Other Definitions
skyscraper (dict)
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Skyscraper -
- "What is the chief characteristic of the tall office building? It is lofty. It must be tall. The force and power of altitude must be in it, the glory and pride of exaltation must be in it. It must be every inch a proud and soaring thing, rising in sheer exaltation that from bottom to top it is a unit without a single dissenting line."
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- —Louis Sullivan's The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered (1896)
The word skyscraper was originally a nautical term for a tall mast or sail on a sailing ship. Today the word is used exclusively to refer to a tall habitable building, usually higher than 152 metres (500 feet). A skyscraper is also sometimes referred to as a highrise, a term which is generally used to refer to a residential building. Until the 19th century, buildings of over six stories were rare. It was impractical to have people walk up so many flights of stairs, and water pressure could only provide running water to about 50 feet (15 m). The development of steel, reinforced concrete, and water pumps have made possible the construction of extremely tall buildings, some of which are over 300 metres tall. The other development essential to practical skyscraper development was the invention of the elevator. The skyscraper first emerged in the land-strapped areas of New York City and Chicago toward the end of the 19th century. William LeBaron Jenney designed the first skyscraper in Chicago, The Home Insurance Building. The ten-story structure was constructed in 1884-1885 and was destroyed in 1931 for the Field's building. The weight-bearing components of skyscrapers also differ substantially from those of other buildings. Buildings up to about four stories can be supported by their walls, while skyscrapers are larger buildings that must be supported by a skeletal frame. The walls then hang off this frame like curtains. Special consideration must be given for wind loads. See world's tallest structures for a discussion of the tallest skyscrapers and other man-made structures, as determining the "world's tallest..." depends greatly on matters of definition. Top 50 Skyscrapers by structural/architectural height
This table is adapted from http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/wo/ and utilizes the criteria set by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). It ranks high rises by the highest architectural detail, and does not include the height of structural components that do not count as architectural structures, such as antennas and masts. This sort of ranking allows buildings that look smaller in height to be ranked higher if another building's spire is adjudged to be a large antenna and thus excluded. This results in such rankings as the Petronas Towers being ranked higher than the Sears Tower despite having a much lower highest point and occupiable floor. Also, the list does not include free-standing buildings that are not classified as high rises, such as the CN Tower, TV masts, bridges, or oil platforms. The table is up to date as of 2004, with destroyed buildings removed, notably the World Trade Center which would be in the top ten. (Note: the height given is the highest architectural detail and may not be highest point on building.) | ank | Building | City | Colspan="2" align="center"|Height | Floors | Built | | | ||Taipei 101||Taipei||509 m||1,671 ft||101||2003 || | | ||Petronas Tower 1||Kuala Lumpur||452 m||1,483 ft||88||1998|| | | ||Petronas Tower 2||Kuala Lumpur||452 m||1,483 ft||88||1998 | | ||Sears Tower||Chicago||442 m||1,450 ft||108||1974 || | | ||Jin Mao Tower||Shanghai||421 m||1,380 ft||88||1998 || | | ||||||||||||| | | ||Two International Finance Centre||Hong Kong||415 m||1,362 ft||88||2003 || | | ||CITIC Plaza||Guangzhou||391 m||1,283 ft||80||1997 || | | ||Shun Hing Square||Shenzhen||384 m||1,260 ft||69||1996 || | | ||Empire State Building||New York City||381 m||1,250 ft||102||1931 || | | 0 | Central Plaza | Hong Kong | 374 m | 1,227 ft | 78 | 1992 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 1 | Bank of China Tower | Hong Kong | 367 m | 1,205 ft | 72 | 1990 | | | 2 | Emirates Office Tower | Dubai | 355 m | 1,163 ft | 54 | 2000 | | | 3 | Tuntex Sky Tower | Kaohsiung | 348 m | 1,140 ft | 85 | 1997 | | | 4 | Aon Center | Chicago | 346 m | 1,136 ft | 83 | 1973 | | | 5 | The Center | Hong Kong | 346 m | 1,135 ft | 73 | 1998 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 6 | John Hancock Center | Chicago | 344 m | 1,127 ft | 100 | 1969 | | | 7 | Ryugyong Hotel | Pyongyang | 330 m | 1,083 ft | 105 | 1992 | | | 8 | Burj Al Arab | Dubai | 321 m | 1,053 ft | 60 | 1999 | | | 9 | Chrysler Building | New York City | 319 m | 1,046 ft | 77 | 1930 | | | 0 | Bank of America Plaza | Atlanta | 312 m | 1,023 ft | 55 | 1992 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 1 | US Bank Tower | Los Angeles | 310 m | 1,018 ft | 73 | 1990 | | | 2 | Menara Telekom | Kuala Lumpur | 310 m | 1,017 ft | 55 | 2001 | | | 3 | Emirates Hotel Tower | Dubai | 309 m | 1,014 ft | 56 | 2000 | | | 4 | AT&T Corporate Center | Chicago | 307 m | 1,007 ft | 60 | 1989 | | | 5 | JPMorganChase Tower | Houston | 305 m | 1,002 ft | 75 | 1982 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 6 | Baiyoke Tower II | Bangkok | 304 m | 997 ft | 85 | 1997 | | | 7 | Two Prudential Plaza | Chicago | 303 m | 995 ft | 64 | 1990 | | | 8 | Kingdom Centre | Riyadh | 302 m | 992 ft | 41 | 2002 | | | 9 | First Canadian Place | Toronto | 298 m | 978 ft | 72 | 1976 | | | 0 | Yokohama Landmark Tower | Yokohama | 296 m | 972 ft | 70 | 1993 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 1 | Wells Fargo Plaza | Houston | 296 m | 972 ft | 71 | 1983 | | | 2 | 311 South Wacker Drive | Chicago | 293 m | 961 ft | 65 | 1990 | | | 3 | SEG Plaza | Shenzhen | 292 m | 957 ft | 70 | 2000 | | | 4 | American International | New York City | 290 m | 952 ft | 66 | 1932 | | | 5 | Key Tower | Cleveland | 289 m | 947 ft | 57 | 1991 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 6 | Plaza 66 | Shanghai | 288 m | 945 ft | 66 | 2001 | | | 7 | One Liberty Place | Philadelphia | 288 m | 945 ft | 61 | 1987 | | | 8 | Bank of America Tower | Seattle | 285 m | 937 ft | 76 | 1985 | | | 9 | Tomorrow Square | Shanghai | 285 m | 934 ft | 55 | 2003 | | | 0 | Cheung Kong Centre | Hong Kong | 283 m | 928 ft | 62 | 1999 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 1 | The Trump Building | New York City | 283 m | 927 ft | 70 | 1930 | | | 2 | Bank of America Plaza | Dallas | 281 m | 921 ft | 72 | 1985 | | | 3 | OUB Centre | Singapore | 280 m | 919 ft | 63 | 1986 | | | 4 | Republic Plaza | Singapore | 280 m | 919 ft | 66 | 1995 | | | 5 | UOB Plaza One | Singapore | 280 m | 919 ft | 66 | 1992 | | | ||||||||||||| | | 6 | Citigroup Center | New York City | 279 m | 915 ft | 59 | 1977 | | | 7 | Hong Kong New World Tower | Shanghai | 278 m | 913 ft | 61 | 2002 | | | 8 | Scotia Plaza | Toronto | 275 m | 902 ft | 68 | 1988 | | | 9 | Williams Tower | Houston | 275 m | 901 ft | 64 | 1983 | | | 0 | Wuhan World Trade Tower | Wuhan | 273 m | 896 ft | 58 | 1998 | | For a longer listing go to List of skyscrapers History of tallest skyscraper | uilding | Built | Status | Colspan="2" align="center"|Roof | Colspan="2" align="center"|Pinnacle | Floors | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Home-Insurance-Building" title="Home Insurance Building">Home Insurance Building | 1885 | Destroyed | 180 ft | 55 m | 12 | | a href="/encyclopedia/World-Building" title="World Building">World Building | 1890 | Destroyed | 309 ft | 94 m | 349 ft | 106 m | 20 | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Manhattan-Life-Insurance-Building" title="Manhattan Life Insurance Building">Manhattan Life Insurance Building | 1894 | Destroyed | 348 ft | 106 m | ||18|| | a href="/encyclopedia/Park-Row-Building" title="Park Row Building">Park Row Building | 1899 | Present | 391 ft | 119 m | ||30 || | | a href="/encyclopedia/Singer-Building" title="Singer Building">Singer Building | 1908 | Destroyed | 612 ft | 187 m | ||47 || | | ||||||||||||||| | | a href="/encyclopedia/Met-Life-Tower" title="Met Life Tower">Met Life Tower | 1909 | Present | 700 ft | 213 m | ||||50 || | a href="/encyclopedia/Woolworth-Building" title="Woolworth Building">Woolworth Building | 1913 | Present | 792 ft | 241 m | ||||57 || | | a href="/encyclopedia/40-Wall-Street" title="40 Wall Street">40 Wall Street | 1930 | Present | ||||927 ft||283 m||71|| | a href="/encyclopedia/Chrysler-Building" title="Chrysler Building">Chrysler Building | 1930 | Present | 925 ft | 282 m | 1046 ft | 319 m | 77 | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Empire-State-Building" title="Empire State Building">Empire State Building | 1931 | Present | 1250 ft | 381 m | 1472 ft | 449 m | 102 | | | ||||||||||||||| | | a href="/encyclopedia/1-World-Trade-Center" title="1 World Trade Center">1 World Trade Center | 1972 | Destroyed | 1368 ft | 417 m | 1727 ft | 526 m | 110 | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Sears-Tower" title="Sears Tower">Sears Tower | 1974 | Present | 1450 ft | 442 m | 1730 ft | 527 m | 108 | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Taipei-101" title="Taipei 101">Taipei 101 | 2003 | Present | 1470 ft | 448 m | 1667 ft | 508 m | 101 | | Disputed Claims: Top 15 by pinnacle Top 15 by the highest point on the building. | uilding | Colspan="2" align="center" |Height | City | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Sears-Tower" title="Sears Tower">Sears Tower | 527 m | 1730 ft | Chicago | | gcolor="efefef" | | World Trade Center (destroyed) | 526 m | 1727 ft | New York City | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Taipei-101" title="Taipei 101">Taipei 101 | 508 m | 1667 ft | Taipei | | | a href="/encyclopedia/John-Hancock-Center" title="John Hancock Center">John Hancock Center | 457 m | 1500 ft | Chicago | | a href="/encyclopedia/Petronas-Towers" title="Petronas Towers">Petronas Towers | 452 m | 1483 ft | Kuala Lumpur | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Empire-State-Building" title="Empire State Building">Empire State Building | 449 m | 1472 ft | New York City | | | ||||||| | | a href="/encyclopedia/Jin-Mao-Tower" title="Jin Mao Tower">Jin Mao Tower | 421 m | 1380 ft | Shanghai | | International Finance Centre | 416 m | 1364 ft | Hong Kong | | | World Trade Center (destroyed) | 415 m | 1363 ft | New York City | | a href="/encyclopedia/CITIC-Plaza" title="CITIC Plaza">CITIC Plaza | 391 m | 1283 ft | Guangzhou | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Shun-Hing-Square" title="Shun Hing Square">Shun Hing Square | 384 m | 1260 ft | Shenzhen | | | ||||||| | | a href="/encyclopedia/Tuntex-85-Sky-Tower" title="Tuntex 85 Sky Tower">Tuntex 85 Sky Tower | 378 m | 1240 ft | Kaohsiung | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Central-Plaza" title="Central Plaza">Central Plaza | 374 m | 1227 ft | Hong Kong | | | a href="/encyclopedia/Bank-of-China-Tower" title="Bank of China Tower">Bank of China Tower | 367 m | 1205 ft | Hong Kong | | | a href="/encyclopedia/SEG-Plaza" title="SEG Plaza">SEG Plaza | 356 m | 1167 ft | Shenzhen | | Comparison of top modern skyscrapers
See also External links - http://www.skyscraperpage.com
- http://www.skyscrapercity.com
- http://www.skyscrapers.com
- http://www.skyscrapernews.com
- http://www.brazilskyscrapers.hpg.com.br
- http://www.bionictower-bvs.com/ (1228 m Shanghai tower project)
- http://www.cincyimages.com
- http://www.skyscraper.org
- http://www.geocities.com/birmingham_highrise/
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