The Evolution of Building Protection
September 26, 2024
Building Technology
Since prehistoric times, humans have sought to protect our homes and gathering places better. Comfort was the primary driver, so our early ancestors created thermal insulation with readily available materials such as animal fur and plants. Over time, earth, mud and stone were used. Eventually, the Greeks would invent insulation similar to what we use today.
A significant development in the evolution of building protection occurred in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. Construction became recognized as separate from design. Physics, mathematics, chemistry and thermodynamics were all being developed and applied to create building science as a discipline. At the same time, architecture, engineering and construction were all becoming more defined. Suddenly building protection was about much more than insulation.
A Highrise Changes the Game
Often referred to as the world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago was erected in 1885 and stood until 1931. The building was designed by William Le Baron Jenney and weighed as much as one-third of typical masonry buildings, which concerned city officials.