The skyscraper, emblem of the modern city, has evoked both awe and apprehension in the popular imagination. It was the most impressive architectural form invented in the United States, thereby establishing the country and its architects as world leaders in engineering and design. As it transformed urban landscapes, skyscrapers also evoked a myriad of responses which mythologized, through film and literature, their potential impact on our society. How did 19th century Americans comprehend this new, radical architectural form? What influenced architects' stylistic decisions? And how do we feel about towers today, twenty years post 9-11 and during a time of ecological crisis? This course investigates major themes in skyscraper design, both realized and imagined, starting with the tower’s earliest inception in Chicago and New York to contemporary reimaginings in Asia and the Middle East. We review key innovations in tectonics and discuss the ever-shifting debates surrounding aesthetics, security, and impact on city space. We also ask "who builds skyscrapers" and engage in the current social justice debates surrounding labor practices, looking at case studies in the U.S., UAE, and China. Course material is presented through class discussions, readings, images, films, and literature.