Most of us probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what makes up the buildings we see every day. Chances are, however, it’s steel. Structural steel and steel pipe suppliers and are constantly providing construction crews with the materials needed to literally form the backbones of the buildings in which we live, work and play. Read on for some of the most stunning steel structures that we owe in part to structural steel and/or steel pipe suppliers.
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in New York. This steel structure took thirteen years to build and cost over fifteen million dollars. It was completed in 1883 and was twice the length of comparable structures built at the time.
Willis (Sears) Tower
The Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the United States until very recently. The structure is supported with special steel beams to allow it to hold up to the strong winds that come in off of Lake Michigan every day.
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is undeniably the most recognizable landmark in St. Louis. At 630 feet, this steel structure really is the tallest national monument in the world, constructed to memorialize historic events that happened in the area, such as the Louisiana Purchase. The arch is hollowed out so that tourists can travel to the top to take in the magnificent views.
The Empire State Building
New York City changed the landscape of the United States when they introduced the modern skyscraper. This steel structure was the tallest building in the country until the Sears Tower dethroned it in 1973.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was initially built for the World’s Fair in 1889. Since then, it has dazzled the city of light and been one of the top tourist attractions in the world. It was the tallest building in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930.
As is evident, structural steel and steel pipe suppliers are the behind-the-scenes players in the design and construction of a variety of structures that many people conduct business in every day.
