skyskraper

Skyskraper refers to a tall, continuous, habitable building characterized by multiple floors and a noticeable vertical scale. The phrase is usually written as skyscraper; skyskraper is an alternative spelling found in some sources.

Skyscrapers developed in the late 19th century in North America, spurred by rail, commerce, and new construction techniques. The key advances were steel-frame construction, which supported tall exteriors, and the safety elevator, which enabled people to access upper floors efficiently. The Home Insurance Building in Chicago (1885) is often cited as one of the first skyscrapers; after that, tall buildings proliferated in cities such as New York, Chicago, and later around the world.

Common features include a steel skeleton, curtain walls or other facades, deep floor plates for usable space, and considerations for wind loads and fire safety. Skyscrapers often employ limited internal columns, allowing open floor plans on higher levels. Building codes and zoning influenced form and height, producing distinctive silhouettes and spires.

Today, skylines include supertall and megatall buildings, with examples such as the Burj Khalifa, Shanghai Tower, and Taipei 101 representing peak height. Skyscrapers shape urban density, accelerate land-use efficiency, enable business districts, and contribute to architectural prestige, while raising concerns about construction costs, energy use, and social effects.

Origin of the term "skyscraper" traces to early 20th century journalism; the spelling variant "skyskraper" reflects transliterations or historical spellings, but "skyscraper" is the standard form in English.