Skyscraper

architecture · cities · engineering

What makes it tall. A skyscraper is usually at least 100 to 150 meters high, which is about as tall as a 40 to 50 story building. That's taller than most things you see every day.

Mixed use spaces. Skyscrapers are like vertical cities, cramming offices, stores, hotels, and apartments all into one building. This lets many people live and work in the same spot.

Downtown locations. You'll find skyscrapers packed together in the centers of big cities around the world, especially in places like New York, Tokyo, and Sydney. They grow there because cities run out of space to build outward.

Around the globe. Skyscrapers are most common in the Americas, Asia, and Australia where cities are huge and land is hard to find. They solve the puzzle of fitting lots of people into busy places.

Engineering marvel. Building a skyscraper requires super strong steel frames and smart engineering so the building doesn't tip over in wind or earthquakes. Thousands of workers and months of careful planning go into each one.