Some of the opinions about Glasgow being ahead of the game in the development of modern commercial architecture, featured at http://www.scotcities.com/warehouses.htm have been quoted in a new book about Liverpool buildings.
The book “In the Footsteps of Peter Ellis” http://www.liverpoolhistorysociety.org.uk/in-the-footsteps-of-peter-ellis/ is published by the Liverpool History Society and is a very good read for anyone interested in architectural history.
The book concentrates on the novel architecture of Liverpool architect Peter Ellis who contributed to the evolution of modern building methods which culminated in the skyscrapers of North America.
Ellis was responsible for the world's first ever curtain walled office block, Oriel Chambers, built in 1864.
Oriel Chambers looks amazingly modern for a mid-Victorian office block.
Look at that horrible concrete paneled thing to the right of the picture, yuk!
The Hatrack in St Vincent Street Glasgow was built in 1902, using similar construction ideas as Oriel Chambers.
Glasgow has Britain's first ever cast-iron fronted commercial building, Gardner's Warehouse in Jamaica Street, built in 1856. The best selection of this type of building can be seen in SoHo, New York City if you ever get the chance to visit.
Peter Ellis's block at 16 Cook Street in Liverpool uses an enormous amount of sheet glass, incredibly modernistic for 1867!
Here is a much more familiar building, which is considered by many to be Britain's first skyscraper. The Royal Liver Building was designed by Walter A Thomas c.1911.