Write a paraphrase of the passage.

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Careful, detailed planning and much paperwork enabled the Empire State Building to be put up in record time.
A progress chart and a printed timetable were issued daily. These specified everything to be done that day, identifying each truck that would drive right in onto the first floor, what it would be delivering, and who was responsible to receive it and to use the materials it carried. Each steel piece was numbered to see that it went to the proper derrick and to indicate its proper place in the building.

—The Building of Manhattan,
Donald A. Mackay

Write a paraphrase of the passage.

Answer:

The Empire State Building’s fast construction was due to precise planning, coordinating daily activities and logistical details, and the systematic management of materials. Skyscrapers resulted from engineering innovations like steel frames and elevators, reflecting the high real estate values and patterns of urban development.

Explanation:

The Empire State Building was constructed at an unprecedented speed thanks to meticulous planning and a massive amount of paperwork. Every single day, a detailed schedule and chart were distributed, outlining all tasks, the arrival and contents of each truck on the first floor, and the responsibilities of the workers managing these resources. Every piece of steel used in the building was sequentially numbered to ensure it was delivered to the correct crane and installed in its intended location within the skyscraper’s structure. This organized process exemplifies the methodical approach used to erect one of the world’s most iconic buildings during a time of urban development and the rise of skyscrapers.

Skyscrapers became feasible due to new engineering technologies like steel girders that could support tall structures surpassing the height limits of traditional brick buildings and elevators which facilitated the vertical movement of people and goods. The construction of skyscrapers also indicated the high value of urban real estate. Preceded by landmark advances in urban transportation such as the underground railways in Boston and New York, they expanded city centers and managed the burgeoning influx of automobiles. After the zoning law of 1916, the design of skyscrapers changed to ensure light and air could reach the streets below, leading to iconic designs like the Chrysler Building and the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center.

The development of the first skyscraper in Chicago, the Home Insurance Building, was possible not only due to steel but also the advent of the electric elevator by Elisha Otis, triggering a skyscraper boom in urban centers. The design evolution continued in New York, where buildings like the Woolworth represented a unique architectural style of the early 20th century. Overall, the growth of skyscrapers like the Empire State Building was driven by the intersection of technological advances, urban space limitations, and corporate prestige.

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