History of Metal in Construction

HISTORY OF METAL IN CONSTRUCTION
Metal is used as structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers, or

as an external surface covering. There are many types of metals used for building.
Metal figures quite prominently in prefabricated structures such as the Quonset hut, and
can be seen used in most cosmopolitan cities. It requires a great deal of human labor to
produce metal, especially in the large amounts needed for the building industries.
Corrosion is metal's prime enemy when it comes to longevity.
Though iron has been around for centuries, its usage in construction is more
modern than you might think. It began around the Industrial Revolution, which was
characterized by mass production and the development of new materials, modern steel
included.
Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, and is the usual choice for
metal structural building materials. It is strong, flexible, and if refined well and/or treated
lasts a long time.
One of the first major uses of steel for construction purposes was in train stations.
After the usage there proved profitable, its use expanded to include churches, private
buildings, and more. In the late 1800s, the first steel-framed buildings and skyscrapers
emerged.
In the 1800s, there were three forms of “ferrous metals” in use: wrought iron, cast
iron, and steel. Wrought iron was very familiar to blacksmiths who had been working
with the material for years. While we now think of it as mostly decorative, in the
Victorian era, it was also commonly used as a building material. Cast iron, strong but
brittle, was more widely used for cooking and farming but was not very appropriate for
building. Steel was expensive to produce and was used for higher-end items like
watches, swords, and scythes.
In 1855, the Bessemer Method, created by Sir Henry Bessemer in England, made

the production of steel more efficient. It allowed for the creation of steel with good
tensile strength, however, wrought iron continued to be the more prevalent choice for
iron-based building of the period. By 1879, inventor Sidney Thomas mastered a method
to remove phosphorous from steel – increasing its quality and its possibilities. His “Basic
Process” meant that steel could finally be produced more cheaply so, it’s production
rapidly grew. His method became popular in Europe and, by the 1880s, steel quality
became more consistent.
In the United States, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed thousands of
timber buildings. After the fire, Chicago responded by creating stricter building
regulations by requiring non-combustible construction materials including brick, stone,
marble, and limestone. Other building solutions were cast iron and wrought iron paired
with brickwork, but as the city grew, Chicago needed to look to steel construction to go
skyward.
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885, was a 10-story

building widely recognized as the first to use steel skeleton frame construction with
reinforced concrete. When it weighed only one-third of what a traditional masonry
building of its size would have weighed, city officials halted construction to investigate
its safety. Demolished in 1931, the building is seen as the father of the skyscraper. The
Rand McNally Building in Chicago was built in 1890 as the first all-steel framed
skyscraper. Designed by Burnham and Root, it stood ten stories and cost $1 million to
build at the time. It was demolished in 1911.
By the early 1900s, advances in technology and production yielded a steel

product that was consistently stronger. Railroads thrived and structural steel became
the building material by which others would be judged. From 1875 to 1920 steel
production in America grew from 380,000 tons to 60 million tons annually, making the
U.S. the world leader.The incredibly rapid growth was built on a solid technological base
and the ongoing development of office buildings, factories, railroads, bridges and more.
By 1913, America was ready to reach higher into the sky and the Woolworth
Building, a 60-story tower, was built in New York. For a time, it was the tallest building in
the world and was looked to as a model of pioneering American steel-frame
construction.
By 1928, the Chrysler Building was competing with 40 Wall Street and the
Empire State Building to become the world’s tallest building. Today, the Chrysler
Building remains the world’s tallest steel-supported brick building.
By the 1940s, hundreds of thousands of people worked in American steel mills,

and steel was being regularly used in building construction.

History of Metal in Construction

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

History of Metal in Construction

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

History of Metal in Construction

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

HISTORY OF METAL IN CONSTRUCTION

Metal is used as structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers, or

In 1855, the Bessemer Method, created by Sir Henry Bessemer in England, made

The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885, was a 10-story

By the early 1900s, advances in technology and production yielded a steel

By the 1940s, hundreds of thousands of people worked in American steel mills,

You might also like