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William LeBaron Jenney
Jenney.jpg
Born (1832-09-25)September 25, 1832
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Died June 15, 1907(1907-06-15) (aged 74)
Nationality American
Alma mater École Centrale Paris
Occupation Architect
Buildings Home Insurance Building in Chicago
Design metal-framed skyscraper

William Le Baron Jenney (born September 25, 1832 – died June 14, 1907) was an American architect and engineer. He is famous for building what is considered the world's first skyscraper in 1884. His ideas changed how tall buildings were made forever.

Early Life and Education

William Le Baron Jenney was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, on September 25, 1832. He started his studies at Phillips Academy and later at Harvard. However, he decided to move to Paris, France, to study engineering and architecture at the École Centrale Paris.

In Paris, Jenney learned about new ways to build with iron. He also studied the ideas of Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand, a professor who believed buildings should be practical. Jenney graduated in 1856. One of his classmates was Gustave Eiffel, who later designed the famous Eiffel Tower.

A Career in Building and Design

In 1861, Jenney returned to the U.S. He joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. As an engineer, he helped design important forts for generals like Sherman and Grant. By the end of the war, he had become a major.

After the war, in 1867, Jenney moved to Chicago. He opened his own architectural office. He focused on designing buildings for businesses and planning city spaces. He also taught architecture at the University of Michigan. Many future famous architects, like Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham, learned from him.

Jenney married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hannah Cobb in 1867. They had two children, Max and Francis. He was an important member of the American Institute of Architects. Some of his other notable designs in Chicago include the Ludington Building and the Manhattan Building, both built in 1891. He also designed the Horticultural Building for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

Inventing the Skyscraper

Jenney is most famous for designing the ten-story Home Insurance Building in Chicago. This building, completed in 1885, is known as the first true skyscraper. It was the first building to have a full metal frame.

Home Insurance Building
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago built in 1885 (photo after a 1891 addition of 2 more floors)

Before Jenney, most tall buildings used heavy brick and stone walls to support their upper floors. Jenney had a new idea: he used metal columns and beams instead. This made the building much lighter. A ten-story building made with his metal frame weighed only one-third as much as a similar building made of heavy stone. This new method allowed buildings to be built much taller than ever before.

There's a popular story about how Jenney got his idea. One day, he saw his wife place a heavy book on a small bird cage. The cage held the book easily. Jenney realized that if a small cage could hold a heavy book, then a strong metal frame could support an entire building! He used this idea for the Home Insurance Building.

Leiter II Building, South State & East Congress Streets, Chicago, Cook County, IL
Leiter II Building, South State & East Congress Streets, Chicago

Jenney also worked on making tall buildings safe from fire. He used materials like masonry, iron, and terra cotta for floors and walls. He showed how well his system worked when he built the Second Leiter Building in Chicago between 1889 and 1891.

Legacy

William Le Baron Jenney passed away in Los Angeles, California, on June 15, 1907. His work changed architecture forever, making it possible to build the towering skyscrapers we see today. In 1998, he was ranked among the "1,000 People Who Shaped the Millennium" in a famous book.

Projects

Jenney designed many important buildings and projects, including:

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: William Le Baron Jenney para niños

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