Engineering marvels that push the limits of possibility, skyscrapers captivate the world with their bold architecture. Examples include Abu Dhabi’s Capital Gate, the first man-made leaning tower, and the awe-inspiring Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, which radically altered the Saudi capital’s skyline with its 300-meter height and iconic crescent top. It won the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2002 as the “world’s best skyscraper for design.”
The first skyscraper was built in 1885
The story of the first skyscraper in the world began in 1885, when the Home Life Insurance Building, designed by architect William LeBaron Jenney, was inaugurated in Chicago. With its impressive height of 10 stories (later expanded to 12), this building was the first to incorporate metal in its structure. It soon became a symbol of an architectural movement known as the “Chicago School,” embodying the ambitious and technologically advanced spirit of America.
Legend has it that LeBaron Jenney conceived the idea of using an iron skeleton to support a building when he saw his wife place a heavy book on a small birdcage, which easily bore the weight. This observation sparked the idea of using metal frameworks in construction, paving the way for the rise of increasingly taller buildings.
Although structures over 16 stories high were already possible at the time, the use of masonry alone required extremely thick walls and small windows, making buildings less appealing to tenants. However, William LeBaron Jenney’s insight, combined with the drop in steel prices in the late 19th century, led to a boom in the skyscraper market.
By developing and refining the concept of these mega-buildings, the influence of the Chicago School transformed urban planning, making previously unimaginable projects possible and continuing to inspire the spectacular structures that define today’s skylines.
