The Empire State Building represents a magnificent achievement in 20th century architecture and construction. Built in 1930, the impressive skyscraper featured an innovative design and implemented fast-track construction methods to complete the project in record time and under budget. What is even more impressive in this was accomplished while constructing what was at that time the tallest building in the world at 102 stories and 1,454 feet (443 meters) high.
The conception of the Empire State Building took place within the context of New York politics and the race to build the world’s tallest building. The project was the brainchild of New York politician Al Smith and General Motors executive John H. Raskob, who was in a rivalry with Walter Chrysler who was building the Chrysler Building. Raskob formed a group of investors to fund the project and then hired the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates to design the building. He told the architects that he wanted the building to be taller than the Chrysler Building and to be finished first. The designers needed to design something that would not only meet the height requirements but something that could be built quickly.
Starrett Brothers and Eken, one of the leading commercial construction companies of the era, won the bid to build the Empire State Building. The construction company realized that with such an immense project that everything would have to be carefully planned and coordinated. Many parts of the building were pre-fabricated off site and timing was crucial in order to keep the building on schedule. Construction of the Empire State Building was the first project to implement fast-track construction. This technique introduced starting the construction process even before all of the designs were completed. This was done to reduce delays and any inflationary costs. In the race to build the world’s tallest building, the fast-track methods were imperative.
In March 1930 work began on the steel skeleton. The skyscraper’s frame increased at over four stories a week. This was record-breaking speed for a high-rise project. This was made possible through carefully planned logistics and the use of highly skilled workers. There were 3,500 workers on the project, most of them were immigrants from Europe, and there were some Mohawk ironworkers from Kahnawake located near Montreal.
The entire project was managed and built very efficiently. Several innovations were created by the contractors, which helped save on money, time and labor. 60,000 tons of steel that were used for the building’s framework were manufactured in the city of Pittsburgh and then transported to New York City by barge, truck and train. A railway was even built on the construction site to help move the materials quickly. Several derricks were put in place to raise the steel girders up to the higher stories of the building.
The Empire State Building was completed under budget ($24.7 million instead of the projected $43 million) and ahead of schedule, taking just fifteen months to complete instead of the projected eighteen months. The race to build the tallest building had been won. The Empire State Building remained the world’s tallest building until it was eclipsed by the World Trade Center in 1972.