Energy and Buildings in the 20th Century; a project of the U.S. Department of Energy's Efficiency and Renewable Energy program.

Bringing you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable

1940-1949

1940
Rockefeller Center
New York, NY

Architect: Raymond Hood

It took 10 years to build this landmark, which is actually a pinwheel plan of 10 different buildings in a unified design allowing light and space inside and out. Each building has its own bank of elevators in the center, with day lit offices on the perimeter of every floor. These were the last major buildings where workers could open the windows. From then on, modern office buildings were sealed and "climate controlled."

1940 Rockefeller Center, New York, NY

<---Previous.....Next--->

1940 First U.S. Superhighway opens, The Pennsylvania Turnpike

1942 First solar neighborhood - Solar Park, Glenview IL - built with 30 homes

1945 Atomic bombs tested and used

1945 The United Nations is established

1946 Electronic computer developed

1948 Transistor invented, a pivotal element in sizing down electronic devices and computers

Printable Version