Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the enduring symbols of not only the might and strength of New York City, but of the entire modernist movement of the first part of the twentieth century. The Art Deco design and structure of the famous skyscraper is a testament to modern aesthetic achievement and engineering ingenuity.

Art Deco was a major international artistic and design movement in the 1920s and 1930s. The movement was influenced by other Modernist artistic movements like Constructivism, Cubism, Futurism, and Art Nouveau, and drew on other sources as well. The designs of Art Deco were based in geographical shapes and streamlined stylized forms. Art Deco influenced architecture, as well as industrial and interior design for things such as skyscrapers, train stations, bridges, paintings, graphic arts, fashion and film. The Empire State Building and The Chrysler Building in New York, the Foster and Guardian buildings in Detroit, Michigan, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco are all examples of architecture inspired by Art Deco.

The Empire State Building was built in 1930-1931 as part of a race to see who could build the tallest building. Designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, the Empire State Building’s form was said to have been inspired by the shape of a pencil. The skyscraper is stepped or tiered like a pyramid. Originally, the building was planned with a flat roof, but a metal plated tower or “hat” was added to the top of the building to give it more height.

Art Deco influences can be seen in the structural features as well as the exterior and interior design of the building. Plant geometry forms like circles, triangles, and squares merge with solid geometrical forms like cubes, cones and spheres to give the building a sense of balance and elegance. Rectangular windows also give the building a distinctive and striking look.

The building has four faceted faces rather than the usual one. The base of the building contains sets of vertical, convex bands cut into the limestone that gives the base a stouter appearance. From the midsection of the building, the upper tower rises up to an observatory on the top floor and capped with a spire that was originally designed as a landing for dirigibles.

Modernistic canopies are in place at the 33rd and 34th street entrances. The Art Deco-inspired lobby consists of three floors of multi-colored marble and granite. The walls are decorated with large bronze medallions and a metal mosaic that features the Empire State Building at the center of the universe. The ceiling is decorated with aluminum, platinum and gold leaf in a design of stars and circles.

The Empire State Building is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, due to its distinctive architecture as well as its prominent place in one of the leading cities of the world, New York City. The Empire State Building continues to be an enduring symbol and popular culture icon in the history of modern architecture.

The Empire State Building is one of the most recognizable buildings in the entire world. Built in 1931, the famous skyscraper was the tallest building in the world until it was eclipsed by the World Trade Center in 1972. The Empire State Building once again became New York City’s tallest building after the World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001. The Empire State Building is also the second tallest building in the United States behind the Sears Tower in Chicago. The impressive 102-story skyscraper stands at 1,454 feet tall.

The skyscrapers famous Art Deco inspired design was by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates. The building was commissioned by an investment group led by General Motors executive John J. Raskob, and former presidential candidate and Governor of New York, Alfred E. Smith. The investment group was in a race to build the world’s tallest building, the chief rival being the Chrysler Building that was already under construction.

The skyscraper is a four-facade building made of limestone, whose form was inspired by a pencil. There are two observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors of the skyscraper, offering breathtaking views of New York City and the surrounding areas, and a towering spire at the top of the building. Its lobby features multi-colored marble and granite. The Empire State Building is a stately, elegant statement of modernist architecture.

The building was constructed by one of the leading commercial contractors of the day, Starrett Brothers and Eken. The Empire State Building was completed in record time and under the projected budget. The construction firm used fast-track construction techniques, prefabricated manufacturing off site, a sophisticated logistics and planning schedule, and the use of highly skilled workers to complete the massive project in record time. Construction began on March 17, 1930 on St Patrick’s Day and was completed in May 1931.

The Empire State Building opened with much fanfare on May 1, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover pushed a button to turn the lights on to the building from Washington D.C. The building opened during the middle of the Depression and the investors had a hard time filling the office spaces. Some New Yorkers dubbed the building the Empty State Building. The building did not become profitable until the 1950s.

The Empire State Building is one of the crowing achievements of 20th century architecture and construction. It is a symbol of aesthetic and engineering ingenuity and one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. The floodlights at the top of the building draw even more attention to the stately tower. Different colors light up the building against the night sky, according to the season or occasion. The stately skyscraper has also made its way into popular culture consciousness. The building may be best known for its appearance in the classic King Kong film, and has also appeared in countless other films over the years including An Affair to Remember, Annie Hall, Guys and Dolls, Manhattan, Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally.