Thomas Leslie discusses Chicago and the advent of the skyscraper during a class lecture for C-SPAN's American History TV. Photo by Christopher Gannon.
AMES, Iowa -- In the years between Chicago's Great Fire of 1871 and the country's Great Depression, Chicago was the epicenter for development of the skyscraper. Iowa State University's Thomas Leslie traces the skyscraper's creation as complex connections between Chicago's economics, technology and politics during a lecture broadcast on C-SPAN's American History TV. The program will air at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday, May 23 on C-SPAN 3.
Leslie, Pickard Chilton Professor in Architecture, presented the lecture, "Advent of the Skyscraper," in February as part of his building science and technology graduate course, "Big and Tall: Construction History from the Pyramids to the Burj." A preview is online.
Leslie is the author of "Chicago Skyscrapers, 1871-1934," and a recipient of the prestigious 2013 Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome. From 1993-2000, Leslie was an architect with Sir Norman Foster and Partners, London/San Francisco. His work at Iowa State involves the integration of design, engineering, and construction at key historic moments, and in contemporary practice.
C-SPAN's American History TV features event coverage, lectures and discussions with teachers and historians every weekend on C-SPAN 3. Once the class debuts the full video will be here http://www.c-span.org/video/?323900-1/advent-skyscraper.