Much of the US is subject to strong earthquakes, and the construction regulations require buildings that can survive a strong earthquake. Old masonry buildings

Much of the US is subject to strong earthquakes, and the construction regulations require buildings that can survive a strong earthquake. Old masonry buildings tend to be damaged, sometimes severely, in earthquakes. If you visit regions with large numbers of brick buildings from the previous centuries, you will notice that many have a steel frame that was added in the last several decades to keep the building from collapsing during earthquakes. A lot of money is spent on seismic retrofitting of old construction built before modern earthquake-safe building codes in the US. Most of Europe doesn't have to worry about this. For earthquakes, "sticks" and steel are the most durable materials so Americans build with them.