A few years ago, the Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in New York, and although buildings that surpass it in size have since appeared, this place has remained one of the significant centers of tourism. Every day, thousands of people climb to the observation deck to look at Manhattan from all sides. The history of the city is closely connected with this building, so every resident is able to tell a lot of interesting information about the building with a spire.
Stages of construction of the Empire State Building
The project to create a new office building appeared in 1929. The main architectural idea belonged to William Lamb, although similar motifs had already been used previously in the construction of other structures. In particular, in North Carolina and Ohio you can find buildings that were actually prototypes for the future large-scale construction of New York. 
In the winter of 1930, workers began cultivating the land at the site of the future high-rise building, and construction itself began on March 17. In total, about 3.5 thousand people were involved, with the builders for the most part being either emigrants or representatives of the indigenous population. 
Work on the project was carried out during the period of city construction, so the pressure from the pressing deadlines was felt on the site. At the same time as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler building and a skyscraper on Wall Street were being built, and each owner wanted his project to be the most advantageous compared to its competitors. 
As a result, the Empire State Building turned out to be the tallest, retaining its status for another 39 years. Such success was achieved due to well-coordinated work at the construction site. According to average estimates, about four floors were erected weekly. There was even a period when workers managed to lay out fourteen floors in ten days. 
In total, the construction of one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world took 410 days. The right to start lighting the new office center was transferred to the then-current president, who declared the Empire State Building open on May 1, 1931. 
American skyscraper architecture
The height of the building including the spire is 443.2 meters, and its width is 140 meters. The main style as conceived by the architect was Art Deco, but the façade has classical elements in its design. In total, the Empire State Building has 103 floors, with the top 16 being a superstructure with two observation decks. The area of the premises exceeds 208 thousand square meters. Many people wonder how many bricks it took to build such a structure, and although no one has counted their number individually, it is known that about 10 million building units were required. 
The roof is made in the form of a spire; according to the idea, it was supposed to become a stopping point for airships. When the tallest skyscraper at that time was built, they decided to check the possibility of using the top for its intended purpose, but due to strong winds it was not possible to achieve the desired goal. As a result, in the mid-20th century, the airship terminal was converted into a television tower. 
Inside, you should pay attention to the decoration of the main foyer. Its width is 30 meters, and its height is comparable to three floors. Marble slabs add stateliness to the room, and pictures of the seven wonders of the world are bright decorative elements. The eighth image is a sketch of the Empire State Building itself, which is also identified with world-famous buildings. 
Of particular interest is the lighting of the tower, which is constantly changing. There is a special set of colors applied to different days of the week, as well as a combination of them for national holidays. Every event significant for the city, country or world is colored in symbolic shades. For example, the day of Frank Sinatra’s death was marked in blue tones because of the popular nickname in honor of the color of his eyes, and on the anniversary birthday of the British Queen, the gamma from the Windsor heraldry was used. 
Historical events associated with the tower
Despite the importance of the office center, it did not immediately become popular. From the moment the Empire State Building was built, an unstable economic situation reigned in the United States, so most companies in the country could not afford to occupy all the office space. For about a decade, the building was considered unprofitable. Only with a change of ownership in 1951 did the office center begin to make a profit. 
In the history of the skyscraper there are also mourning dates, in particular, during the war years a bomber flew into the building. The year 1945, July 28, became devastating as the plane crashed between the 79th and 80th floors. The impact went right through the building, one of the elevators fell from a great height, while Betty Lou Oliver, who was in it, remained alive and became one of the world record holders for this. 14 people died as a result of this incident, but this did not stop the work of the offices. 
Due to its fame and enormous height, the Empire State Building is quite popular among those wishing to commit suicide. It is for this reason that the structure of the observation platforms was additionally reinforced with fences. Since the tower opened, more than thirty suicides have occurred. True, sometimes misfortunes can be prevented, and sometimes chance decides to make its contribution. This is what happened to Elvita Adams, who jumped from the 86th floor, but thanks to strong winds she was thrown to the 85th floor, escaping with only a fracture. 
Tower in culture and sports
Residents of the United States of America love the Empire State Building, so scenes with the skyscraper often appear in box-office films. The most famous scene for the world community is King Kong hanging from the spire and waving away the planes hovering around him. The rest of the films can be found on the official website, where there is a list of films with unforgettable views of the New York tower. 
The building is a platform for unusual competitions in which everyone is allowed to participate. It is necessary to overcome all the steps up to the 86th floor for a while. The most successful winner completed the task in 9 minutes 33 seconds, but to do this he had to climb 1576 steps. Tests are also carried out here for firefighters and police officers, but they perform the conditions in full equipment. 
Many people do not know why the tower received such an unusual name, which has “imperial” roots. In fact, the reason lies in the use of this epithet in relation to the state of New York. In fact, the name means “Building of the Imperial State”, which when translated sounds commonplace to the inhabitants of this area. 
An interesting play on words that appeared during the Great Depression. Then, instead of Empire, the word Empty was more often used, which sounded close, but meant that the building was empty. In those years, it was very difficult to rent out office space, so the owners of the skyscraper suffered significant losses. 
Useful information for tourists
Tourists in New York are sure to wonder how to get to the Empire State Building. The address of the skyscraper: Manhattan, Fifth Avenue, 350. Visitors will have to stand in a long line, since many people want to go up to the observation decks. 
You are allowed to look at the view of the city from a height of 86 and 102 floors. The elevators go up to both levels, but the price changes slightly. Video filming is prohibited in the lobby, but on the observation deck you can take beautiful photos with a panorama of Manhattan. 
Also on the second floor there is an attraction with a video tour, where you can learn more about the surrounding areas of the city. If you are lucky, you will be greeted at the entrance to the observation deck by King Kong, who is rightfully considered the symbol of this place.
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Its authors, the architectural agency Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, were the first in history to decide to create a building project with more than a hundred floors. Opened in Mahattan in 1931, built in less than a year and a half, it was rightly considered the “eighth wonder of the world,” which was reflected in the painting of its hall. But in the 70s, the construction of the World Trade Center deprived it of the palm among the tallest buildings, and the growth in the number of skyscrapers not only in the USA, but also in other countries made the aura of uniqueness fade.
As a result, the new stage of development that began in the life of the Empire State Building at the end of the 20th century identified it as a participant in the race, no longer technological or construction, but tourist. The owners of the skyscraper, leaving it a huge office building that employs over 20 thousand people, also focus on its attractiveness for tourists. In particular, the unique gold painting of the ceiling in the lobby in the spirit of the 30s has been restored, both observation platforms (86th and 102nd floors) have been equipped so that they have a 360° view, a visitor center has been opened with a separate entrance from 34th Street, and is open. a museum that inscribes the history of the Empire State Building into the history of New York. These and other changes mean that a visit to the Empire State Building today is not only about looking at the Big Apple from a height of 373 meters, it is also about touching the living history of one of the most famous metropolises in the world, developing before your eyes.
Height of the Empire State Building in New York
There is anecdotal evidence that investors in the Empire State Building project did not negotiate the number of floors with the architect, asking him to design the building as tall as possible. Architect William Lamb started with 50 floors, but ended up with 103 floors.
The height of the Empire State Building from base to roof is 381 meters, taking into account the antenna installed on the roof - 443.2 meters. As of 2020, this is the second largest building in New York, the third in the USA, and the 51st in the world.
From the moment it was put into operation until 1970, this skyscraper in Manhattan remained unsurpassed in height not only in the States, but throughout the entire planet. A competitor appeared a dozen blocks to the south - in December 1970, the north tower of the World Trade Center was completed. Taking into account the antenna, the new building reached a record height of 530 meters.
In subsequent years, skyscrapers from other countries moved the Empire State Building to more distant positions on world lists. So by the time the Twin Towers were destroyed in 2001, he had returned to the leader position only in the New York rankings. But in 2012, the building was in second place, since the Freedom Tower, 417 meters high (on the roof), was erected on the site of the World Trade Center.
Construction of the Empire State Building
The developers of the Empire State Building project created it in just 2 weeks. The efficiency is explained by the fact that they used developments from other orders. On the site of the future skyscraper stood one of the hotels of the Astoria chain; it was to be demolished. Work began in 1929. John Raskob, one of the businessmen who financed the construction of the skyscraper, hoped to attract investment and begin construction of a new building that same year, but in October the New York Stock Exchange collapsed, and a crisis began.
Neither Raskob nor another curator of the project, Alfred Smith, lost money, but people who planned to invest in the project went bankrupt. Despite the loss of a source of funds, and the threat of low demand for offices in the future skyscraper due to the obvious crisis, Raskob and Smith chose to take out a loan rather than abandon the project altogether.
Construction of the Empire State Building began on January 22, 1930, at the height of the Great Depression.
In the winter months, the demolition of the hotel was completed, and at the same time a hole was being dug for a giant foundation. The construction of the first load-bearing structures began on March 17. The pace of construction from the first stage was impressive. The first 14 floors were erected in 10 days, and subsequently they built approximately 4 floors per week.
By November, 75 floors had been built, with steel structures up to the 95th floor. From this time on, simultaneous interior finishing of the finished levels began. The installation of 66 elevators, each with a lifting speed of 366 m/min, also began. About 3,500 workers worked on the construction of the building. The Empire State Building was commissioned on May 1, 1931, just 405 days after construction began.
Skyscraper observation decks
The building has 2 observation decks: on the 86th and 102nd floors. To get to them, you need to purchase a ticket. It is separate for each site. Tourists can access the Empire State Building through the Visitor's Center, which has an entrance on 34th Street. Tickets are sold in vending machines with a simple interface. If difficulties arise, you can contact one of the employees present in the room for help.
The machines have partially solved the problem of queuing at the ticket counters, but be prepared to spend some time waiting at the exit to the site. To avoid this, tourists visiting the Empire State Building are advised to arrive when the site opens at 8:00 or after 22:00. There are not many people at this time. In addition, at the beginning of the day you can watch the city wake up, and in the late evening enjoy the ocean of lights of the Big Apple.
The observation deck of the 86th floor is located at an altitude of approximately 340 meters, the 102nd floor - at a level of 371 meters. Both have a full all-round view, and are decorated on the ceiling and floor with projections of nearby buildings, which can be seen if you approach the panoramic glazing. It offers views of both the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. To better understand the details of the view that opens, you should download the free Observatory Experience application from the official website of the skyscraper. Also at the sites you will find powerful binoculars that will allow you to see the details of the panorama.
What else to see
The Empire State Building is famous not only for its observation decks, but also for its architecture, restored lobby interiors, a small museum where you can take a photo in King Kong's huge paw, and also for its unique lighting. Getting to know these details will make your experience of visiting the skyscraper brighter.
Lobby
Since 2009, visitors to the Empire State Building lobby can see the same ceiling that appeared above the heads of the first visitors to the skyscraper in 1931. The large fresco, created using aluminum and gold, was covered with a false ceiling in the mid-20th century and decided to be restored only fifty years later.
The Art Deco mural depicts a sky full of planets and stars, which at the same time represent an assembly line of gears. This is how designers of the last century expressed respect for the era of discoveries and technical progress. Also noteworthy is the wall behind the visitor registration desk in the lobby, which depicts the skyscraper itself and the rays emanating from its top.
It took a team of restorers 18 months to completely restore the frescoes, as well as the authentic lamps in the spirit of the 1930s, despite the fact that the entire building was built in only 13 months.
Museum and gift shop
On the 2nd floor there is a museum that tells not only about the history of the skyscraper and New York, but also about the place of the Empire State Building in popular culture. Here you can see photos of Manhattan streets in the 1920s, find out what ancient Otis elevators were like and how they worked, and also get acquainted with films, cartoons, comics, videos and other pop culture products that show the Empire State Building.
Among these films is the film “King Kong”, shot in 1933, as well as its remake, released in the “zero”. The museum even has a corner that consists of an image of King Kong looking through a window and models of his fingers breaking through the wall. Brave souls can take a photo with them!
Next to the museum there is a gift shop where you can buy magnets, dishes and other items depicting the Empire State Building. They also sell clothes with images of a skyscraper.
Ladder
Another remarkable object is the staircase, consisting of 1860 steps. Every year on February 5th, a speed climbing competition is held there. At the same time, the distance is limited to 1576 steps - participants finish on the 86th floor. New York firefighters and rescue workers also train on the stairs of the Empire State Building. Tourists can only access the stairs on competition days while participating in the race. The rest of the time it is closed to visitors; only high-speed elevators are used for ascent.
Backlight
The skyscraper's exterior lighting system also makes it one of the most remarkable buildings in New York. Spotlights are located on the upper tiers. They have been operating every day since 1964, with each day of the week corresponding to a different color.
On holidays and in honor of memorable dates, a unique range of shades is chosen. For example, on the days of games of New York teams, the building takes on the color of their official colors, on the day of the celebration of the anniversary of Elizabeth II. In 2002, it became purple and gold (the official colors of the Windsor family), and when gay pride parades are held, the facade is painted in all the colors of the rainbow. The official website of the skyscraper even has a schedule of lighting gammas.
How to get to the Empire State Building in New York
If you're staying at a hotel in Manhattan or are close to a skyscraper, check out the walking map located on the building's website. If you plan to get to the Empire State Building by public transport, then use the subway or bus.
Metro. The 34 Street - Herald Square station is a 5-minute walk from the building. It is served by trains B, D, F and M (Sixth Avenue Line), N, Q, R, W (Broadway Line).
Bus. Opposite the skyscraper on West 34th Street is the W 34 St & 5 Av bus stop. It is reached by routes such as M34-SBS, M34A-SBS, QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM24.
To order a taxi ride, use the mobile applications Uber, Via, Gett, Arro, Waave or others.
Panoramic view of Manhattan from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building:
What is the view from the Empire State Building: video
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers, known not only in, but throughout the world. It stands on a par with such famous buildings as the Pyramid of Cheops and. This building was and remains a symbol of brilliant New York. Forty years ago, the Empire State was the tallest building in the world, but it still amazes with its size. On the wall of the huge marble-decorated lobby, the Empire State Building is presented as the eighth wonder of the world.
Features of the Empire State Building
The 102-story Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue. It was built back in 1931 and is the tallest skyscraper in New York.
Despite its large size, the skyscraper looks quite elegant: the proportions of the Empire State Building are simple and elegant. The upper floors are built somewhat deeper in relation to the general line of the facade. The building is designed in a modest but elegant art deco style. Stainless steel strips stretch upward along the gray stone façade, and the upper floors are arranged in three terraces.
Standing on the sidewalk in front of a 102-story skyscraper, it is very difficult to see the entire building - it is so large. The dimensions of the building are truly amazing: the height without the tower is 381 meters, and together with the television tower, built in the 50s, it reaches a total height of 449 meters. The weight of the structure is 331 thousand tons.
Of course, the best way to move between floors is with the help of elevators, but there are eccentrics who prefer to climb to the very top floor using the stairs, which have 1,860 steps. Once a year there is a competition for the fastest climb. The winner receives one million dollars.
The rest still prefer to use elevators. The office space can accommodate 15,000 people, and the elevators can carry 10,000 passengers in one hour.
The Empire State is not only a hub of offices, but also a real attraction for tourists. Inside the hall, which is 30 meters long and three floors high, hangs a huge panel with images of eight, one of which is the Empire State Building itself. The Guinness World Records Hall contains information about unusual records and record holders. There are observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors, which can be reached very quickly by elevator. From here you have an amazing view of the city.
History of the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue, New York. This part of Manhattan is still considered very prestigious. Skyscrapers, of which there are plenty, only further emphasize the respectability of this area.
New York and Chicago became the first cities to begin construction of high-rise buildings. There were many reasons for this. Firstly, technical innovations were already actively used - lightweight construction fittings, high-speed elevators, strip foundations, etc. Secondly, since the end of the 19th century, the price of land was quite high, so the construction of multi-story buildings turned out to be economically profitable. But, despite the lower price, placing an office in a skyscraper was and still remains very prestigious. Now, to rent an office in a skyscraper, you have to pay much more than for similar apartments in a regular building.
The modern Empire State Building is built on the site that has been a center for the local aristocracy since 1860. Then there were two noble houses here, belonging to members of the richest Astor family. Subsequently, the Waldorf and Astoria hotels were built here. These two hotels operated in the 90s of the 19th century. In 1929, both hotels were demolished to make way for the construction of the Empire State Building.
The building is built on a two-story foundation (to make the skyscraper more stable) and supported by a steel structure weighing 54,400 tons. Ten million bricks and 700 kilometers of cable were spent on construction. Construction was led by John Jacob Raskob (creator of General Motors). The project was completed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.
The building was built simply with unheard of speed. In just over a year and a half, 38 construction teams (5 people each) assembled the frame of the skyscraper from a huge number of metal beams, which were delivered to the construction site along a specially built road. Construction was very difficult and risky: every day workers had to balance on the narrow beams of this frame.
The skyscraper grew literally before our eyes. Approximately four and a half floors were built each week, and during the most intense period, 14 floors were completed in 10 days. The entire building was built in 1 year and 45 days.
On May 1, 1931, the official opening of the Empire State Building took place, which received the status of the tallest building on our planet, overtaking the previous record holder - the headquarters of the Chrysler automobile corporation.
The opening of the skyscraper coincided with the great economic depression. Not many could afford to rent an office in this building. At the time, the building was even nicknamed the “Empty State Building.” Ten years passed until all the premises were finally delivered.
At first, the creators of the skyscraper planned to build a flat roof to create a platform for airships. But later this idea was abandoned: the site is an expensive pleasure, and airships were coming out and fashions were coming out. In 1950, it was decided to build on the skyscraper: a small television tower, 447 meters high, was installed on the roof.
The name of the Empire State Building comes from the words "bilding", which in English means "building" or "structure". "Empire State" (translated from English as "empire state") is the unofficial name of the state of New York.
The skyscraper quickly gained notoriety because it turned out to be very attractive to suicides. The first suicide occurred in 1933, just 3 years after its opening. In the same year, the film “King Kong” was released, and the image of this building was firmly connected in the minds of millions of viewers with a huge monster climbing the walls of a skyscraper. To top it all off, in 1945, due to poor visibility, a plane crashed into the 79th floor. 14 people were killed and damage amounted to one million dollars. Then they began to say that the Empire State Building was almost a diabolical invention. True, successful businessmen called all this complete nonsense and continued to fight for the right to rent an office in the most respectable building in Manhattan.
In 1986, the Empire State Building was designated a National Landmark. More than 35,000 tourists visit it every year, not counting the fact that more than 50,000 people work in the building itself.
For decades now, the Empire State Building has been considered a symbol of New York and the entire American state.
The largest city in the United States has more than five thousand skyscrapers. Only in New York could an office building become a historical landmark. The face of the American metropolis is giant high-rise buildings, and this building does its job well. The Empire State Building is an unshakable symbol of the Big Apple and one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the world. If you like to travel and study unusual architectural treasures, then this building will find something to surprise you.
Today, the Empire State Building (ESB) is a national monument and a must-see landmark in New York City. Over 130 million people have already visited the observation decks of this building, which is comparable to the population of an average country.
Where is the Empire State Building located?
The famous skyscraper adorns the island of Manhattan, and its 102 floors are visible from several kilometers away. The building is located on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th streets, 1 km from Times Square. From 1931 to 1972, the Empire State Building held the title of the tallest structure on the planet until the North Tower of the World Trade Center was built. After the 2001 terrorist attack, the skyscraper again ascended to the pedestal, but this time as the tallest building in New York.
This is interesting. At the beginning of the 21st century, many high-rise buildings appeared in the world, and in America itself, that surpassed the Empire State Building - the Freedom Tower in New York (104 floors), the Royal Clock Tower in Mecca (120 floors), the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai ( 128 floors), Hong Kong International Commerce Center (118 floors). The tallest building at the moment is the Burj Khalifa, which has 163 floors. The skyscraper opened in 2010.
In 1986, the Empire State Building was included in the list of national treasures of the country, and in 2007, the building became the first on the list as the best architectural solution. The owner and manager of the building is W&H Properties.
How to get there
You can get to the famous skyscraper by public transport. If you go by subway, you need to get off at the 34th Street/Herald Square station on lines N, Q, R. You can get there by bus - M4, M10, M16, M34. Nearby are Times Square, the Museum of Modern Art of New York, and the Morgan Library and Museum.
History of creation
The site where the Empire State Building is now located was the site of John Thompson's farm until the 18th century. A spring flowed here, flowing into the Golden Perch Pond - a reservoir that is still located in the area from the high-rise building. In the 19th century, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel stood here, hosting New York's social elite.
At the time of its construction, the structure became the first in the world, which had over 100 floors, or rather 102. The height of the Empire State Building in New York is 381 m, and with the spire - 443 m. The skyscraper has antennas from which television and radio broadcasts are carried out. The first experimental television broadcast was made from the top of the skyscraper on December 22, 1931 - six months after completion of construction. Today, the spire of the structure as a transmitter is used by almost all radio and television channels in the city.
Spotlights that illuminate the Empire State Building with colorful lights were recorded back in 1964. The building is painted in honor of holidays and memorials - on Presidents' Day the building glows red, blue and white, on Valentine's Day - red, pink and white, and on St. Patrick's Day - green.
Thousands of tourists come to the building every day. The thing is that there are two observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. On the first platform you can see the whole of New York; it is more difficult to get to the last floor - the platform is smaller and only a small number of visitors are allowed there. The skyscraper itself also houses an attraction that simulates flying over the city on the Hudson.
Construction or who became the architect of the Empire State Building
The building was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. It was this company that prepared the drawings in a couple of weeks, taking as a basis their previous project - the Carew Tower in Cincinnati in Ohio. The plan was created from top to bottom. The main contractors were the Starrett brothers and Eken, and the construction was financed by John Raskob.
The preparation of materials began on January 22, 1930, and construction began on St. Patrick's Day - March 17 of the same year. The project involved 3,400 workers, most of whom were immigrants from Europe, as well as the Mohawk Indian foundry workers from the Kanawake reservation near Montreal. The skyscraper has 102 floors, and the total weight of the structure is 365 thousand tons. They spent $41 million on construction.
This is interesting. It is believed that the ESB architects, when they met with investors, heard the question: “How high can you build a building without it falling?” The builders understood this hint well - the skyscraper was to be called the tallest skyscraper in America, and at the same time in the world.
The construction of a skyscraper became part of the competition - the winner received the right to be named tallest building. Wall Street and the Chrysler Building competed for the title. These structures held the title for less than a year, as ESB beat out its rivals on the 410th day of construction.
Thanks to the popular nickname of the state of New York, the skyscraper of the Imperial State or the Empire State Building got its name. Construction built in 13 months, which is very fast for the first half of the 20th century. For comparison, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were built in seven years.
Opening
The official “coming out” of the Empire State Building was solemn: President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington and turned on the lights in the building. Ironically, the lamps on the high-rise spire were lit for the first time on the day of Franklin Roosevelt's victory over Hoover in the November 1932 election.
This time was also marked as the Great Depression. The structure began to be called the Empty House of the Imperial State, since no one rented office space in the ESB. And the whole point was not only the crisis, but also the uncomfortable location - the metal structure occupied almost the entire internal area. The offices were cramped and looked like small closets. Afterwards, the building was reconstructed, creating modern comfortable premises. The legendary skyscraper is the penultimate one hosts Donald Trump and Hideki Yokoi sold for $57.5 million in 2002. The new owner of the skyscraper is the real estate company of Peter Malkin, which manages a couple of historic buildings in New York. Today, the view of the Big Apple from the Empire State Building is the most magnificent because of the opportunity to see a 360-degree panorama.
Architectural style
At the beginning of the 20th century, steel frames began to be used for the construction of multi-story buildings, which had previously been used for the construction of bridges and railway stations. In 1930, the Chrysler Building with a height of 319 m received the palm as the tallest building in the city. The building overtook the Bank of Manhattan, which reached a height of 282 m. However The Empire State Building surpassed everyone in 1931- towering 381 m above New York. The total weight of the structure is 365 thousand tons, and the steel structure has a mass of 59 thousand tons. There are 10 million bricks in the walls.
By increasing the length of the shafts and the speed of passenger elevators, the maintenance of the high-rise was simplified. The Empire State Building has 62 elevators arranged in groups. But according to city zoning laws, high-rise buildings must have narrowed upper floors. To better illuminate the streets, architects began to build skyscrapers that were completely different from the Chicago high-rises at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The new style of multi-storey buildings combined the motifs of art deco and avant-garde geometricism.
One of the interesting places of the ESB is the spire. The structure has 16 floors and also houses a control room. The top of the building was going to be used as a pier for airships. The Spire only accepted two airships, and then all were canceled due to the risk of collision. There is also an antenna mast at the top of the structure, which is decorated with illumination from time to time. Only in the first few years the observation deck on the spire visited by several million people. The annual profit was $1 million, a significant amount during the Great Depression era.
The width of the Empire State Building depended on the requirements for ventilation and natural light. Before the installation of powerful air conditioners, the depth of the room from the window to the back wall could not be more than 8.5 m. The building has 6,500 windows connected by vertical steel strips. The outer covering of the walls is made of gray limestone, which is framed with aluminum sheets. The support platform has five floors and occupies the entire area of its site. There is a three-story lobby in the center, surrounded by two tiers of shops. Due to the fact that there was no place on the construction site where materials could be stored, they were delivered on schedule and immediately lifted upstairs. The construction process was similar to a factory assembly line, which is why it was possible to build a skyscraper in such a short time.
The ESB style is art deco, created at the International Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. The style incorporates motifs from various historical forms - from the culture of Ancient Egypt to the development of the Mayans. Art Deco is characterized by the use of new materials - chromed steel, glass and plastic. In their reviews, tourists note that the architecture of the Empire State Building is unusual, since all the most interesting things are located outside.
Empire State Building inside
But what is inside the famous skyscraper, since the building was not built for tourist purposes? ESB is an ordinary office high-rise, which during the years of construction was called the Empty State Building (empty - empty). Companies were reluctant to occupy the premises, but the situation soon changed due to interior remodeling. Just 10-15 years ago, small firms were the main tenants of 100 m2 offices. Today, entire floors are occupied by large companies thanks to colossal reconstructions of the internal halls.
- It is more convenient to climb to the upper floors of the Empire State Building by elevator, but some people try to climb the 1860-step staircase. This could very well be a training session, as once a year the building hosts a competition to see who can climb the fastest. The winner is awarded one million dollars. The office space can accommodate 15 thousand people, and the elevator carries 10 thousand passengers in one hour;
- Empire State is not just an office, but entertainment for tourists. In the lobby, which is 30 meters long and three floors high, hangs a giant panel depicting the eight wonders of the world. Naturally, one of them is the Empire State Building itself. There is a Guinness World Records room where information about unusual achievements and record holders is stored;
- On July 28, 1945, a plane crashed into a building. It was a B-25 bomber that flew between the 79th and 80th floors. The disaster claimed the lives of 11 people;
every year the skyscraper is visited by more than 35 thousand tourists, and more than 50 thousand people work in the building itself.
Opening hours
The Empire State Building is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. The last rise is at 1.15 am. On the 86th floor there is an observatory, from where you can see amazing city panoramas from a height of 320 m. On average, they spend about an hour at the observation decks, but the visiting time is not limited in any way.
Ticket prices
Since the observatory opened in 1931, the building has been visited by more than 110 million people. Accordingly, there are long queues before entering. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid the line of tourists. There is a standard version of the city pass, which allows you to visit the observation platform on the 86th floor and an audio guide. The cost of entry to the site on the 86th floor is $32, and if express without queues - $55. You can also visit the 102nd floor for $52 and $75 without waiting.
What to see nearby
If visiting the famous skyscraper is not enough, then you can check out the attractions nearby. The list below will help you have a good time:
- . The city on the Hudson is home to one of the most famous and largest parks in the world. Central Park is located in Manhattan on an area of 3.4 km2. 25 million people come here every year. There are hotels opposite the park, so it’s convenient to combine a walk and not be interrupted from your planned activities;
- . Sports complex, which is located on Eighth Avenue. This is a multifunctional facility that is used more than 300 days a year for various events. It hosts New York Knicks basketball games and New York Rangers hockey tournaments, concerts and performances. During hockey matches the hall seats 18,200 people, and during concerts - 2,000 visitors;
- . The pride of America, which rises above New York on Liberty Island near Manhattan. For more than 100 years, the symbol of democracy has been welcoming and seeing off hundreds of ships in the Big Apple harbor. It is an interesting attraction for tourists and a beacon of freedom for Americans;
- . One of the oldest hanging structures in the country, which was the longest in the world until 1903. Steel slings were used for the first time to build the Brooklyn Bridge. The main span over the East River is 487 m long and the total length is almost 2 km.
The Empire State Building is one of the first and legendary skyscrapers in New York that has become its symbols. It was called the eighth wonder of the world, and until 1972 it proudly bore the title of the tallest building in the world. The history of construction is rich in interesting facts, both amazing and sad.
Building architecture
The development of the project, which took only 2 weeks, was carried out by a group of architects from the firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. In the design of the building, they successfully combined the mood of the public during the Great Depression and new requirements for urban development.
The skyscraper has stepped shape, tapers upward. This is one of the requirements of the Urban Zoning Act (1916). The narrowing of the upper floors was supposed to provide good street lighting.
The facades are devoid of any decoration and are as simplified as possible, but the building is undoubtedly attributed to the Art Deco style. An important role in this is played by a set of materials - chromed steel, plastic and glass. A new and bold combination for that period of time.
Construction of a New York skyscraper
In January 1930, construction began on the Empire State Building in New York. At the preparatory stage, a pit was dug, utilities were installed and a foundation was erected. In March of the same year, construction of the main part began.
All work was based on the conveyor principle. This is especially clearly demonstrated by the fact that the steel frame parts were installed 8 hours after they were manufactured at the factory.
Coal furnaces were installed directly at the construction site, in which rivets for the frame beams were heated. By the way, it was assembled to the 86th floor in six months. In parallel with the assembly of the steel frame, plumbers and electricians worked inside the building, laying utility lines.
Empire State Building - numbers and facts
The famous New York skyscraper amazes not only with its scale, but also with some facts that not everyone knows about.
Empire State Building in numbers
Some figures provided by statistics and historical chronicles make us look at the Empire State Building with different eyes:
- the construction required 10,000,000 bricks, 60,000 tons of steel elements, 6,500 window structures, about 700 km of electrical cables;
- the spire is struck by about 100 lightning strikes per year;
- the height at the end of construction was 381 m, but after the installation of the television tower it increased to 443 m;
- total weight of the building - 365,000 tons;
- about 3,000 people constantly worked at the construction site;
- the construction of the skyscraper took a record 410 days;
- the building has 103 floors, connected by 73 elevators;
- the observation decks of the Empire State Building were visited by 110,000,000 people;
- about 30,000 people work in the offices of the skyscraper;
- the cost of the building at the time of completion was $41,000,000, and in 2014 it was valued at $629,000,000.
There were also some sad statistics. According to official data, 5 people died during construction.
The Empire State Building in New York is memorable not only for its height and architecture, but also for several interesting facts about its “biography”.
- One of the most famous skyscrapers in the USA received its name thanks to the unofficial name of New York - Empire State or “Imperial State”.
- It was possible to rent out all the offices of the tower only a decade after construction.
- At the highest point they planned to install a spire for mooring airships. In practice, this turned out to be impracticable due to strong vortex air flows at altitude.
- Every year on February 5, a running competition is held in the skyscraper. The winner is the one who climbs 1,576 steps in record time.
- Since the building contains a huge number of offices, it has your postal code - 10118.
- The main load is borne not by the foundation, but by the steel frame. This allows you to significantly reduce the weight of the structure.
- The Empire State Building has become the hero of several films. The most famous of them is “King Kong” (1933).
- A magnificent panorama opens from the observation deck. You can see the surrounding area at a distance of 128 km.
A well-known fact is that for the construction of the high-rise, installers from the Mohawk tribe were hired, who were not afraid of heights.
New York skyscraper illuminated
Several decades after its construction, the Empire State Building became a symbol of the American dream and gained the special love of US citizens. It aroused a new wave of interest and sympathy in 1964, when the upper part of the building was equipped with floodlights. They illuminated the TV tower and the top floors on holidays or other significant dates. The system still works today.
Each holiday and event corresponds a specific backlight color scheme. So, after the death of F. Sinatra, these were blue lights, on the anniversary of the Queen of Great Britain - purple and gold. After the destruction of the World Trade Center, the tower was illuminated in red, white and blue for several months. During the US Open (tennis) tournament, yellow is the dominant color.
On some memorable dates, the backlight is turned off completely for a short time.
Interesting fact! In 2012, 10 floodlights were replaced with 1,200 LEDs. They provide a wide range of illumination colors and are fully computer controlled. There are now about 16 million colors available to illuminate the top of a skyscraper.
On the official website of the Empire Building you can always find out the current color of the lighting, as well as what it was like yesterday and what it will be like on the next significant date.
Incidents at the Empire State Building
In July 1945, an American bomber crashed into the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors. The blow was so strong that he the engine flew right through the building. The skyscraper itself did not receive any particular damage. Most offices opened the next day without any problems. The collision claimed 14 lives.
