The 102-story 1,472 foot (449 meter) Empire State Building, at the time of its completion in 1931, became the tallest building in the world. It held this title until 1972 when the first tower of the World Trade Center was complete. The construction of the building was part of a rivalry between two auto executives, Walter Chrysler of Chrysler Corporation who was building the Chrysler Building, and John J Raskob of General Motors who headed an investment group to build the Empire State Building. Raskob asked the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon to design the building to not only be taller than the Chrysler Building, but to be finished first. The architectural firm, along with the construction company of Starrett Brothers and Eken was able to accomplish this, finishing the building in just one year and 45 days
Raskob and the investment group won the race to build the tallest building in the world. The Empire State Building held the record as the tallest building in the world for over forty years, from the time of its completion in 1931 until the construction of the World Trade Center in 1972. After the destruction of the World Trade Center by terrorists in September 2011, the Empire State Building once again became New York City’s tallest building and is the second tallest building in the United States behind the Sears tower in Chicago, and ninth tallest building in the world. The skyscraper is also the fourth tallest freestanding structure on the American continent and the world’s twelfth tallest.
The Empire State Building has held several other records. The skyscraper was the world’s tallest man-made structure from its completion in 1931 until 1954 when Oklahoma’s Griffin Television Tower surpassed it. The Empire State Building also held the record as the world’s tallest freestanding structure from 1931 until 1967 when the Ostankino Tower was constructed. Of course the record that the Empire State Building held the longest was for being the tallest skyscraper at 1,472 feet tall. The building held this record for forty-one years until the World Trade Center’s North Tower was constructed in 1972. By pinnacle height measurement, the Empire State Building is the fourth tallest freestanding structure on the American Continent. The CN Tower, the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center are the only buildings that are taller.
Currently under construction, The Freedom Tower in New York City is projected to be taller than the Empire State Building. In addition, the Chicago Spire in Chicago is also projected to be taller than the Empire State Building, but the project is on hold due to financial difficulties.
The Empire State Building is not only a record holder in several height categories, but is a significant historic icon in New York City. It is a distinctive landmark on Manhattan’s famed skyline and the scene of many memorable cinematic moments. The famed skyscraper holds an enduring place in both the physical and cultural landscape and is a testament to both modern aesthetic and engineering achievement of the twentieth century.