The Skyscraper Boom

In spite of the anxiety that followed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the recession of that same year, skyscraper building is back with a vengeance. From Dubai to Chicago to Shanghai, relatively low interest rates and booming economies are motivating investors to put up tens of billions of dollars to construct ever-taller buildings. What’s up? We’ll give you a bird’s-eye view.

In 1885, the Home Insurance Building was completed in downtown Chicago. At 10 stories high, it was then the tallest bui.....