The birth of Fazlur Rahman Khan (1927)
A Bangladeshi-born engineer who moved to the US, Khan developed a revolutionary “tube” structural system, making skyscrapers safer, stronger, and far more efficient. His innovations made the modern supertall building boom possible, including in the World Trade Center in 1972 (which broke the Empire State Building’s 41-year streak as the world’s tallest building).
Khan passed away in 1982, but his structural systems are still used in skyscrapers around the world today, making him one of the most influential engineers in building history.
