Big buildings are nothing new. The
ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids. The Italians built tall towers in the
Middle Ages. The French built huge cathedrals. However, it was difficult to build very tall buildings because
the bricks were not strong enough. Then, in 1852, Elisha Otis invented the elevator and in the 1880s
engineers developed a new building technique using steel. It was now possible to build tall buildings with
strong steel without worrying how to get to the top.
In big cities such as Chicago and New York that needed living space for families, and offices for businesses,
skyscrapers were the perfect solution. Some very brave men worked on these buildings as it was a
dangerous job. Imagine walking along narrow beams hundreds of feet above the ground! For this reason,
Mohawk Indians from Canada and ex-sailors did most of the work as they were not scared of heights. In
fact, the word 'skyscraper' comes from the name sailors gave to the tallest mast on a ship.
In 1885, the world's first skyscraper, a ten-storey office building, opened in Chicago.
Between 1930 and 1931, the Empire State Building grew almost one floor higher every day.
The 3,400 men who worked on it finished it in 14 months.
These days, skyscrapers decorate every city skyline, and each year taller and taller buildings
appear all over the world. At present, the world's tallest building is the Burj Khalifa, in the
United Arab Emirates. With over 1,200 stores, this building is a city in itself. Astana, the
capital of Kazakhstan, also has its share of skyscrapers. The Triumph of Astana
is one of the most impressive. It was finished in 2006 and it has 39 floors, with
shops, offices, apartments and a hotel.
Who knows what's next. The sky is the limit!
* 1 foot = 30,48 cm
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