The Tallest Masonry Building in the World: Philadelphia’s Beautiful Load-Bearing City Hall

Philadelphia City Hall at Night

Did you know that brick or stone-clad buildings you see today almost invariably hide a steel support structure that does the actual work? Before steel was used to create rigid frames, buildings relied on the load-bearing capacity of incredibly thick solid materials. This amazing structure has walls at its base up to 22 feet thick to hold the weight. Due to the cost of doing so, no designer has even tried to exceed the height of this towering structure in stone or brick in over a century.

Tallest Load Bearing Building in the World

At 548 feet high, the Philadelphia City Hall was the tallest skyscraper in the world when it was constructed and today it still holds the title of tallest load-bearing structure on the planet. The building took 30 years and 24 million dollars to complete. It was also the first (known) non-religious structure to hold the record for the world’s tallest building.

Philadelphia City Hall Drawing

Before elevators and truly tall (10 story or more) buildings, the pricing and desirability of living on upper versus lower floors was actually reversed. People were loathe to travel up many flights of stairs multiple times a day so it was often the top rooms with the best views overlooking a city that were left to starving artists and others of lesser means. With frame-and-cladding building techniques the paradigm reversed itself and forever gone were the days of tall masonry building and cheap living with a view out over the top of the built environment.

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Posted by Urbanist January 19th, 2008
Architecture, Urban, Various
Comments: 13

Comments

Comment from mishak
Time: January 19, 2008, 6:10 pm

…… ‘It was also the first (known) non-religious structure to hold the record for the world’s tallest building.”

philli really does have it all…

excellent post — thank you.. // more individual structures!

Comment from mokki
Time: January 19, 2008, 11:22 pm

Yes, spectacular steel reinforced masonry structure. I think that Philadelphia is located in a moderate or low seismic intensity zone. There, the horizontal-seismic actions are smaller.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: January 20, 2008, 11:18 am

My favorite municipal building.
It also has the tallest statue on a building in the world

Comment from BC Planning
Time: January 20, 2008, 11:19 am

It’s funny when they finished the building it was on the outskirts of the city. The city was still primarily on the river and had just reached Broad Street

Comment from Chris
Time: January 21, 2008, 12:51 pm

I have a tripped planned later this week to Philly. I will have to check it out. The night time photo is the best but sadly I will be there during the day. I will have to check and see if I can get a tour?

Comment from Chris Estes
Time: January 21, 2008, 12:53 pm

I have passed by this building several times on business trips and have never known what it is. Thanks for the great info and history.

Comment from Bob
Time: January 22, 2008, 6:53 pm

I took the tour to the top- well, it’s self guided to the top following lines and escalators and finally an elevator. It’s a great view and an amazing building. IF you’re there, the building is a must see, and be sure to take the formal tour too.

Comment from Johnny
Time: January 23, 2008, 9:14 am

It also happens to be the largest Municipal Building in the United States.

I live a block away from this wonderful building and take every opportunity to walk through the courtyard.

Comment from Viqi French
Time: January 27, 2008, 10:10 pm

Yes, Philly’s City Hall is quite magnificent, and the city boasts numerous other old structures of a similiar ilk. Someone here mentioned planning to check it out when visiting later this week. It is best to see by day, so that you can appreciate its fine architectural detail.

Comment from Viqi French
Time: January 27, 2008, 10:10 pm

Comment from Richard W. Crews
Time: January 28, 2008, 11:28 pm

no mention of any date. when was it tallest? one mention in teaser article about “over a century.”

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