ART1635H: Evolution of Skypscrapers

Abstract

We shall examine the conception, development and construction of the skyscraper. Since the tall office building flourished in Chicago as nowhere else during the last century, we shall begin with the roots of the tall office building in that city. The course will include selections from the theoretical literature on the nature of the tall building. New York City, with its unparalleled concentration of skyscrapers in lower and mid-town Manhattan, will serve as our learning laboratory. Presentations by practitioners and class members are included.¶ Starting with the history of and theories about this building type and its early stages in the nineteenth century, we shall examine the following topics: ▪ The early history of the tall office building: embracing the machine age ▪ The impact of zoning ordinances on urban form ▪ The role of the real estate developer ▪ The architect and the design process ▪ Systems synthesis: engineering and construction ▪ Making space comfortable: the role of the interior architect