For the past 150 years, steel has shown to be a vital building material in every corner of the globe. During the Industrial Revolution, an inexpensive way to produce mass quantities of steel was discovered. It was then that steel began to grow as a building material. These structures are more than beautiful. They highlight and call attention to the durability and strength of steel. The following buildings and structures speak for themselves when proving just how amazing steel is.
The Steel House
This house is located in Lubbock, TX and was designed by Robert Bruno, a famous steel sculptor. He wanted to create the house because he wondered what it would be like to live inside one of his sculptures, according to 12most.com. The house was made using 110 tons of steel. Bruno spent 23 years building the home but he died before he could complete it.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built in Paris during The World’s Fair in 1889. For 42 years, it was the tallest building in the world, according to Whirlwind Steel. It is one of the most recognizable structures that exists. The Eiffel Tower was not intended to be permanent but it was saved in 1909 because it needed to be used as a radio tower, according to Telegraph. Steel is so durable that even a “temporary” steel structure stands over 125 years later.
The Gateway Arch
This structure is a true testament to the rigidity of steel. Construction began in 1963 and the structure still looks exactly the same. Visitors can ride an elevator to the top of the arch and view the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
The Empire State Building
One of New York City’s most famous buildings, the Empire State Building was created in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world for 40 years. Its intricate, art-deco design shows that steel can be beautiful and it doesn’t always have to look industrial. It took only 13 months to build, which was extremely fast for its time, according to Whirlwind Steel.