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The number of skyscrapers being built in the US pales in comparison to other parts of the world today. Besides Salesforce Tower, there's the upcoming Vista Towe

The number of skyscrapers being built in the US pales in comparison to other parts of the world today. Besides Salesforce Tower, there's the upcoming Vista Tower in Chicago, and a few in New York: http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/united-states http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/united-states I'd like to see more, as well as maybe a focus on more detailed craftsmanship along with pioneering engineering. That story mentions the original Call building in SF: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Call_building.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Call_bui... I'd love to see a resurgence of that kind of stonework and masonry in elements of future architecture. What has happened to all the basic brick and granite structured ornamentation, and the elaborate tilework in modern buildings?

mc32 9y ago
Maybe it's pent up demand after a lull that lasted a few decades. It's just a feeling, but I don't recall much building happening in the 90s and 00s. Not that there wasn't any at all, but it seems after the 70s boom, there was a tapering off and a resurgence in the late 00s. Could be wrong though.
- DrScump 9y ago
  The entire China Basin area exploded in developments in the wake of the ballpark construction (Pacific Bell Park opened April 2000).
  - mc32 9y ago
    True. I'd consider those mid-rises though whereas the article is talking more generally about high rises.
briga 9y ago
>I'd love to see a resurgence of that kind of stonework and masonry in elements of future architecture. What has happened to all the basic brick and granite structured ornamentation, and the elaborate tilework in modern buildings? This is just speculation, but I suspect it has something to do with maintenance. There are tons of beautifully detailed stone buildings in New York, but half of them are either weathered and run down or in the process of being fixed up. Also I think modern architecture has moved away from detailed carving in favor of more minimalist designs.
bdhess 9y ago
In modern skyscrapers, the exterior walls are no longer load-bearing; rather they add to the weight that must be borne by the core of the building. The marginal cost of adding ornamented granite and brick on the exterior of a modern skyscraper would be much higher than the cost of adding ornamentation to a building whose structural design already calls for a heavy material for the walls.

mc32 9y ago

Maybe it's pent up demand after a lull that lasted a few decades. It's just a feeling, but I don't recall much building happening in the 90s and 00s. Not that there wasn't any at all, but it seems after the 70s boom, there was a tapering off and a resurgence in the late 00s. Could be wrong though.

DrScump 9y ago
The entire China Basin area exploded in developments in the wake of the ballpark construction (Pacific Bell Park opened April 2000).
- mc32 9y ago
  True. I'd consider those mid-rises though whereas the article is talking more generally about high rises.

briga 9y ago

>I'd love to see a resurgence of that kind of stonework and masonry in elements of future architecture. What has happened to all the basic brick and granite structured ornamentation, and the elaborate tilework in modern buildings? This is just speculation, but I suspect it has something to do with maintenance. There are tons of beautifully detailed stone buildings in New York, but half of them are either weathered and run down or in the process of being fixed up. Also I think modern architecture has moved away from detailed carving in favor of more minimalist designs.

bdhess 9y ago

In modern skyscrapers, the exterior walls are no longer load-bearing; rather they add to the weight that must be borne by the core of the building. The marginal cost of adding ornamented granite and brick on the exterior of a modern skyscraper would be much higher than the cost of adding ornamentation to a building whose structural design already calls for a heavy material for the walls.