco buildings were typically capped with stepped tops called ziggurats. www.vidyarthiplus.com 5 www.vidyarthiplus.com MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES The earliest skyscrapers had solid concrete walls. To support the weight of the building, walls were built extremely thick, resulting in limited interior space and low natural lighting. In the mid 1800’s builders began using cast iron framework, and later cast iron cages to support the weight of the floors. The first building to employ the use of a steel skeleton was the Home Insurance building in Chicago, built in 1883. This innovation was a major stepping-stone toward modern skyscraper construction. Because the steel framework is capable of supporting the entire weight of the building, the walls are freed from bearing the load of the massive building. Other innovations in plumbing, and safer, more effective elevator systems made building skyscrapers practical and possible. The two main materials in skyscraper construction are steel and concrete. Concrete is a mixture of water, cement powder, and aggregate consisting of gravel or sand. Steel is and alloy of iron and carbon. The steel beams are coated with vermiculite (heat-treated mica) and plaster to protect them from corrosion and heat. Due to limited space in skyscraper construction, beams are delivered ready to install. The exterior or “cladding” can be made up of a variety of materials such as glass, metals, masonry, granite, marble, terra cotta, etc. A skyscraper must not only be able to support its own weight (dead weight), but also the weight people and furniture (live weight), and more than anything else, the lateral forces of the wind. Construction begins with digging a big hole. The size of the hole depends on the depth of the bedrock and how many subterranean levels are to be built. Footing holes are then blasted or drilled into the bedrock and steel reinforced concrete columns are placed in the footings, anchoring the building to the bedrock. Steel beams are carefully lifted into position with a crane and welded into place (Rivets were used up until the 1950’s). Wooden forms are then constructed and attached to the frame and concrete is poured. When the exterior is enclosed in concrete, the interior finishing process begins with the installation of electrical and telephone wires, plumbing, interior walls, ceiling panels, bathroom fixtures and lighting fixtures. Lastly the roof is installed, waterproofed and decorative fixtures, like a cornice, are installed. www.vidyarthiplus.com 6 www.vidyarthiplus.com The NEW YORK WORLD BUILDING By: Matthew Tucker The New York World Building, designed by George B. Post, was built in 1889 and completed in 1890. This building was ranked as the tallest building in the world for four years at a disputed 18 stories. It stood at 309’ on Park Row, opposite City Hall until being demolished in 1955 to make room for additional Brooklyn Bridge access. The exterior style has been labeled, “Renaissance Revival.” The body of the building has heavy Flavian style.