The steel that transformed the urban skyline
When we think of a big city, we immediately visualise its skyscrapers: imposing structures that seem to defy gravity. However, what supports this vertical ambition is not visible to the naked eye. Without steel, none of this would exist.
This material, which is part of everyday life at companies such as Hierros Mora Antón, revolutionised architecture, transformed engineering and allowed cities to grow skywards.
Before steel: height had limits
For centuries, construction was limited by the strength of traditional materials: stone, brick or wood. The higher the building, the more weight the lower floors had to bear, which meant that walls had to be made thicker and heavier. In other words, building high was not feasible.
It was the advent of structural steel in the late 19th century that changed the rules of the game.
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Why did steel change everything?
Steel is not only light and strong, but also:
- It has a high load-bearing capacity in proportion to its weight.
- It allows for slimmer and more open structures, without the need for load-bearing walls.
- It is modular and prefabricated, which speeds up construction times.
- It has high flexibility and ductility, making it ideal for withstanding wind, seismic movements or dynamic loads.
Thanks to these properties, steel made it possible to build higher, faster and with greater architectural freedom.
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The birth of the skyscraper
The world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago (1885), was also the first to use a steel structure. With just 10 floors, it marked the beginning of a new era. From then on, the competition to conquer the sky was unstoppable: New York, Dubai, Shanghai… all their iconic towers owe their existence to steel.
Today: more vertical cities, safer structures
In 2025, the use of steel remains essential not only in skyscrapers, but also in:
- Bridges, stations and logistics centres.
- Industrial structures and modular warehouses.
- Public and private buildings that require large spans without columns.
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At Hierros Mora Antón, we have been working with high-quality structural steel for decades, participating in projects that demand precision, reliability and compliance with technical regulations. We know that behind every great structure, there is a solid foundation made of steel… and experience.
At Hierros Mora Antón, we continue to be part of that future: supplying the steel that makes the impossible possible.