Ignoring The Elephant

December 28, 1911, “Woolworth Bldg.” by Irving Underhill:

Looks like there might have been a dusting of snow shortly before he snapped the shutter. The limits of blog technology don’t permit me to post the full picture in its glory – that’s a scaled down version above. So here are some close-ups…

First, the moment frames at the base of the tower:

In an era where the concept of a wide-flange section (as opposed to an I beam) was less than a decade old, nearly all columns were riveted built-up sections. That said, look at the size of these portal frames, built up of angles and plates. Good thing they’re hidden behind so much masonry. When I was studying steel design in school, in 1984 and 1985, I worked on that kind of web stiffener, but I have have not designed any since. They’re a detail that generally makes sense when material is expensive (so you use thin web plates) and labor is cheap.

More typical framing to the west:

The columns are still built-up boxes, but the framing is generally ordinary beams, girders, and columns. The girder ends projecting past the columns are to carry secondary framing for masonry-pier support.

But never mind all that. Let’s talk about the important thing, which is the sidewalk shed:

Pre-built scaffold pieces weren’t yet in common use, so the shed is entirely built of timber. Pre-manufactured metal-sided trailers weren’t yet available, so the shacks on top of the shed (which may well have been pre-manufactured wood-stick huts) look like little houses. At least some of the wood looks to be unpainted (the platform joists on the left, the handrail) and there are no metal connection pieces (joist hangers, post caps) in sight. It was probably all nailed together as, in the absence of electric screwdrivers, screws required drilled pilot holes. But as ad hoc as it all appears (and to be fair, what construction site doesn’t look messy if you’re not familiar with it?) note that the diagonal braces below the shed platform are mitered where they meet at the bracing apexes, which required some actual planning.

To summarize: this is a in-progress photo of a building that held the skyscraper height record for 17 years, but wow is there a lot going on in the temporary works at its base.