Today we have arrived at the third and last part of our tripartite mini-series about skyscrapers, as we present the compilation of the grandiose 11 first skyscrapers in the world. Frankly, I have never been involved in architecture and whenever I ran into something about it, I went forward as fast as I could. And yet, as I started my research work in order to write an expansive and thorough article – I fell in love with these large giants as they stand tall with their cloud-capped towers. On searching the best images for the list, I stopped for a while to admire them, and to imagine what a great feeling it can be to spend couple of days in these gorgeous towers. Without a shadow of a doubt my absolute favorite ones are the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the Equitable Building in New York.
What do we call a skyscraper? It’s modern definition briefly: it’s minimum 150 m tall and has at least 40 floors. There are three things in common, at first they have a steel frame, on the other hand they are constructed in urban areas and at last they are generally located in the central business district (financial district). Interestingly, the term of skyscraper was originally used for a tall sail on a sailing ship. This meaning changed over time, and now we use it for high-rise buildings. Until the end of the 19th century constructions above six storeys were not common, as these buildings were made of weak materials, such as wood. But then, mass-produced steel made it possible to build skyscrapers. It so happened, that an Englishman, Sir Henry Bessemer “the steel man” invented the first procedure with which inexpensive mass-steel producing was possible. The starting point was to “blow the carbon out of pig-iron”. Bessemer patented his invention of “a decarbonization process utilizing a blast of air” in 1855. This made the constructors erect taller and taller buildings later on, as we can see in the list of the 20 cities with the most skyscrapers in the world.
Nowadays there are large construcions by mammoth concerns across the globe, so labour force is wanted all over the world, therefore if you are seeking a job in the construction industry, we can highly recommend you to check out the compilation of the 11 construction jobs with high demand.
Chicago Home Insurance Building is considered to be the first skyscraper in the world. Therefore every September 3rd is devoted to the Skyscraper day when we commemorate the first master architect of high-rise constructions, Luis Sullivan. He and the engineer William LeBaron Jenney worked together to design and build the Home Insirance Building. Sullivan formed his special, American Art Nouveau style, as his buildings combined simple, but elegant forms with organic ornamentation, as his famous and well-known principle says “Form follows function”. Skyscraper day is an excellent occasion to admire, discuss, visit and photograph these exceptional, architectural and engineering wonders. Lots of architectural tours can be found across the United States on this day, and what would be better way to celebrate them if not an exciting tour?
On compiling our list of the 11 first skyscrapers in the world, we consulted the Skyscraper Center. On reading through our article, three arresting things will meet the eye immediately. At first, in the title we wrote 11 buildings, but we start counting with 8th spot. It’s because there are six buildings that were completed in the same year: PNC Tower and Woolworth Building in 1913; Marriott’s Custom House and Equitable Building in 1915; and Chicago Temple Building and 26 Broadway in 1924. On the other hand, we mentioned above according to the modern definition, skyscraper should be at least 150 m, and should have minimum 40 floors. Nevertheless, the most important criterion is to exceed 150 m. Therefore, this was the data we used to rank these buildings. And finally, you can observe that 7 out of the 11 buildings were erected in New York City. Creating this list I became curious why most of the first skyscrapers in the world were constructed in New York. Actually, we could say New York is the city of skyscrapers. There are wide range of architecturally ramarkable constructions in various style, such as Woolworth Building in the early Gothic Revival, or Chrysler Building in the Art Deco design. By the end of 19th century, the city started spread outward where it had begun, at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Therefore the surrounding areas were developed, and by 1870 wood-frame houses gave place to those made of brick and stone, especially after the Great Fire of 1835. New York always had to transport the buildings materials from quite a distant, such as marble from Vermont, brownstone from Connecticut and granite from Minnesota. This all changed when industrial mass-steel producing became possible and inexpensive. And the result can be seen on New York’s skyline.
And now, let’s have a look at the list of the 11 first skyscrapers in the world.
8. 26 Broadway, New York, US
Height: 158.5 m / 520 ft
Floors: 31
Year of completion: 1924
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function: office
26 Broadway is located in Lower Manhattan New York. It’s also known as Standard Oil Building or Socony–Vacuum Building, stands 158.5 m tall and tells proudly about the amazing architecture of the 20th century. The building was originally constructed for Standard Oil in 1884-1885, but later it was retrofitted and expanded in 1895, and once again after the World War I. In 1995 it was designated a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. As of 2020, it is home to prominent institutes, such as Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning; and New York Film Academy.
8. Chicago Temple Building, Chicago, US
Height: 173.1 m / 568 ft
Floors: 23
Year of completion: 1924
Material: steel
Original function: office/religious
Current function: office/religious
The Chicago Temple Building hosts the First United Methodist Church of Chicago, and it has religious and office function. Actually, the Chicago Temple Building can bounce with being the tallest church building throughout the whole world, nevertheless Ulm Minster is the tallest church in the world.
7. Travelers Tower, Hartford, US
Height: 160.6 m / 527 ft
Floors: 24
Year of completion: 1919
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function:
Travelers Tower stands 160 m tall in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. In the year of 1919 when being completed, it was regarded to be the seventh tallest building in the world. Nevertheless, it is still the second tallest skyscraper in Hartford. At the 27th floor an open observation deck can be found, what’s more, for the biggest joy of the ornithologists, peregrine falcons have recently started to nest on the top of the building.
6. Equitable Building, New York, US
Height: 169.2 m / 555 ft
Floors: 38
Year of completion: 1915
Material: steel
Original function: office
The Equitable Building is located between Pine and Cedar Streets in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City. On being completed it was the largest office skyscraper in the world ranked by floor area, as it includes 110,000 m2 (1.2 million square feet). Its current owner, Silverstein Properties bought it in 1980 and retorfitted it several times. However, the building was added to the National Historic Landmark in 1978 and was designated a New York City landmark in 1996.
6. Marriott’s Custom House, Boston US
Height: 151.2 m / 496 ft
Floors: 32
Year of completion: 1915
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function: hotel
The Marriott’s Custom House (or Custom House Tower originally) is the third high-rise building outside New York on our list of the 11 first skyscrapers in the world. It’s located in McKinley Square, in the Financial District of Boston. It was erected in the Greek Revival style and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 . Currently it is home to Marriott Custom House Hotel. The tower was finished in January, 1915 and the amazing clock, whose faces are 22 feet diameter each, started to tell the time at 12:00 April 6, 1916! The tower includes a rotunda made of marble. The top of the building is open for public for small fee during a limited period daily.
5. Municipal Building, New York, US
Height: 176.8 m / 580 ft
Floors: 34
Year of completion: 1914
Material: steel
Original function: ofice
Current function: office
The Municipal Building is located in Manhattan, New York. This high-rise building was one of the last constructions that was part of the City Beautiful Movement in New York City. It was erected in the French Renaissance, Roman Imperial and Italian Renaissance styles. The Municipal Building can boast woth being among the largest governmental constructions across the globe, with its around 93000 m2 (1 million square feet) official space. As it has a remarkable view in the city’s skyline, in 1966 it was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Furthermore, it was registered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972!
4. PNC Tower, Cincinnati, US
Height: 150.9 m / 495 ft
Floors: 31
Year of completion: 1913
Material: steel
Original function: office
PNC Tower is among the few that are not in New York City. It also was designed by Cass Gilbert (like the next skyscraper, the Woolworth Building). Overlooking the Ohio River, it’s one of the most remarkable building in Cincinnati skyline. The upper part of its tower is inspired by the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which is not the only one, as the 14 Wall tower (on the 3rd spot on our list of the 11 first skyscrapers in the world) was also modeled after the Mausoleum. On being finished, this high-rise construction was the fifth tallest building in the world, and the 2nd tallest one outside the Big Apple.
4. Woolworth Building, New York, US
Height: 241.4 m / 792 ft
Floors: 58
Year of completion: 1913
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function: residential / office
The Woolworth Building is the second skyscraper on the 4th spot, as it was also erected in 1913. It was the well-known architect, Cass Gilbert who designed it in the Neo-Gothic style. When opening it was the tallest building in the world until 40 Wall Street Building was constructed in 1930. Its splendid, over-sized Gothic crown can be read from street level, too. Until 2015 it served with offices, after being retrofitted it is home to residential spaces.
3. 14 Wall, New York, US
Height: 164.6 m / 540 ft
Floors: 29
Year of completion: 1912
Material: steel
Original function: office
Although 14 Wall Street (the original name was Bankers Trust Company Building) possesses only 29 floors above ground, yet it deserves its place here with its 164.6 m / 540 ft height . It’s located in the Financial District of Manhattan. The tower has a spectacular pyramidal roof, which is similar to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. As being a remarkable construction in Manhattan’s skyline, in 1997 it was designated a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Interestingly, it was home to the Skyscraper Museum in 1998, and the museum had an arresting exhibiton on the Empire State Building. Later on, a Ukrainan tycoon purchased the building for $303 million in cash, who paid off the building’s outstanding debt.
2. Metropolitan Life Tower, New York, US
Height: 213.4 m / 700 ft
Floors: 50
Year of completion: 1909
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function: hotel / office
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, or as widely known, the Met Life Tower is located in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. Actually it has two parts, there’s a 210 m (700 ft tall) northwestern tower at Madison Avenue and 24th Street, and another eastern wing bordered by Madison Avenue, Park Avenue South, 23rd Street and 24th Street. Its recladding was finished in 1961, and it was retrofitted between 2012 and 2015. Currently it is home to offices and a hotel.
1. Singer Building, New York City, US
Height: 186.6 m / 612 ft
Floors: 41
Year of completion: 1908
Material: steel
Original function: office
Current function: demolished, 1968
Singer Building hits the top on the list of the 11 first skyscrapers above 150m in the world. Actually, it was the tallest building across the globe in 1908 – 1909, but in the year of 1909 the Metropolitan Life Tower surpassed it with its 213.4 m / 700 ft height. On being constructed, the Singer Building got a 62 ft tall flagpole, so its tip height was 205.4 m / 674 ft. Then, this beautiful tower was demolished in 1968 just to give place to 1 Liberty Plaza, which is definitely not so compelling as the Singer Building was. Originally, in 1897 the building was 10-storey tall, and it was expanded by the same architect in 1906. This gorgeous building included 15 elevators, four of which winged the passangers to the tower.
