Manhattan Building
Encyclopedia
The Manhattan Building is a 16-story building at 431 South Dearborn Street in Chicago, Illinois. It was designed by architect William Le Baron Jenney
and constructed from 1889 to 1891. It is the oldest surviving skyscraper
in the world to use a purely skeletal supporting structure. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on March 16, 1976, and designated a Chicago Landmark
on July 7, 1978.
The versatility and strength of metal frame construction made the skyscraper possible, as evidenced by this structure, which reaches the then-astounding height of 16 stories in 1891. Its architect was a pioneer in the development of tall buildings.
William Le Baron Jenney
William Le Baron Jenney was an American architect and engineer who became known as the Father of the American skyscraper.- Life and career :...
and constructed from 1889 to 1891. It is the oldest surviving skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in the world to use a purely skeletal supporting structure. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on March 16, 1976, and designated a Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
on July 7, 1978.
Architecture
The distinctive bay windows provide light into the building's interior spaces, and the combination of a granite facade for the lower floors and brick facade for the upper stories helps lighten the load placed on the internal steel framework. The north and south walls of tile are supported on steel cantilevers that carry the load back to the internal supporting structure.The versatility and strength of metal frame construction made the skyscraper possible, as evidenced by this structure, which reaches the then-astounding height of 16 stories in 1891. Its architect was a pioneer in the development of tall buildings.
See also
- Chicago architectureChicago architectureThe architecture of Chicago has influenced and reflected the history of American architecture. The city of Chicago, Illinois features prominent buildings in a variety of styles by many important architects...