Skyscrapers have become pretty commonplace in modern times, and Skyscraper Day is our golden opportunity to appreciate these architectural marvels and feats of engineering. Skyscrapers grace our big cities with their bold presence and define our skylines with mighty buildings that literally seem to scrape the sky. But skyscrapers have only been around for about 130 years. The world’s first skyscraper was completed in 1885 in Chicago and it stood only 138 feet tall, a mere 10 stories that would not even count as a skyscraper today. But the name stuck, and initially any building that towered high over the surrounding structures was dubbed a skyscraper. Over time, our ability to engineer and construct skyscrapers improved drastically, and now a building must have at least 40 floors to be classified as a skyscraper at all. In crowded urban areas where land space is at a premium, skyscrapers allow us to build upwards rather than outwards, converting a single allotment of land area into 40 or more floors of potential living space. For National Skyscraper Day on September 3, we invite you to join us in taking a long look up.
Skyscraper Day Activities
- Visit the top of your local skyscraperChances are, you live within visiting distance of a skyscraper, and National Skyscraper Day is the perfect excuse to see your local skyscraper up close. Take a trip to your skyscraper and get a sense of the building from the inside. Ride the elevator (or dare to climb the stairs) to the top of the building and look out the window at the city around you. The top floors of many skyscrapers have restaurants, tours, or other ways to engage visitors, so poke around the offerings at your local skyscraper and have some fun!
- Explore your local architecture or engineeringMost of us weren’t cut out to be architects or engineers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate these two crucial professions and what they bring to many aspects of modern life. National Skyscraper Day is a great opportunity to learn about the styles of architecture in your area. Or if you prefer something a little less artsy, you can read up on the engineering challenges that were overcome to construct the skyscrapers near you. Every area is different, and regional construction challenges had an impact on how your local skyscrapers were built.
- Build your own skyscraperMost skyscrapers have a steel framework that works to support various curtain walls, but you can make a miniature version at home with building blocks, dry pasta and glue, or even toothpicks and tongue depressors. Decide on your materials ahead of time, and challenge your friends to a skyscraper contest! Give everyone the same amount of building time, and see who can make the tallest skyscraper of all. You could even hold a skyscraper party with a number of teams all competing for that top spot.
