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.
