7 of the Most Famous Metal Building Structures

For over 150 years, metal building structures have been successful cold roll forming machine as factories, warehouses, and worldwide icons. Steel has been an essential building material for all types and sizes of buildings worldwide since the Industrial Revolution.

During the Industrial Revolution era in the United States, construction and manufacturing industries were booming. Americans always desire new technologies and goods. This causes businesses to build new factories that could produce the overwhelming desire for goods.

During this time, manufacturers were discovering an inexpensive way to produce large quantities of steel. This lead to metal building structures that have proven the durability of steel.

Below is a list of 5 of the most famous and recognizable metal building structures in the United States:
Empire State Building
When you ask most people to name an iconic building, the Empire State Building in New York City is the first place that comes to mind. The 103-story (1454 feet) skyscraper was constructed in 1931. For almost 40 years, the Empire State Building held the title as the tallest structure in the world. The total weight of the building is 365,000 tons, with 57,000 tons of the total weight being the massive steel frame. The massive structure has an intricate, art-deco design, which demonstrates that steel can be beautiful as well as industrial.

Steel House
The Steel House located in Lubbock, TX, is designed by the famous steel sculptor, Robert Bruno. The house was created because Bruno supposedly wanted to know what it would be like to live inside one of his steel sculptures. Bruno spent 23 years working on the home. Unfortunately, he died before he could complete it. The Steel House is a dome-shaped building, constructed from 110 tons of steel. It has the reputation of being one of the most unique steel buildings ever.

The Sears Tower
The Sears Tower, also known as the Willis Tower, is in Chicago, Illinois. The skyscraper, was built in the 1970’s by using several smaller structures to help support it from the bottom up. The primary reason to use steel in the construction was ensuring the building can withstand the harsh winds of Chicago.

Seagram Building
The Seagram Building is also a notable skyscraper in New York City. It was constructed in Manhattan in 1958 by the German architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. His goal in creating the Seagram Building was to design a building that expressed simplicity and functionality in its appearance. Currently, the Seagram Building is home to a wide variety of buildings as well as a restaurant.

S. Steel Tower

The U.S. Steel Tower, formerly the tallest building C Z Purlin Roll Forming Machine in Pennsylvania, is the most notable building on Pittsburgh’s skyline. The name represents the U.S. Steel Corporation that constructed the building as well as for the massive amount of steel that was used in the construction of the building. The U.S. Steel Tower has the largest roof of any structure with its height, and it was the first building to use liquid-fireproofed columns.
Below is 2 of the most famous and recognizable metal building structures throughout the rest of the world:
The Eiffel Tower
When it comes to famous metal buildings, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well known buildings. The Eiffel Tower, in Paris, was built during The World’s Fair in 1889 and for about 42 years, it was the tallest building in the world. It is one of the most recognizable structures, but the builders intension was for it to be a temporary structure.

In 1909, the structure’s use became necessary as a radio tower. The Eiffel Tower has proven that steel is so durable that even a temporary structure can withstand more than 125 years.

Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa building in Dubai is notable for being the tallest structure in the world. The building was complete in 2009 after five years of construction. In order to compensate for the massive height, the 163-floor tower uses a bundled tube design.

Steel: One of the most popular building materials in the United States
Steel continues to stand as being one of the most popular building materials in the United States. It served as the primary basis for the American Industrial era and some of the most famous metal building structures in the world. This included other massive structures as well, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Gateway Arch.

Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is over 130 years old. Pedestrians are still using it as a pedestrian and vehicle bridge that links Brooklyn to New York City. The steel that the builders were using is so thick that it took a decade to complete the construction of the bridge.

Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was built in 1963. It still looks the same as it did the day construction was being completed. These two structures, as well as the notable buildings above, are a testament to not only the durability but also the flexibility of steel.