A tall building stands on a strong frame of steel beams and columns. It is like a skeleton. Steel is so strong that engineers use it for most skyscrapers.

The weight of the building pushes down on the columns. The columns are squeezed.

Under the frame is the foundation. It goes down into the ground. It holds the building up.

Concrete is strong when it is squeezed, but weak when it is pulled apart. So people put steel bars inside it, to make it strong when pulled.

Wind pushes on tall buildings, and they sway a little.

Taipei 101 has a huge pendulum at the top. It weighs 660 tonnes. It swings the opposite way from the tower. That helps cancel out the sway. This is true as of November 2026.

In 1857 the first passenger elevator was put in a New York store. Then buildings taller than four or five stories were practical. Elisha Otis showed a safe elevator. He stood on the platform while its rope was cut. The platform held.

People used the word skyscraper for very tall buildings starting in the 1880s. The Home Insurance Building in Chicago had 10 stories. It is called the first skyscraper.

The Empire State Building opened in 1931. It has 102 stories. It was the tallest building in the world for about 40 years.

The Burj Khalifa has 163 floors and is 828 meters tall. In November 2026 it is the tallest building in the world.

Words to know

• foundation: building's base
• pendulum: swinging weight
• skyscraper: very tall building
• concrete: hard gray stuff