Chicago Architecture
Monadnock Building

Chicago Architecture
3. Monadnock Building


Welcome to the Monadnock Building. Constructed in 1893, the building stands at 197 feet tall and is largely recognized as the world's first skyscraper. Even if some might find that debatable, Monadnock is the tallest building fully supported by masonry walls, unlike the steel supports used today. The walls at the bottom of the building are 6 feet thick to handle the building's massive weight. The outer walls then curve in a bit and go straight up before curving back out at the top. That curve and slight bay windows are the only ornamentations of note on the building.

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