Tech Directions - December 2008 - (Page 10)

technology’s past Dennis Karwatka d.karwat@morehead-st.edu Daniel Burnham and Urban Development Grain and livestock continued to The word skyscraper has come arrive by ship, road, and rail. In an to refer to a tall building that has an era before rapid interior support long-distance comframe, usually munication was a steel cage. A common, businesChicago Tribune ses had little newspaper writer choice but to reﬁrst used the build in the same word in 1889. Few high-density downarchitects were town area. more important Chicago had no to skyscraper unique architecconstruction and tural tradition of urban developits own and thus ment than Daniel was open to innoBurnham. vation and fresh Burnham was ideas. Many of the born in central nation’s best techupstate New York nical professionals in 1846 and raised moved there to in Chicago. His involve themselves strongly religious with new methods upbringing inDaniel Burnham of construction. ﬂuenced him to Since architects and architectural help others. Burnham was a popular ﬁrms were in high demand, Burnham and athletic high school student, but and Root decided to open their own he failed to meet admission requirements at both Harvard and Yale Universities. He apprenticed himself as a drafter in about 1870 at the ofﬁces of architect William LeBaron Jenney (1832-1907). Jenney went on to design and build the ﬁrst skyscraper in 1884, the 10-story Chicago Home Insurance Building on LaSalle and Adams Streets. After working with Jenney, Burnham moved to another ﬁrm, where he met and became friends with John Root (1850-1891). The $200 million Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed almost every building in the business district. While it Washington’s Union Station damaged much of the city’s wealth, making sure that every citizen was business in 1872. Their ﬁrm was a it did not destroy its economic base. within walking distance of a park, good ﬁt for the two talented young including wide boulevards in the Dennis Karwatka is professor men. Burnham provided the strategic street plan, and having building faemeritus, Department of Industrial and vision and salesmanship, while Root cades of a classical design. Burnham Engineering Technology, Morehead provided the engineering skills. also developed plans for ﬁve other (KY) State University. Their ﬁrst commission was a private residence for a wealthy industrialist who would become Burnham’s father-in-law. The quality of the men’s work opened up other doors and the Burnham and Root Co. soon prospered. Their ﬁrst tall building was the 10-story 1883 Montauk ofﬁce building on West Monroe Street. It was demolished in 1902. The business grew and the partners were offered an opportunity to serve as the planners and architects of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. However, Root died of pneumonia in 1891 and much of the responsibility for the Exposition’s structures fell onto Burnham’s shoulders. With the help of others—but always in command—he built in Jackson Park something that can only be described as fantastic. Often called the Chicago World’s Fair, the exposition spread along two miles of Lake Michigan waterfront and boasted 150 buildings and the world’s largest railway station. It remained open for six months and had over 27 million paid admissions. Then, in 1909, Burnham developed a plan for the controlled growth of Chicago. It was the ﬁrst such comprehensive plan for an American city. It included such ideas as having only public use of the beachfront, 10 techdirections ◆ DECEMBER 2008 Photos courtesy Library of Congress

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - December 2008

Tech Directions - December 2008 Contents Advertisers Index Technically Speaking Direct from Washington The Report Technology Today Technology’s Past Mastering Computers Digital Portfolios—Powerful Marketing Tool for Communication Students Choosing the Right CC Welding Unit—Student Success Depends on It Think Green—Increasing Awareness of Garbage and Recycling Think Green—Teach Students Smart Ways to Reduce Home Energy Use Go International! Build a Simplified Shortwave Receiver Mooresville Middle School Snags Web Site of the Month Gifts for Geeks More than Fun

Tech Directions - December 2008

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