Kashcheeva K.

Historic skyscrapers

The first skyscraper to appear in the United States is The Home Insurance Building, which was built in 1885 in Chicago. Initially, the architect William Le Baron Jenney planned to make this building a ten-story building, but later 2 more floors were added to it. Nowadays, in the USA, a skyscraper is considered to be a building above 150 meters. The first building that fits this definition was built in 1913 in New York. This is the Woolworth Building. To this day, it is one of the main decorations of the metropolis, stretching up to 241 meters, or, measuring in a modern "skyscraper" language - 57 floors.

Broadway is crazy.
Run and run.
Houses
break from heaven
and hang.
But even between them
see Woolworth.
corset box
floors under sixty

V. Mayakovsky "The Young Lady and Woolworth"

Now New York can rightly be called a city of skyscrapers. There are exactly 140 of them here - buildings made of concrete and steel, of different heights, of different styles and purposes, which cut through the sky of the American "big apple".

flatiron building

Built in 1902, the Flatiron Building, New York's oldest skyscraper and once a favorite haunt of respectable American gentlemen (the air currents created lift the dresses of passing ladies), is now eclipsed by taller buildings.

Such, for example, as the Chrysler Building - a building 319 meters high, owned by the Chrysler company, was built in 1930 and has become one of the symbols of New York. Interestingly, the spire of the skyscraper was the first man-made object to exceed 312 meters of the Eiffel Tower, which held the height record since 1889.

It is believed that every person, having visited New York, is obliged to do several things - take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, walk along the Brooklyn Bridge and climb the 86th floor of the Empire State Building - the most famous skyscraper in the United States. Few people know that in 1945 a B-29 bomber crashed into a skyscraper. Although the steel frame withstood the impact, damage was estimated at $1 million and 14 lives.

Empire State Building

As one of the largest office centers in the United States, the skyscraper is the place of work for several thousand people. All of them must be delivered to their workplaces on time, for which there are 72 elevators in the building - all of them are connected to a special mechanism, which itself calculates when and on which floor each of them should stop. On average, New Yorkers are accustomed to waiting for an elevator no more than 17 seconds. After this time, they press the button a second time. And after 30 seconds they begin to resent.

From the moment the skyscraper was built in 1931 until 1972, it was the tallest building in the world, rising to 381 meters or 102 floors. After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Empire State once again became the tallest building in the city. The events of that day shocked the whole world. World Trade Center - a complex consisting of seven buildings, was destroyed as a result of terrorist attacks and 3,000 people were buried under steel and a meter layer of dust. The central structures of the complex were considered to be two 110-storey twin towers - North (417 meters high) and South (415 meters high). Now, in their place, the construction of a new complex of the World Trade Center, namely its main building - the Freedom Tower, is underway. Completion of construction is planned for 2013. The height of the skyscraper together with the spire will be 541 meters.

In addition to New York in the United States, there is another metropolis in which high-rise buildings can be found everywhere. Chicago is the only city in the world that has completed more than one building with over 100 floors. It is here that the tallest skyscraper in the United States of America, the Willis Tower, is located. Once the tallest building in the world, at 443 meters or 110 floors, with a total area equal to 57 football fields, it now occupies only seventh place.

Willis Tower

A few months ago, the construction of another skyscraper was completed in Chicago - the 96-story hotel of media mogul Donald Trump - Trump International Hotel and Tower. The height of the spire of this building reaches 415 meters, which makes it the second tallest skyscraper not only in the metropolis, but in the entire United States.

The tallest building located west of Chicago is the U.S. Bank Tower is a bank built in 1989 in Los Angeles. It is the eighth tallest building in the United States and also the tallest skyscraper in the state of California. At an altitude of 310 meters, on the roof of the building, there is a helipad.

As one of the world powers, the United States often creates new trends in various fields. So, for example, in 2003 a number of projects of environmentally friendly skyscrapers were presented. One of them is the Bank of America Tower, which was completed in 2009. Its environmental friendliness lies in the use of special solar-sensitive lamps that can provide the building with electricity from daylight. However, the Hearst Tower, built in 2006, is considered the most environmentally friendly building in New York. 80% of the steel used for construction came from recycled materials. Also, the facade of the building is not just a design component, but also a clever move that allows more sunlight to penetrate inside. And finally, on the roof there are tanks for rainwater, which is subsequently used for fountains, cooling systems and watering plants.

For many years I was haunted by this photograph, often found on posters and covers. And today everything is clear. Specifically, the question inside me was: how did these men get on the beam. I'm afraid of heights. Not to the point of insanity, but my rare surreal dreams are associated with this phenomenon of fear. When viewing photos and reading text, my palms naturally sweat from fear.
The bulk of the material is rudzin , the owner of the most interesting diary

"Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper" - photo from "Construction Workers Lunching on a Crossbeam - 1932" series by Charles C. Ebbets

Such a miracle as a skyscraper would not have been possible without the invention of the steel frame. Assembling the steel frame of a building is the most dangerous and difficult part of construction. It is the quality and speed of assembly of the frame that determines whether the project will be implemented on time and within budget.

That is why riveters are the most important profession in the construction of a skyscraper.

Riveters are a caste with their own laws: the salary of a riveter for a working day is $ 15, more than any skilled worker at a construction site; they do not go to work in the rain, wind or fog, they are not on the contractor's staff. They are not alone, they work in teams of four, and if one of the team does not go to work, no one comes out. Why, in the midst of the Great Depression, is everyone turning a blind eye to this, from an investor to a foreman?

On a platform of boards, or simply on steel beams, there is a coal stove. In the oven, the rivets are 10 cm long and 3 cm diameter steel cylinders. The "cook" "cooks" the rivets - drives air into the oven with small bellows to heat them up to the desired temperature. The rivet has warmed up (not too much - it will turn in the hole and have to be drilled; and not too weak - it will not rivet), now you need to transfer the rivet to where it will fasten the beams. It is only known in advance which beam will be fastened when, and it is impossible to move a hot furnace during the working day. Therefore, often the attachment point is located 30 (thirty) meters from the "cook", sometimes higher, sometimes lower by 2-3 floors.

The only way to pass a rivet is to drop it.

The “cook” turns to the “goalkeeper” and silently, making sure that the goalkeeper is ready to receive, throws a red-hot 600-gram blank with tongs in his direction. Sometimes there are already welded beams on the trajectory, you need to throw it once, accurately and strongly.

The "goalkeeper" stands on a narrow platform or simply on a bare beam next to the riveting site. His goal is to catch a flying piece of iron with an ordinary tin can. He cannot move without falling. But he must catch the rivet, otherwise it will fall like a small bomb on the city.

"Shooter" and "emphasis" are waiting. The "goalkeeper", having caught the rivet, drives it into the hole. "Stop" from the outside of the building, hanging over the abyss, a steel rod and its own weight holds the head of the rivet. "Shooter" with a 15-kilogram pneumatic hammer rivets it from the other side within a minute.

The best team does this trick over 500 times a day, the average - about 250.

In the photographs - the best brigade in 1930, from left to right: "cook", "goalkeeper", "emphasis", and shooter.

The danger of this work can be illustrated by the following fact: masons at a construction site are insured at a rate of 6% of their salary, carpenters - 4%. Riveter's rate - 25-30%%.

One person died at the Chrysler building.
Four people died on Wall Street 40.
Empire State has five.

The frame of the skyscraper consists of hundreds of steel profiles several meters long and weighing several tons, the so-called beams. There is nowhere to store them during the construction of a skyscraper - no one will allow organizing a warehouse in the city center, in conditions of dense development, on municipal land. Moreover, all structural elements are different, each can be used in one single place, so an attempt to organize even a temporary warehouse, for example, on one of the last floors built, can lead to great confusion and disruption of construction deadlines.

That is why, when I wrote that the work of riveters is the most important and most difficult, I did not mention that it is also the most dangerous and difficult. The work is harder and more dangerous than theirs - the work of the crane crew.

The order for the beams was agreed with the metallurgists a few weeks ago, trucks bring them to the construction site to the minute, regardless of the weather, they need to be unloaded immediately.

Derrick crane - an arrow on a hinge, is located on the last floor built, the installers are on the floor above. The winch operator can be located on any floor of an already constructed building, because no one is going to stop lifting and distract other cranes to lift a heavy mechanism several floors higher for the convenience of installers. Therefore, when lifting a multi-ton channel, the operator does not see either the beam itself, or the car that brought it, or his comrades.

The only guideline for control is the strike of the bell, given by the apprentice at the signal of the foreman, who, along with the entire brigade, is dozens of floors above. Blow - turns on the winch motor, blow - turns it off. Several crews of riveters work nearby with their hammers (have you ever heard the sound of a jackhammer?), other crane operators raise other channels at the commands of their bells. It is impossible to make a mistake and not hear the blow - the channel will either ram the crane boom, or throw the installers preparing to fix it from the installed vertical beam.

The foreman, controlling the derrick through two operators, one of whom he does not see, achieves the coincidence of the holes for riveting on the installed vertical beams with the holes on the raised channel with an accuracy of 2-3 millimeters. Only after that can a couple of installers fix the swaying, often wet channel with huge bolts and nuts.

In New York on 6th Avenue there are monuments to these guys, installed in 2001. The most famous photo became the model, she is the first in the preview here. So, at first they made a monument exactly like in the photo, i.e. 11 dudes are sitting on a beam. And then the most extreme on the right was removed under the root. And only because of the fact that he has a bottle of whiskey in his hands!!! I understand if this was done in our country during Gorbachev's time, but they had it in 2001!! Apparently they did not want to destroy the legend about the brave guys. Now these are 10 quite decent guys sitting on a steel beam. Fine. But somehow it's embarrassing.

The names of all these heroes are known, thanks to relatives, you can read

The United States is generally recognized as the country of skyscrapers, it is home to some of the most magnificent high-rise buildings in the world, and for a long time it has been the United States that has been the trendsetter in the field of architectural innovations and ideas in the construction of skyscrapers. The tallest building in the United States is currently considered the World Trade Center No. 1, or as it is also called, the Freedom Tower. The height of the skyscraper is 541 m, although it is not the tallest building in the world. Dubai's Burj Khalifa has been holding the palm for several years now.

The cities with the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the United States are traditionally considered to be and. There are world-famous skyscrapers here, which have become famous thanks to their architectural ideas, viewing platforms and, of course, record heights. These include, in particular, the Willis Tower, Trump Tower and John Hancock Center in Chicago and the Empire State Building, Chrysling Building and Rockefeller Center in New York. Today in our review we will talk about the most interesting and memorable skyscrapers in the United States. You will find out why they are interesting and why you should see them with your own eyes.

Freedom Tower, New York

World Trade Center No. 1 appeared on the site of the destroyed World Trade Center complex and received the unofficial name of the Freedom Tower. The building is considered the highest in the Western Hemisphere, its height is 541 m. The building has 104 floors. Considered the 4th tallest skyscraper in the world. The building also has a 124 m high spire. A panoramic observation deck is open on the 102nd floor of the building.

phil dolby/flickr

Willis Tower, Chicago

The Willis Tower is the second tallest building in the United States after the No. 1 World Trade Center in New York. Its height is 443 m, and the number of floors is 108. In addition, the Willis Tower became famous for its original observation deck. It is here that the so-called retractable booths are located, made of completely transparent materials. Thus, once in the cabin, you can "hang in the air" at a great height and enjoy the views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The observation deck of the Willis Tower "Skydeck Chicago" has long been an independent landmark of the city.

tony brooks/flickr

Trump Tower, Chicago

This skyscraper hotel is the second tallest building in Chicago. Its height is 423 m. The Trump Tower is located in a very picturesque place at the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. It was originally planned that the tower would become the tallest building in the United States, but later the construction plans were partially reduced, and as a result, the tower of the American billionaire Donald Trump became only the second tallest building within Chicago. Inside the building are multiple trading floors, restaurants, a hotel, penthouses and other accompanying premises.

Empire State Building, New York

The Empire State Building was the first building in the world with more than 100 floors. The height of the building is 381 m. The skyscraper is the most popular tourist destination in New York, as it houses the famous observation deck on the 102nd floor. The building itself is made in the Art Deco style and is a US National Historic Landmark. It was here, by the way, that the final episodes of the famous American film Sleepless in Seattle were filmed.

glenn beltz/flickr

Williams Tower, Houston

The height of the 4th tallest building in Texas is 275 m. Unlike most skyscrapers in the world, which are traditionally built in business districts, this one is built at a distance from downtown Houston. For tourists, the building, in addition to its amazing streamlined forms, is also attractive with an observation deck on the 51st floor, which offers views of the administrative center of the state of Texas - Houston.

Renaissance Tower, Dallas

The fifth tallest building in Texas is the Renaissance Tower in Dallas. Its height is 270 m. The building gained particular popularity after the release of the cult series "Dallas" about the oil dynasties of Texas. The Renaissance Tower plays the role of an oil company that is featured throughout the series. The skyscraper is located in the business district of Dallas and is occupied mainly by office buildings. The building has 56 storeys, and there are also 2 underground floors in the building, where there are numerous shops and cafes.

axbecerra/flickr

Transamerica, San Francisco

Transamerica is the tallest building in the city of San Francisco. Its height is 260 m, and its shape has original pyramidal outlines. Often, due to its architectural forms, Transamerica is simply called a tower-spire. The building has repeatedly become a backdrop for fantastic Hollywood films, the most famous of which is The Terminator. There is a business center inside the building.

John Hancock Tower, Boston

The John Hancock Tower has a unique shape. Unlike most skyscrapers in the world, which have a rectangular shape, the Hancock Tower is made in the form of a parallelogram. The height of the tower is 241 m, it has 60 floors, the facades of the building are fully glazed, which is why the effect of a mirror skyscraper floating in the air is created. The building received a prestigious architectural award for its unusual design.

And St. Peter's Cathedral, Paris with the Eiffel Tower and Versailles, London with Big Ben and the Ferris Wheel, then New York with the Statue of Liberty and numerous skyscrapers in Manhattan. And although America's largest metropolis was not the birthplace of skyscrapers, and there are buildings in the world that are much taller and more original, but it is with the word "skyscraper" that we imagine Manhattan skyscrapers.

Equitable Life Building, built in 1873, is considered the first skyscraper in the Big Apple. The building, 43 meters high, had only 8 floors. The first building to exceed 100 meters was the New York World Building, completed in 1980. Unfortunately, this building has not survived, it was destroyed in 1955 to make way for the construction of a new entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. The relay race among New York skyscrapers after the New York World Building passed to the 119-meter Park Row Building, erected in 1899.

new york world building

park row building

In 1902, at the junction of Broadway, Fifth Avenue and East 23rd Street, the inimitable Flatiron Building from an architectural point of view, also known as the Iron House, appeared. The 94-meter skyscraper has never been the tallest building in New York, but still remains one of the most original buildings in the Big Apple.

Flatiron Building or House-Iron.

A new stage in the construction of Manhattan skyscrapers began with the competition of famous American tycoons - Walter Chrysler and Jacob Rzskob. The project of the owner of the Chrysler Corporation was the first to be implemented, so in 1930 the first skyscraper appeared, which exceeded the mark of 300 meters - the Chrysler Building. But the palm among skyscrapers belonged to the 77-story building for only one year - in 1931, the Empire State Building, the project of the founder of General Motors, appeared. The 443-meter building held the lead for four decades. Something similar in architectural terms, skyscrapers are still considered the most striking sights of New York. The Chrysler Building is one of the most original illuminated skyscrapers in the city, and more than 75 million people have visited the observation deck of the Empire State Building.

chrysler building

The backlight makes the Chrysler Building skyscraper the most original building in New York at night.

Empire State Building

In 1973, Manhattan was decorated, but after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the leadership returned to the Empire State Building again.

Twin Towers of the World Trade Center

In May 2013, the new World Trade Center or Freedom Tower was opened, which became not only the tallest building in New York, but the entire Western Hemisphere. It is noteworthy that its height is 1776 feet (541 meters), and, as you know, in 1776 the US Declaration of Independence was signed.

Freedom Tower.

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July 24th, 2012

What famous skyscrapers have we walked around with you? And here they are:

In general, that's all for now, but we will not stop there. Let's go to Canada.

Each year, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Illinois Institute of Technology (USA), selects buildings that are the perfect combination of sustainability, ingenuity and beauty. This year's winners are buildings from Australia, Italy, Canada and Qatar. In addition, the tower from Abu Dhabi for the first time received a separate award for innovation. The award will take place in October in Chicago.

Only last year, the construction of 88 buildings over 200 meters high was completed, and the jury considered 78 applications at that time. Here are the results of this hard work.

America's Best Tall Building winner Absolute Towers located in Mississauga, a rapidly growing suburb of Toronto, Canada. One of these towers, for obvious reasons, is named after Marilyn Monroe. They are scheduled to ship next month. This couple is accompanied by three more traditional skyscrapers. The total cost of the project is $470 million.

It's no secret that asymmetry in architecture dramatically increases the price of the issue (Marilyn meanders 209˚ from the base to the top), and these residential buildings are no exception: more than half of the total budget went to this feminine couple.

Each floor (and each apartment) is different, so the architects and engineers had to puzzle over the dimensions of the supporting walls and columns. They even designed a custom crane to complete the project in a reasonable amount of time!

The harsh climate also created problems. Since each floor has a continuous balcony, the engineers had to come up with a way to prevent the flats from depressurizing. The resulting "thermal pads" are so effective that they may be patented. In general, Absolute Towers is one continuous innovation.

In 2006, Jansong's architectural bureau took part in a major international competition for the creation of the "Absolute World" project. , including high-rise buildings in the territory, which is surrounded on all sides by the roads of the former suburbs, and now - parts of the Toronto metropolis - Mississauga (Mississauga). This complex will have a large number of luxury rooms, saunas, swimming pools, sports facilities, restaurants, boutiques and much more. According to the permanent mayor - Hazel McCollion - this huge complex will finally make Mississauga a "full-fledged city."

By January 2006, out of 90 contestants representing 60 countries, only 6 applicants remained, and among them MAD. According to Ma Yansong, at that moment, their group had hope to win. And in March 2006, a selection committee of nine members of a group of urban planning architects and urban design experts, as well as 6,000 citizens who took part in the vote, preferred their Absolute World development project, and, in particular, the Absolute World South Tower - the South Tower, hereafter called Absolute Tower .

This tower has 56 floors, a height of 170 meters, an area of ​​45,000 square meters. meters. This magnificent building does not have the distinct vertical lines usually associated with high-rise buildings, on the contrary, it has a lot of horizontal lines. The structure itself has gentle curves reminiscent of a female figure, and it quickly acquired another name that has become almost official: it is called "Marilyn Monroe" for its sexuality (if this term is applied to the fundamental structure) and irresistible attraction. From the lowest floors, the building will rotate, making a 360-degree turn. In part, this is reminiscent of the Turning Torso turret project. , designed by Santiago Calatrava in Malmo ( Malmo, Sweden.

Absolute Towers is being built by Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group. Engineers, electricians, designers were involved in the development of the MAD project. After the excitement around the Marilyn Monroe tower began, and many applications were received from potential buyers, the builders decided to carry out the 5th phase of construction (Absolute Towers is the fourth building of Absolute World, the previous three are skyscrapers of a more traditional solution). The fifth, northern tower will have 50 floors and 150 meters in height, its area will be 40,000 square meters. meters.

Thanks to the success of the Absolute Tower, Fernbrook Homes said the building will follow the same architectural style, becoming a Marilyn Tower equivalent, "just as flexible and romantic, but more durable and perhaps more durable." Opposite the female tower there will be a male tower. These buildings, according to the customer, will complement each other, "speak the same architectural language", while having their own individuality.

Ma Yansong himself said this about the two towers in an interview: "They speak to each other and coordinate with each other. There is a connection between them, a halo that transcends each individual construction to create a completely unique and original urban space."

The construction of both towers began at the same time - in 2007, and is expected to be completed simultaneously at the end of 2009. The internal designs of the blocks that make up the buildings repeat each other in many ways. What everyone has in common is the huge balconies that wrap around the entire block and will be accessible from all the main rooms. Latitude view from the balconies - up to 180 degrees. In most cases, the central rooms will have an open floor plan that allows sunlight into the rooms. At the very top of the towers there will be a terrace. The upper floors will be occupied by clubs consisting of several levels.

Many believe that these two towers Absolute World is sure to become a kind of style icon, which will be the quintessence of ideas about the modern city. “I have always tried to design something as organic as possible, close to nature, but high-rise buildings should reflect the achievements of modern technology and culture. High-rise buildings are signs of culture,” Jansong explains his position as an architect.

"MAD" - from English it can be translated as "crazy", "crazy". This is an extraordinary name for a Beijing architectural studio that creates innovative projects. MADs burst into the world of architecture, filled with a thirst for changes in the urban structure, introducing it to a new culture - the culture of high technologies which distinguishes our era from the rest.This group has a special attitude to the form in the context of space, introducing into it and reflecting in it the age of electronic technology, high speeds and fantastic ideas of the city of the future.

The city should have iconic buildings that reflect not only its past history, but also the one that is happening now, - this is how the architects who united under this seemingly strange name think. MAD design symbolizes the coming of a new era. With its projects, the studio reflects the transformation into architecture of the way of modern life in a multimedia format that dominates the life of the metropolis today.

The MADs became the first Chinese architects to consistently win competitions outside of China, and this success made them the darlings of the media. The MAD group has an office in America, opened an office in Tokyo and started projects in South America and Denmark. In a few years they have achieved what young architects can only dream of.

The structures created by him are being introduced into the life of today's city, becoming components of modern life. To solve this problem, MAD partners with engineers, programmers, artists, power engineers from China, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Studio MAD has won numerous awards, including the 2006 Architectural League of New York's Young Architects Forum Award. The group has also won numerous international project competitions, including: in 2005 - "Solar Plaza Competition" in Guangzhou; in 2004 - "Shanghai National Software Outsourcing Base" in Shanghai; "Absolute Tower" project in Toronto, Canada, won the international competition in 2006,

Under construction are: "Absolute Tower" in Canada, "Sinosteel International Plaza" - 358-meter tallest tower in Tianjin, China; "Mongolian Museum in Inner Mongolia" in China, private villas in Copenhagen, Denmark and other projects.

Their own joint history began in 2003. Before that, all co-owners of MAD - Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano and Dang Qun worked in teams of designers and designers. Founded Ma Yansong Studio. Born in Beijing, Ma Yangsong received his Master of Architecture from Yale University's Department of Architecture in 2002. Prior to founding MAD in 2003, Ma Yasong worked with Zaha Hadid and other architects in London and New York. He also taught architecture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In 2001, Jansong received a scholarship from the American Architectural Institute for advanced research in architecture. In 2002, he was awarded the Samuel J. Fogelson Memorial Award of Design Excellence for excellence. His works WTC Rebuilt - Floating Island and Fish Tank were exhibited at the Beijing Architecture Biennale and the National Art Museum of China in 2004. The composition "Ink Ice" was shown during the China Calligraphy Art Exhibition in 2005. In 2006, he received an award from the League of Young Architects of New York (Architecture League New York Young Architect Award). And recently, Yangsong became the face of the popular Chinese brand Kitchenware.

Yosuke Hayano was born in Nagoya, Japan. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Waseda University in Tokyo in 2001 and his second degree from the Architectural Association Research Laboratory in London in 2003 with a Master of Architecture Design. His project "SoHotel / Synapse" was exhibited at the Architectural Club (Archilab), at the International Architectural Conference in Orléans, France, in 2002; "Latent Utopias" - in Graz, Austria, in 2002. He was awarded the 2006 Architecture League of New York Young Architect Award and was invited to teach by the Architectural Association. Prior to MAD, Haiano worked as a designer at Zaha Hadid's architectural studio in London.

Dang Qun is from Shanghai. She was educated at the Huanghe University, in Zhengzhou, China. In 2001 - a master's degree in architecture from the University of Yowah. Prior to MAD, Dang worked for several major architectural firms in the United States, including Eastman Perkins on projects of various sizes. She has also worked as an Associate Professor (Assistant Professor) at Yow University, taught at the Pratt Institute, and was an Associate Professor at Yow University in the Foreign Studies Program in Rome, Italy. Her designs have been published in a number of professional journals and exhibited at national architecture exhibitions and conferences. Dang Tsung received the Certificate of Merit from the American Institute of Architecture in 2000. She has also received the Architecture & Culture Award, Design Media Award, and Academic Excellence. in 2001

In an interview, Ma Yansong was asked exactly how the three of them met and why they came up with the name of their studio: Crazy. Ma replied that he wanted to do something unusual, original, so he registered his company in America and called it "MAD", but at that time he was not even sure that he would be doing architecture. This happened even before meeting with his future colleagues.

Yansong met Yosuke Hayano and Dang Tsun while working in London. Young architects have created several joint projects and won competitions in China. This made it possible to start a real independent practice. In 2003, they returned to China together. At this time there, according to Jansong, was a very convenient moment to start a new business.

For young architects, according to Ma, there are two ways, one of them is the construction of private houses, and the second is participation in competitions. There is much less private property in China than in the West, so the group chose to compete. The problem was that they were ordered to design, they participated in competitions and even won them, but they never came to construction, and in China every architect strives to build as many square meters of space as possible. So the band had to waste a lot of time. However, they stubbornly developed their own ideas.

Jansong considers the victory in the international competition for the construction of the Absolute Towers tower in Toronto in 2006 to be a turning point. After Toronto, the developers began to realize that such unusual futuristic projects can make money, and a lot has changed for the group. Their ideas began to be realized, the attitude towards young talented architects changed, people believed in them.

Winning a major international project on another continent is the first case in Chinese practice. Their victory was not only an architectural event, but was widely covered in national news.

But not only abroad, MAD has taken a leading position in the embodiment of its idea of ​​creating special high-rise buildings, the group's architects were the first in China to create a project that allows them to see the China of the future - "Beijing - 2050" through their eyes, no one has created such projects before them.

“China is developing very rapidly,” says Yangsong, “and has the opportunity to do something completely new in the future. Older generations accept Chinese tradition as something unchanging . The band is trying to change that perception."