Between the 1880s and the 1930s, New York City grew into one of the world’s great cities. This was the era that saw the birth of the skyscraper, the construction of the rapid transit system, and the consolidation of the five boroughs. The city experienced explosive growth, as nearly a million buildings, half a dozen great bridges, and hundreds of miles of new streets were constructed to meet the needs of an ever-swelling population. This landscape—jagged with skyscrapers, clamoring with mass transit, alive with people—made the city world-famous.

In his new book, Building the Metropolis: Architecture, Construction, and Labor in New York City, 1880-1935, Alexander Wood chronicles the physical process of the city’s rapid expansion and explores the development of the building industry. New York’s development boom drew on the resources of the whole community and required political will, creative vision, entrepreneurial drive, skilled workmanship, and hard physical labor.

Drawing on various sources, including city archives, the records of architecture firms, construction companies, and labor unions, Building the Metropolis tells the story of New York in a way that’s epic, lively, and original.

Alexander Wood is a historian of American architecture and urbanism. He was the Helen and Robert Appel Fellow in History and Technology at the New-York Historical Society in 2021–22. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and a B.Arch. from the Cooper Union.