Skyscraper

A Skyscraper is a tall habitable building, usually higher than 152 metres (500 feet).

Until recent times, buildings of over six stories were rare. The development of buildings framed with steel or reinforced concrete has made possible the construction of extremely tall buildings, some of which are over 300 metres tall. See world's tallest structures for a discussion of the tallest skyscrapers and other man-made structures. Currently the world's tallest skyscrapers are the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, closely followed by Chicago's Sears Tower.

The other development essential to practical skyscraper development was the invention of the elevator.

See also: architecture, building construction[?], list of tall buildings in London