Originally used to refer to structures of 10 – 20 floors, the word “skyscraper” came to refer to unusually tall high-rise structures, usually more than 40/50 stories, by late 20th century. In terms of structure, skyscrapers are made up of a super-structure of columns & girders above ground, a sub-structure of piers below it, and curtain wall suspended on girders. The skyscraper is a multi-story, towering, continually livable structure. The height at which a building qualifies as skyscraper varies by location and organization, but generally, a building should be minimum 150 meters (492 feet) tall to be considered a skyscraper.
Skyscrapers are typically found in urban-areas and are characterized by their distinctive tall and slender profile. They serve various purposes such as commercial, residential, or mixed-use, and they often symbolize economic power and urban development. Examples of famous skyscrapers include the Burj-Khalifa in Dubai, the Empire-State Building in New York City, and the Shanghai-Tower in China. The necessity for buildings that rise rather than spread has increased along with metropolitan regions’ population density. Originally a type of commercial architecture, the skyscraper is now increasingly being employed for residential buildings as well.
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