Final answer:
During the Industrial Revolution, steel became the preferred material for the construction of large buildings due to its strength and cost-effective production enabled by new industrial processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steel as the Material of Choice for Large Buildings
During the era in question, specifically the Industrial Revolution, the material which became the product of choice for the construction of large buildings was steel. This was largely due to the advent of new industrial manufacturing processes such as the Bessemer process and the open-hearth process, which allowed for the production of steel in large quantities at lower costs. The durability and strength of steel made it far superior to iron and other traditional building materials like wood or stone, revolutionizing the construction industry.
Examples of this shift to steel can be seen in iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower and the proliferation of steel frames in skyscrapers, which enabled buildings to reach unprecedented heights. Prior to the widespread use of steel, iron and concrete were predominant in early industrial construction, but they could not match the performance characteristics that steel provided. Consequently, builders and architects quickly adopted steel for large-scale structures, cementing its role as a cornerstone material in modern architecture.