

Chicago’s Reliance Building, completed in 1895, is an early example of a steel-frame superstructure.įacade possibilities were endless now that these structural systems were completely independent from their outward appearance.

Steel skyscrapers in Chicago’s Loop were among the first to use a skeletal structure built from carefully composed and engineered steel and decorated with sumptuous terra cotta, brickwork, or other masonry. It was steel, stacked sky-high on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, that signaled the coming prominence of skyscrapers, which would define cities of the 20 th century and beyond. The best ways to improve collaboration with steel fabricators are to invite them into the design process as early as possible, faithfully use industry standards, and apply post-project reviews.To choose the right steel-fabrication company, look for organizations that are adept at automation and digital modeling that can quickly invest in new staff, infrastructure, and fabrication techniques and are able to work within the required timelines, deadlines, and scope of work.Steel is renowned for its versatility and strength and redeems some of its energy intensiveness by being endlessly recyclable.Steel is fabricated by a range of mechanical operations, including rolling mills, CNC cutting, and algorithm-determined robotic manipulation.
