National Skyscraper Day

Whoever it was that first considered placing dwellings on top of each other instead of side-by-side would probably be astounded at how today’s modern buildings literally seem to touch the sky!

And National Skyscraper Day is here to give a nod to those creative architects, from the beginning until now, who have dared to climb to great heights.

History of National Skyscraper Day

The construction of tall buildings has become so commonplace in cities around the globe that the general public typically gives little thought to the visionaries who are responsible for creating a city’s unique skyline.

Skyscrapers have an interesting history that date back to the late 1800s, when the first building to be in this category was constructed in Chicago, Illinois, USA. At ten stories, which by today’s standards hardly seems high at all, the Home Insurance Building was the world’s first building made from a largely steel structure. Today’s standards would usually require that a building would be at least 100 meters tall before it would be considered a skyscraper.

National Skyscraper Day provides the opportunity to learn more about the architects who commit a dream to paper and the construction crews that make it reality. The day is celebrated on September 3 each year, as this is the anniversary of the birth of Louis H. Sullivan, the American architect who was influential in the world of building tall buildings and was even called the “father of skyscrapers”.

Although the United States was the place where the tallest buildings started in cities like Chicago and New York, others around the world have taken up the design and building of these architectural wonders. In fact, today’s tallest building in the world, with 163 floors, is called the Burj Khalifa and is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

On National Skyscraper Day, some folks may find it interesting that status is often attached to living or working at the highest level. For instance, the penthouse suite is always considered to be the nicest in the building – with the best views, of course.

Although this analogy of living at the highest of heights may be obvious, there is another to be drawn from the consequences of a power failure. These are just a couple of aspects to ponder on a day that is set aside to reflect on humanity’s apparent conquest of upper space – National Skyscraper Day!

How to Celebrate National Skyscraper Day

Show some appreciation for the brains behind super tall buildings and enjoy National Skyscraper Day in a variety of ways. Implement some ideas and activities like these:

Head into a Large City

Folks who do not live in the city might need to travel a bit to get to a skyscraper, but on National Skyscraper Day, it seems like the right thing to do! It might be a fun activity to go into the city to actually take the elevator to the highest floor of the tallest building that can be found. Or, for those who aren’t quite as urban minded or ready to deal with the traffic, simply find a place on the outskirts of the city to sit and enjoy the view of the skyscrapers as they create an interesting skyline.

Sketch Out Some Skyscrapers

Architecture is a discipline that certainly includes art and creativity, but also requires a massive amount of science and engineering. In celebration of National Skyscraper Day it might be enjoyable to grab a sketch pad and a pencil and get creative with some drawings of skyscrapers. Whether or not they are technically buildable probably doesn’t matter. Just conjure up an interesting building in your imagination and then put it on paper!

Other days to celebrate along this theme of architects and skyscrapers include Skyscraper Appreciation Day as well as World Architecture Day.