X-bracing is a

structural engineering Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the 'bones and muscles' that create the form and shape of man-made structures. Structural engineers also must understand and cal ...

practice where the lateral load on a building is reduced by transferring the load into the exterior columns. X-bracing was used in the construction of the 1908

Singer Building The Singer Building (also known as the Singer Tower) was an office building and early skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City. The headquarters of the Singer Manufacturing Company, it was at the northwestern corner of Liberty Street and Broad ...

, then the tallest building in the world. Some skyscrapers by engineer Fazlur Khan, such as the 1969

John Hancock Center The John Hancock Center is a 100- story, 1,128-foot supertall skyscraper located in Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Magnificent Mile district, the building was officially renamed 875 North Michigan Avenue in 2018. The skyscraper was designed ...

, have a distinctive X-bracing exterior, allowing for both higher performance from tall structures and the ability to open up the inside floorplan (and usable floor space) if the architect desires.Ali Mir (2001), ''Art of the Skyscraper: the Genius of Fazlur Khan'', Rizzoli International Publications,

References

Structural engineering {{Engineering-stub