The Monadnock Building - an architectural revolution

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</script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "uploadDate": "2020-09-01T10:25:35Z", "name" : "Discover how with modern building methods and amenities Monadnock Building paved the way for contemporary high-rise office", "description": "Learn how cutting-edge construction methods and amenities helped make Chicago's Monadnock Building (first half, 1891; second half, 1893) a prototype for the modern office high-rise.", "duration" : "PT2M35S", "contentUrl" : "//content.jwplatform.com/videos/lN6lKz7w-Qc3NyWj4.mp4", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://cdn.britannica.com/24/187624-138-82ACF7CF/construction-methods-amenities-Chicago-Monadnock-Building-office.jpg", "transcript" : "NARRATOR: It's easy to imagine how impressive the Monadnock Building was to residents and visitors at the end of the 19th century. Upon completion of the southern addition in 1893, it became the largest office building of its time in the world. Soaring 16 stories high, its simple yet imposing facade was a testament to Chicago's desire to be a global center of commerce and trade. Despite its plain appearance, the building featured some of the most cutting-edge technology available at the time. New building methods and modern amenities helped make the Monadnock a prototype for the contemporary office. Most notably, the Monadnock introduced a key amenity to office spaces in Chicago-- electricity. Integrating electricity into building plans reflected a revolution in office design. Workers no longer needed to rely on natural light or fuel-burning lamps to illuminate their work spaces. At the time of the Monadnock's construction, electric lighting was an object of popular fascination. Visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition crowded the electricity building, where displays by Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla exhibited the potential of electric power. The Monadnock showcased other new building technologies too. Fireproofed tiles protected the building skeleton. Elevators transformed the building's highest levels into prime real estate, and a self-supporting metal frame on the Monadnock's southern addition exemplified the most advanced tall-building engineering of its day. As the Monadnock was being completed, Chicago passed a building height restriction of 10 stories. Residents and politicians alike feared what the modern skyscraper might mean for public safety and quality of life. But by the time the height restriction was increased in 1902, it was clear that building tall was the way of the future. The Monadnock Building's soaring height and modern technologies had helped pave the way up.", "width" : 1920, "height" : 1080, "url": "https://www.britannica.com/video/construction-methods-amenities-Chicago-Monadnock-Building-office/-223371" } </script> </head> <body data-leg="D" class="standalone-video-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-d b-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='cafemedia';</script> <script data-no-optimize="1" data-cfasync="false"> (function(w, d) { w.adthrive = w.adthrive || {}; w.adthrive.cmd = w. adthrive.cmd || []; w.adthrive.plugin = 'adthrive-ads-manual'; w.adthrive.host = 'ads.adthrive.com';var s = d.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.referrerpolicy='no-referrer-when-downgrade'; s.src = 'https://' + w.adthrive.host + '/sites/61575e5c934c481d714b3ca9/ads.min.js?referrer=' + w.encodeURIComponent(w.location.href) + '&cb=' + (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1); var n = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n); })(window, document); </script> <div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. 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class="content"> <div id="video-container"> <div class="grid video-player-with-playlist"> <div class="col-100 "> <div id="vpwpl-video-player-container" class="vpwpl-video-thumbnail-container position-relative top-0"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/187624-138-82ACF7CF/construction-methods-amenities-Chicago-Monadnock-Building-office.jpg" alt="Discover how with modern building methods and amenities Monadnock Building paved the way for contemporary high-rise office" class="rounded super-video-thumbnail" /> <div class="btn btn-xl border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 4px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-title mt-10 font-weight-bold mb-10"> Discover how with modern building methods and amenities Monadnock Building paved the way for contemporary high-rise office </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-caption mt-15 d-none d-md-block mb-10"> Learn how cutting-edge construction methods and amenities helped make Chicago's Monadnock Building (first half, 1891; second half, 1893) a prototype for the modern office high-rise. </div> <div class="vpwpl-credit mb-20 font-13 text-gray-600 font-italic "> 漏 Chicago Architecture Foundation (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>) </div> </div> <ul class=" col-100 vpwpl-playlist-below vpwpl-playlist mt-15 mt-md-0"> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-1 vpwpl-video-item video-playing" data-assemblyid="223371"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/24/187624-138-82ACF7CF/construction-methods-amenities-Chicago-Monadnock-Building-office.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/lN6lKz7w.m3u8"}],"assetId":187624,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/5A6lSfbp.m3u8","title":"Discover how with modern building methods and amenities Monadnock Building paved the way for contemporary high-rise office","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/VxJHhtrw","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/construction-methods-amenities-Chicago-Monadnock-Building-office/-223371#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">漏 Chicago Architecture Foundation (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Learn how cutting-edge construction methods and amenities helped make Chicago's Monadnock Building (first half, 1891; second half, 1893) a prototype for the modern office high-rise.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" 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class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/current-solution-electrolytes/-174966" >How different solutions conduct electricity</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/current-solution-electrolytes/-174966"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/93/163293-138-8975BCB2/current-solution-electrolytes.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="How different solutions conduct electricity" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="related-topics mt-20 font-14 text-muted"> <strong>Related Articles:</strong> <span id="related-articles"> <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Western-architecture">Western architecture</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chicago-School-architecture">Chicago School</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/electricity">electricity</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Monadnock-Building">Monadnock Building</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/office-building">office building</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/skyscraper">skyscraper</a> </span> </div> <hr class="my-30 col-100"> <h2 class="font-16 text-uppercase my-30">Transcript</h2> <div id ="transcript" class="lh-lg font-serif"> NARRATOR: It's easy to imagine how impressive the Monadnock Building was to residents and visitors at the end of the 19th century. Upon completion of the southern addition in 1893, it became the largest office building of its time in the world. Soaring 16 stories high, its simple yet imposing facade was a testament to Chicago's desire to be a global center of commerce and trade. Despite its plain appearance, the building featured some of the most cutting-edge technology available at the time. <br/><br/>New building methods and modern amenities helped make the Monadnock a prototype for the contemporary office. Most notably, the Monadnock introduced a key amenity to office spaces in Chicago-- electricity. Integrating electricity into building plans reflected a revolution in office design. Workers no longer needed to rely on natural light or fuel-burning lamps to illuminate their work spaces. At the time of the Monadnock's construction, electric lighting was an object of popular fascination. Visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition crowded the electricity building, where displays by Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla exhibited the potential of electric power. <br/><br/>The Monadnock showcased other new building technologies too. Fireproofed tiles protected the building skeleton. Elevators transformed the building's highest levels into prime real estate, and a self-supporting metal frame on the Monadnock's southern addition exemplified the most advanced tall-building engineering of its day. <br/><br/>As the Monadnock was being completed, Chicago passed a building height restriction of 10 stories. Residents and politicians alike feared what the modern skyscraper might mean for public safety and quality of life. But by the time the height restriction was increased in 1902, it was clear that building tall was the way of the future. 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The Monadnock Building - an architectural revolution | Britannica