In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, 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. 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. In his talk, he will discuss how New York’s development boom drew on the resources of the whole community and transformed the business of building into one of the city's most important industries. 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.