Monadnock's Impact On The Development Of Skyscrapers

Introduction.
The late 19th and early 20th century was an important time and turning point in the eventual development of skyscrapers. It is during this time that various technological and design aspects that would eventually shape the future of skyscrapers started to gain root. Two important buildings developed between this time periods include the Empire State building in New York and Monadnock building in Chicago. Although they were built about 40 years apart, they are much more similar than one would imagine. They both were of great significance and impact on the design, economics, and society although they were built in completely different eras.
The Monadnock Building, Chicago.
Christened the fountainhead of modern architecture, the Monadnock

building is a skyscraper that is located at 53 West Jackson Boulevard in the south loop locale of Chicago City, Illinois.
Brief History.
After Chicago won the hosting rights to the 1893 world’s Columbian exposition, real estate prices rose mercurially due to the excitement it generated. The Brooks brothers saw the opportunity and decided to come up with a new building in order to cash in on the euphoria. The task to set up this building was given to architects Burnham and Root who also happened to be the builders of the Columbian Exposition. Construction on the northern part of the building commenced in 1884 but stopped in 1891 as Burhan was not able to continue as a result of the death of John Root. Design and building of the southern part of the tower were commissioned to Holabird & Roche who happened to be the second largest practice in the city at that time. Construction of the southern phase ultimately ended in 1893 to effectively become the world’s largest office building. The building cost $2,500,000.
Originally the Monadnock was conceived as four separate office buildings with their own elevators, heating systems entrances, and names. These comprised of Monadnock, Katahdin, Kearsarge, and Wachusett all of which are mountains in New England.
Architecture.
While the iconic design of the Monadnock may look outdated right now, it represents a building that was built with technologies and designs way beyond its time. It falls within the style called Chicago school which emphasized on the aim of breaking through to pure forms which would unite architecture and construction in an identical expression.
The northern half of the building designed by Root, represent his last and boldest design ever. It features no decadent ornamentation as was famous in this period but rather resembles modern architecture due to its clean stripped down façade. It also features a flared base and parapet which historian Daniel Hoffman likened to the bell-shaped Egyptian columns derived from papyrus. The corners of the buildings are smoothly rounded from base to top with continuous bay window undulating its façade. The southern half, on the other hand, features a much more traditional ornate look complete with vertical divisions of brickwork at the base and a larger copper cornice at the roof. All these represent the impressive early application of the predominant classical architectural principles to the successful design of tall buildings.
The Monadnock stands out as a beacon of transition in structural methods because buildings that preceded it were mainly solid structures supported by their external walls. As a 16 storied building measuring in at 60 m (197 ft.), it is the tallest commercial iron frame building complete with a load-bearing masonry wall ever
The building is an office block that has primarily served independent professional firms over the years. The building’s space is divided into offices from 23 m2 (250 sq. feet) to 560 m2 (6,000 sq. feet) in size. Upon completion, the Monadnock could comfortably accommodate about 6,000 tenants comfortably. constructed. The masonry wall is six feet thick at the ground level. Almost the entire southern half is built in this way save for the southern quarter which is supported entirely by steel frames which are known today as the curtain wall. Both halves tell the story of the transition from classical to modern architecture that was happening at this particular time.
Usage and occupancy.

Pioneering Technologies.
The following are some of the pioneering technologies that were employed in the building of the Monadnock.
1. Cage Construction.
The building employs cage construction whereby a network of iron columns and girders were employed to reinforce the masonry walling further so as to be stiff against lateral forces.
2. Floating Foundation.
The floating foundation invented by Root himself completely revolutionized how tall buildings were built on Chicago’s spongy soil. An extensive layer of concrete, reinforced with steel beams is spread out under surrounding streets so as to spread the weight over a large area.
3. Cantilevered Bay Windows.
The continuous undulating bay windows that dot the façade of the Monadnock are not self-supporting in themselves. They are in fact hang from cantilevered steel beams that run from the buildings internal structure through the building’s masonry piers.
4. Hybrid Portal Wind Bracing.
The Monadnock was the first building to use a hybrid portal for wind bracing in the U.S. It’s complicated series of iron reinforcement to withstand against powerful winds and other lateral forces were used for the time here.
5. Structural use of Aluminum in Construction.
The various decorative staircases found in the building are a clear illustration of the early uses of Aluminum metal as far as construction is concerned.
6. Electric Lighting.
Due to the light limitations that were characteristic of buildings crafted out of thick masonry walls an innovative alternative to ensure enough light reaches the office block. Electric lighting which was still a new development was therefore installed on the Monadnock. Indeed this building was the most extensively wired skyscraper in the whole of Chicago at that time.
Impact on Later Designs.

As a bold building that challenged what was considered acceptable, the Monadnock is a building that has greatly shaped the course of skyscrapers not only in Chicago but the world over. The clean façade employed on the Monadnock is now extensively used on most modern skyscrapers. The decadent ornamentation and protrusions of the previous era gave way to a more focused and functional building style.
At one time the building was one the tallest and biggest self-supporting building ever. This would not have been possible without the iron reinforcement cage support employed to add more reinforcement strength to the wall. People consequently discovered that steel was much better than iron and would make a very good reinforcement as well as allow for taller skyscrapers.
Impact on Economics and Society.
The Monadnock was of great economic and societal impact not just in South loop but also to the greater City of Chicago. The huge success of the building helped catalyze the building of many more skyscrapers in the vicinity which led to the development of a new business center in the area. This rapid development of buildings and the renewed interest in Chicago as a business hub helped revitalize its economy only 22 years after the city was devastated by a destructive fire. exist also benefited due to the advent of taller buildings that could accommodate more enterprises as well as much more objectified and focused

designs.