America’s Most Famous Metal Buildings

Metal buildings are on the rise. Their popularity has exploded all across America, and for a good reason. With such stellar features and versatility, these steel structures can be used for just about any application, making them uniquely suited for the diversity of American needs. With prefab metal buildings trending upward, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey that led to this point by offering a brief history of the construction industry in the United States and sharing America’s five more famous metal buildings with you.

Building History

The major shift in the American construction industry can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution. It was during this era that manufacturing industries were expanding exponentially, leading to tremendous innovation and growth in techniques and technology. With this innovation came cheaper, more abundant access to steel. Soon, this newfound affordability and availability led to the prevalence of steel in building structures. Its benefits as a building material, including its durability and strength, quickly made steel buildings a popular choice.

America’s Top 5 Famous Metal Buildings

Since the development of steel buildings, their prevalence and influence has grown substantially. In fact, some of the most recognizable buildings in the United States are metal buildings!

Empire State Building

One of the most iconic buildings in the country, the Empire State Building soars into the New York City skyline at 1454 feet tall. This 103-story steel building was built in 1931 and held the world record for the tallest building for 40 years! The Empire State Building is also the perfect representation of both the functionality and beauty of steel, as it features 57,000 tons of steel in the frame as well as intricate aesthetic design.

Robert Bruno Steel House

This famous building demonstrates how steel can act as both building material and art form. Designed by Robert Bruno, this home used 110 tons of steel to create. Despite working on his passion project for 23 years, Bruno died before he could finish his dream home in Lubbock, TX. It still stands as being one of the most recognizable and unique metal buildings of all-time.

Seagram Building

When scanning the skyline of New York City, it’s hard to miss the Seagram Building. This clean, modern building was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a German architect who completed his project in 1958. The Seagram Building stands as a testament to the beauty that accompanies functionality and simplicity. It has remained iconic throughout the decades thanks to its delicate balance of form and function.

Sears Tower

It’s hard to talk about famous American buildings and not mention the Sears Tower. This legendary structure, also known as the Willis Tower, dominated the Chicago skyline thanks to its unique design. The Sears Tower uses several smaller structures around its base to help support its eye-catching rise into the sky. It was completed in the 1970s and used significant amounts of steel specifically to help the structure endure Chicago’s famous winds.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

For our last famous American steel building, we head West to Los Angeles. Built almost entirely of steel, this masterpiece is one of the most unique structures in the country. Designed by Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is unmistakable thanks to its curving, sweeping exterior that is composed of stainless steel. The interior of the building is equally as imaginative, capturing the magic Disney is known for and creating a wondrous atmosphere.

More than Metal!

While there is nothing wrong with utilitarian metal buildings—they are exceptionally useful and cost-effective—these steel structures have the potential to break the norm and provide both form and function in abundance. Just take the five most famous steel buildings in America as an example—they’re impressive architectural feats in terms of style and substance! If you are in the market for a new building, steel is the ideal building material. It is impressively durably and strong while also being easy to work with, giving you unlimited possibilities when it comes to customization and design. Probuilt Steel Buildings is the most reputable manufacturer of metal buildings in the country, making it the go-to manufacturer for Americans. Call today on (877) 754-1818 to discuss your metal building needs, receive a custom quote, and start down the path to owning your dream steel structure!