Final answer:
Steel beams and reinforcing rods, in conjunction with elevators and glass curtain walls, made it possible to design tall buildings, which can withstand greater physical loads and offer flexible interior spaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steel beams, along with reinforcing rods and advancements such as elevators and glass curtain walls, allow architects to design tall buildings. The use of steel allows for higher and more stable structures beyond the previous limitations of brick buildings which typically peaked at 10 to 12 stories.
Innovations in transportation like underground railways also played a critical role in supporting the expansion of cities upwards. Moreover, the use of steel in construction provides a solution to thermal stress by matching the coefficient of linear expansion with that of concrete, and supports the spanning of open spaces for interior design flexibility.
Architecture and structural engineering are deeply interconnected; steel as a sturdy and adaptable material allows for the creation of buildings that can withstand the physical stresses of weight and various loads. The visionaries like Mies van der Rohe showcased the potential of steel in creating foundational support systems that permitted open, glass-clad exteriors, influencing the approach to modern skyscraper design. These materials and engineering practices have led to our contemporary landscape of towering, mixed-use facilities that define modern city centers and our approach to urban living.