Content. Learning Outcomes

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Madison Gilmore
5 years ago
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1 Skyscrapers WRITING

2 Content The world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, stands at m tall in Dubai. This lesson will teach you the history of skyscrapers and how architecture defines a city. Learning Outcomes Learn the definition of a skyscraper. Read about the history of skyscrapers and their relation to cities. Discuss various implications regarding the construction of skyscrapers. 1

3 Skyscrapers are exceptionally tall buildings that often dominate the skylines of large cities. They are generally filled with offices and apartments, built to provide as much work and living space as possible in areas where horizontal space is scarce and extremely expensive. 2

4 There is no standard height requirement for a building to be labeled a skyscraper. However, skyscrapers in modern times are generally considered to be taller than high-rises. For example, a building with twenty-five stories would most likely be considered a high-rise, while a building with thirty-five stories might be considered a skyscraper. 3

5 As such, it could be said that the term skyscraper is relative to height of the skyline in which the building exists. Buildings reaching heights beyond 300 meters, however, are always called skyscrapers. In fact, they are classified as supertall skyscrapers. Similarly, skyscrapers higher than 600 meters are referred to as megatall. 4

6 The term skyscraper originated in the United States during the late 1800s. At the time, architects began utilizing steel frames, allowing for the construction of buildings beyond 10 stories in height. These skyscrapers dominated the skylines of major American cities, such as New York, Detroit and Chicago. 5

7 The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was one of the first of these steel-frame skyscrapers. Constructed in 1885, the building was just 10 stories high - 42 meters tall! 6

8 Less than 50 years later, the Empire State Building was built in Manhattan, New York City in 1931, becoming the first building in the world to have more than 100 stories. At 381 meters tall, the Empire State Building remained the tallest building in the world for more than 40 years until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center in Also located in Manhattan, the World Trade Center was 417 meters tall. 7

9 Comparatively, the tallest building in the world today is the Burj Khalifa, a megatall skyscraper in Dubai. Completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa is 828 meters tall - nearly twice as tall as the World Trade Center and twenty times as tall as the Home Insurance Building in Chicago! 8

10 As modern-day skyscrapers continue to reach incredible, new heights, architects are constantly confronted with new challenges. Factors that must be taken into consideration include increasing wind pressures, fire hazards and stability issues in the face of natural disasters, such as earthquakes. 9

11 Empire State Building skyscraper high-rise World Trade Center skyline Burj Khalifa story fire hazards wind pressure steel frame stability 10

12 1) to dominate 2) to utilize 3) to take into consideration 4) to be considered (to be something) 5) to surpass 6) to be confronted with 7) scarce 8) relative 9) super-tall 10) mega-tall 11

13 Were there any other words or phrases that you found difficult or have questions about? 12

14 Writing Answer the following question(s). What skyscrapers are you familiar with? Are there any skyscrapers near where you live? Many skyscrapers have observation decks, from which people are able to see for miles and miles. Have you ever been to the top (or observation deck) of a skyscraper? 13

15 Writing Answer the following question(s). What distinguishes a skyscraper from other buildings, such as high-rises? What are some reasons for building skyscrapers, as opposed to shorter, high-rise buildings? 14

16 Speaking Fill in the table with pros and cons of building skyscrapers Pros Cons 15

17 1. skyscraper an exceptionally tall building 2. skyline distant view of the outline of a cities buildings and features 3. mega-tall a skyscraper with a height exceeding 600 meters 4. Burj Khalifa currently the tallest skyscraper in the world Skyscrapers dominate the skylines of many large cities across the world. Since the first skyscrapers were built in the late 1800s, taller and taller buildings have constantly been constructed. 16

18 Writing Match the words to their meanings to keep in mind when making a decision to exceed to be regarded (as) to make use of to be in a superior position to dominate to utilize to surpass to take into consideration to be considered (to be) 17

19 Speaking Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. Continues on the next slide. steel frame high-rise super-tall skyscraper skyline story mega-tall skyscraper stability wind pressure At 828 meters tall, the Burj Khalifa is an example of a. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can threaten the of a skyscraper. A tall building that is too short to be considered a skyscraper is called a. The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was a skyscraper.

20 Speaking Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. From previous slide. steel frame high-rise super-tall skyscraper skyline story mega-tall skyscraper stability wind pressure At the time of its construction in 1931, the Empire State Building dominated the New York City. The development of the allowed for the construction of taller and taller skyscrapers. A building between 300 and 600 meters is considered to be a. Due to the high altitude of skyscrapers, architects must take into consideration. 19

21 Writing Finish the sentences The biggest difficulty that comes along with building a skyscraper is... The construction of taller and taller skyscrapers in the 21 st Century is necessary/unnecessary because

22 Writing True or false? The Burj Khalifa was the tallest building in the world for more than 30 years between 1931 and a) True b) False A building over 600 meters tall is a mega-tall skyscraper. a) True b) False A 25-story building would generally be considered a high-rise. a) True b) False 21

23 Writing Answer the following question. A mega-tall skyscraper known as the Kingdom Tower is currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is currently planned to be the first skyscraper to reach one kilometer in height almost three times as tall as the Empire State Building! Do you think that architects will ever reach a physical limit to the height of skyscrapers? 22

BUILDINGS THAT REACH FOR THE SKY

UNIT: History of the World Trade Center GRADE LEVEL/S: K 2 TIME NEEDED: 2-3 sessions TEACHER: Helen M. Simpkins LESSON TITLE: BUILDINGS THAT REACH FOR THE SKY Common Core Standards R 7 Integrate and evaluate