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 guise of the American metropolis is giant skyscrapers, and this building does its job well. The Empire State Building is the unshakable symbol of the Big Apple and one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the world. If you like to travel and explore unusual architectural heritage, then this building will find something to surprise you with.

Today, the Empire State Building (ESB) is a national monument and a must-see in New York City. More than 130 million people have already visited the observation decks of this building, and this is commensurate with the population of an average country.

Where is the Empire State Building located?

The famous skyscraper adorns Manhattan Island, and its 102 floors are visible for several kilometers. The building is located on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th streets, 1 km from Times Square. From 1931-1972, the Empire State Building held the title of the tallest building on the planet until the North Tower of the World Trade Center was built. After the terrorist attack in 2001, the skyscraper again ascended the pedestal, but already as the tallest building in New York.

It 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 in the list as the best architectural solution. The building is owned and operated by W&H Properties.

How to get there

You can get to the famous skyscraper by public transport. If you take the subway, you need to take the 34th Street / Herald Square station on the N, Q, R lines. You can get there by bus - M4, M10, M16, M34. Nearby are Times Square, New York Museum of Modern Art, Morgan Library and Museum.

History of creation

In the place where the Empire State Building is now located, John Thompson's farm was located until the 18th century. A spring flowed here, flowing into the Golden Perch Pond - a reservoir and today is located in the area from the high-rise. In the 19th century, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, hosting the social elite of New York, stood here.

At the time of its construction, the building became the first in the world, in which there were over 100 floors, or rather 102. The height of the Empire State Building in New York is 381 m, and with a spire - 443 m. Antennas are installed on the skyscraper, from which television and radio broadcasts are conducted. From the top of the skyscraper, the first experimental television broadcast was conducted on December 22, 1931 - six months after the completion of construction. Today, the spire of the building, as a transmitter, is used by almost all radio and TV channels in the city.

The floodlights that illuminate the Empire State Building with multi-colored lights were recorded back in 1964. The building is painted in honor of holidays and memorable dates - on Presidents' Day, the building glows in red-blue-white colors, on Valentine's Day - red-pink-white, and on St. Patrick's Day - green.

Thousands of tourists visit 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 top floor - the site is smaller and 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 & Harmon. It was this company that prepared the drawings in a couple of weeks, based on their previous project - the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio. The plan was created from top to bottom. The main contractors are the Starrett brothers and Eken, and John Raskob financed the construction.

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 Mohawk foundry Indians from the Canawake Reservation near Montreal. The skyscraper received 102 floors, and the total weight of the structure is 365,000 tons. The construction cost was $41 million.

It is interesting. It is believed that the ESB architects, when they met with investors, heard the question: “How tall can a building be built so that it does not fall?”. The builders understood this hint well - the skyscraper had 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 called tallest building. Wall Street and the Chrysler Building fought for the title. These structures held the title for less than a year, as ESB beat the competition on day 410 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 “going 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 spire of the skyscraper lit up 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 building became known as the Empty House of the Imperial State, as no one rented office space in the ESB. And the whole point was not only in the crisis, but also in an uncomfortable location - the metal structure occupied almost the entire internal area. The offices were cramped and looked like little closets. After the building was reconstructed, creating modern comfortable rooms in it. The legendary skyscraper penultimate hosts Donald Trump and Hideki Yokoi sold for $57.5 million in 2002. The new owner of the skyscraper is Peter Malkin's real estate company, which manages a couple more historic buildings in New York. Today, the Empire State Building's view of the city of the Big Apple is the most magnificent because of the opportunity to see a circular panorama.

Architectural style

At the beginning of the 20th century, steel frames began to be used for the construction of multi-storey 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, Empire State Building in 1931 overtook everyone- towering over New York at 381 m. The total mass 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.

Due to the increase in the length of the shafts and the speed of passenger elevators, the maintenance of the high-rise building has been simplified. The Empire State Building has 62 elevators arranged in groups. But according to the laws of zoning the territory of the city, 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 skyscrapers of 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 construction has 16 floors, and there is also a dispatcher's hall. The top of the building was going to be used as a pier for airships. The spire received only 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 adorned with illuminations 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 for the era of the Great Depression.

The width of the Empire State Building depended on ventilation and natural light requirements. 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 supporting platform has five floors and occupies the entire area of ​​its site. In the center there is a lobby with three floors, and around there are two tiers of shops. Due to the fact that there was no place on the construction site where materials could be folded, they were brought on schedule and immediately lifted up. 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 contains motifs of various historical forms - from the culture of Ancient Egypt to the development of the Maya. Art Deco is characterized by the use of new materials - chrome steel, glass and plastic. In their reviews, tourists note that the architecture of the Empire State Building is unusual, since all the most interesting is outside.

Empire State Building inside

But what is inside the famous skyscraper, because the building was not built for tourist purposes? ESB is an ordinary high-rise office building, which during the years of construction was called the Empty State Building (empty - empty). The companies were reluctant to occupy the premises, but this soon changed due to the redesign of the interior. 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 the colossal reconstruction of the interior halls.

• it is more convenient to climb to the upper floors of the Empire State Building by elevator, but some try to master the stairs of 1860 steps. This could very well be a workout, as once a year the building hosts a competition for the fastest climb. The winner is awarded one million dollars. The office space accommodates 15 thousand people, and the elevator transports 10 thousand passengers in one hour;
• Empire State is not just an office, but entertainment for tourists. In the lobby, 30 meters long and three stories high, there is a giant panel depicting the eight wonders of the world. Naturally, one of them is the Empire State Building itself. There is a Guinness Hall of Records, where information about unusual achievements and record holders is stored;
• On July 28, 1945, the plane crashed into a building. It was a B-25 bomber that flew in between the 79th and 80th floors. The disaster claimed the lives of 11 people;
  more than 35 thousand tourists visit the skyscraper every year, and more than 50 thousand people work in the building itself.

Opening hours

The Empire State Building is open to the public from 8 am to 2 am. The last ascent takes place at 1.15 am. There is an observatory on the 86th floor, from where you can see amazing city panoramas from a height of 320 m. On average, they spend about an hour on the observation decks, but the visit time is not limited in any way.

Ticket prices

Since the opening of the observatory in 1931, more than 110 million people have visited the building. Accordingly, there are long lines in front of the entrance. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid the string of tourists. There is a standard version of the city pass that allows you to visit the observation platform on the 86th floor and an audio guide. The entrance fee to the site on the 86th floor costs $32, and if the 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 look at the sights nearby. The list below will help you have a good time:

• . The city on the Hudson is 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. Hotels are located opposite the park, so it is convenient to combine a walk and not break away from your planned activities;
• . The sports complex, which is located on Eighth Avenue. This is a multifunctional building, which is used for 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 can accommodate 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 meeting and seeing off hundreds of ships in the harbor of the Big Apple. 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. For the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, steel slings were used for the first time. The main span over the East River is 487 m long, and the total length is almost 2 km.

The Empire State Building is, first of all, a huge office center, and also one of the most attractive tourist sites in the city. The skyscraper is considered the second largest office building in the country, second only to the US military - the Pentagon. 85 floors of the Empire State Building are occupied by offices, where 21 thousand employees work daily, and observation decks are located on its two floors.

The designers planned to use the long spire of the skyscraper as a mooring mast for mooring airships. But later this idea was abandoned, because strong winds almost always blow at the level of the spire. In addition, the architects had little idea of ​​the features of aeronautics on airships. In the drawings, they depicted passengers who enter the spire of the Empire State Building from the nose of the aircraft, when in reality loading and unloading should take place in a gondola located under the airship. So the idea of ​​the designers could not be implemented in principle.

Back in December 1931, just six months after construction was completed, an antenna was installed on the spire of the building, with the help of which, as an experiment, NBC conducted the first transmission of a television signal. And 10 years later, the era of commercial television began. Today, the high-rise building of the Empire State Building houses the transmitters of almost all TV channels and radio stations in the city.

Construction history

The first half of the last century was held in New York under the motto "Who will be able to build the tallest skyscraper?". Since 1913, for 27 years, the Woolvolt Building has held the palm. This building had 57 floors and reached a height of 241 m. Then the 70-story Trump Bilbing, located at 40 Wall Street, became the leader. It rose 282.5 m into the sky. This record did not last long - only two months. The next favorite was the Chrysler Building. The height of this skyscraper with a long spire reached 320 m.

Construction stages of the Empire State Building

The designers of the new high-rise building faced a difficult task. They needed to create more than just a new champion. They wanted to build a building that would become a real legend.

The design work was led by the architect William Lamb, who at that time already had experience in designing the Reynolds Building and the Carew Tower. The well-known financier and businessman John Raskob undertook to invest in large-scale construction, as well as Pierre Dupont, who at the same time was one of the leaders of America's largest chemical concert, DuPont, and the automotive giant General Motors.

The site for the new record-breaking skyscraper was chosen at the intersection of West 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. In those days, there was an old Waldorf-Astoria hotel (Waldorf-Astoria). It consisted of two buildings, which were connected by a wide hall. Both buildings were erected in the 1990s by New York architect Henry J. Hardenberg. And the Esther family owned this hotel.

When the decision was made to build a huge skyscraper, a new building began to be built for the hotel on Fifth Avenue. In the late autumn of 1929, the old hotel began to be demolished, and more than 16 thousand trucks of broken bricks and stone fragments were taken out of here.

Famous footage from the construction of the Empire State Building
Skyscraper in September 1930

The main construction began on March 17, 1930, on St. Patrick's Day, and it began with earthworks and the laying of a huge foundation. Then, in record time - from the beginning of April to the end of November - a frame was erected from steel beams. The skyscraper was recognized as the tallest building in the world back in September 1930, when the builders completed the installation of the 85th floor of the frame.

The construction was huge - 3,439 people took part in it, most of which were emigrants who had recently arrived on American soil. Mohawk Indians were used in high-altitude work, since these natural climbers were considered excellent fitters and were not at all afraid of heights.

This feature has been explained in different ways. Some believed that the Mohawks had a vestibular apparatus developed from birth, because their women constantly carried babies with them, swaddling children in special cradles. Others claimed that during the hunt, the Indians were accustomed to placing their feet on narrow paths one after another, and it was easier for them to hold on to narrow metal structures. Another version said that the Mohawk warriors perceived the height as a challenge and courageously coped with the difficulties that arose in order to achieve victory. In any case, the fact remains that members of this Indian tribe took part in all high-rise construction projects in Canada and the United States and coped with difficult high-altitude work better than other workers.

During the week, the Empire State Building grew by an average of 4.5 floors. Once a record was set: workers built 14.5 floors in just 10 days. In order for the builders not to wander far from their workplaces during lunch breaks, food for them (hot lunches, sandwiches, drinks and ice cream) was served immediately to five levels of the building.

View of New York on the opening day of the Empire State Building (1931) An unsuccessful attempt to dock an airship with the spire of the Empire State Building in 1952

In addition, rapid construction became possible due to the simplicity of the design, the components of which were conveniently delivered and lifted up. Pittsburgh became the supplier of steel structures for this skyscraper. And the logistics were so streamlined that often beams were attached to the frame, which the steel plant had produced just three days before.

However, such a large-scale construction, unfortunately, was not without casualties. According to official statistics, five workers died during the construction of the skyscraper. The duration of construction work and the cost of them broke all records. The high-rise building was built in just one year and 45 days - until May 1, 1931. Instead of the planned 43, it cost $24.7 million. Such a low cost was due to the fall in prices during the Great Depression.

On the official opening day of the Empire State Building, President Herbert Hoover solemnly turned on the lights in the new skyscraper and did it right from the White House. And all the architects who participated in the design were awarded various honorary awards.

However, the Great Depression still continued, and it was only by 1948 that the funds spent on the construction of a new skyscraper were returned. All this time, an important source of income was the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, which was visited annually by up to 3.5 million people. Most of the office space remained empty for a long time, so the townspeople initially called the new skyscraper Empty (empty).

View of the tower from New York street

architectural features

In the early 30s of the last century, the built Empire State Building became not only the tallest building in the world, but also the first skyscraper to have over 100 floors. Its wide base is 60 m by 124.5 m. With free ledges, this 102-story building rises to a height of 381 m. And the spire, framed by ribs in the form of wings, increases it to 443 meters.

The Empire State Building record stood for over 30 years. Only in 1972, when the buildings for the World Trade Center were built in the city, did the high-rise on Fifth Avenue take the second position. But when, after the terrorist attack in September 2001, the twin towers were destroyed, the old skyscraper again received the status of the tallest building in the city.

The Empire State Building is over 250,000 sq. m. On the longitudinally striped facades of the skyscraper, there are 6.4 thousand windows, and the total area of ​​​​the glazed surface is close to two hectares.

Like many high-rise buildings of that time, the skyscraper was built in the Art Deco style. This eclectic style, which absorbed the features of neoclassicism and modernism, was born in the 20s of the last century. It was very popular all over the world in the 1930s and 1940s and was reflected not only in architecture, but also in painting, fashion, car design, household items and interiors.

On the outside, the Empire State Building's brick walls are clad in Salem limestone, which came from Indiana. It is good for its uniformity and texture resembles the surface of bread. And the recesses in the interfloor spaces were lined with a darker finishing stone. The peculiarity of the finish was that the stone was fixed without additional corners and supports, directly to the steel frame beams. And the joints between stone slabs and windows were skillfully covered with chrome-plated steel strips.

Interior of the Empire State Building

Entrance lobby at the Empire State Building

The entrance lobby of the high-rise building is decorated with rich purple and gray Germanic marble. A large panel mounted here features a bas-relief made of aluminum, where you can see the shining sun and the silhouette of the Empire State Building.

Corridor on the 80th floor

The internal layout was determined more by a fixed budget and short construction time than by any architectural refinements, therefore, in the created premises, the installations created in the project are strictly maintained - no more than 8.53 m from windows to corridors. Such dimensions were necessary to ensure that all offices have the right level of lighting.

In order for employees and visitors to be able to reach any floor of the building, 73 high-speed elevators are installed in it, which can reach the 80th floor within one minute. Those who want to climb to the top floor on foot will have to overcome 1860 steps.

The location of the elevators and the fixed dimensions of the office space determined the entire configuration of the Empire State Building skyscraper and the arrangement of its ledges. Floor sizes decrease with height, and the number of elevators also decreases. Thus, the tallest building in the city turned out to be very functional.

tourist attraction

Observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building

The silhouette of the skyscraper is well recognizable. He became a real "crown" and decoration of New York. The designers of the Empire State Building have created a structure that, like the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, dominates the entire city. From the side of Fifth Avenue, the entrance to the building is "guarded" by sculptures of eagles. This skyscraper is so popular in the USA that numerous souvenirs with its image can be bought everywhere.

On the 86th and 102nd floors of the Empire State Building, two large observation decks are specially equipped for tourists. The upper platform is smaller and not full view.

Observation deck on the 102nd floor

The observation deck on the 86th floor is attractive because it has a full 360° panorama. You can climb it on foot, breaking the stairs of more than 1.5 thousand steps, or by elevator. From here you can see the city streets and skyscrapers of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, the green islands of parks and the strait. A good view of the city is from the platform both when the sun is shining and at night. It is convenient that all the sights that can be seen from above are marked on the diagram placed on the observation deck.

In addition, a special tourist attraction has been created on the second floor of the Empire State Building skyscraper, which simulates a flight over the city - the New York Skyride. This simulator is very popular with visitors to New York and especially those traveling with children. For 25 minutes of "flight" you need to pay $ 52. The entrance to the attraction is from 33rd Street and is open from 8.00 to 22.00 all year round.

Views from observation decks

In 1964, during the days of the World's Fair, floodlights were installed on the Empire State Building skyscraper, illuminating its upper part with white light. After 12 years, decorative lighting was made colored. And today, on the days of major holidays and memorable dates, the building is illuminated in different ways: red, orange and yellow on Thanksgiving Day, white and blue on Presidents' Day, green on St. Patrick's Day. On Valentine's Day, the top of the skyscraper turns red, pink and white. And about 50 couples annually perform a wedding ceremony in a high-rise building.

Tickets to the Empire State Building

1. Before visiting the famous high-rise building in New York, you should take care of tickets in advance. The easiest way to buy them is on the official website of the Empire State Building: www.esbnyc.com. Tickets for the 86th floor observation deck are $32 for adults, $29 for those over 62, and $26 for children aged 6 to 12. Tickets for both observation decks (86th and 102nd floor) are for everyone visitors over 6 years old cost $85. You will have to pay extra for the opportunity to skip the queues. It is noteworthy that tickets are valid for a year from the date of purchase, and it is not difficult to print them on a printer.

skyscraper red light

You can also purchase a City Pass from travel agencies. This is a tour of New York with the right to visit six of the city's main attractions. In this case, a visit to the Empire State Building is possible at a reduced price.

On the Internet, you can find many companies offering to visit the famous skyscraper. However, they do not sell tickets, but vouchers. And you have to spend time to then exchange these vouchers for real tickets.

Empire State Building Observation Deck

2. No need to take anything extra with you. Luggage storage at the entrance to the Empire State Building is not provided. And security during mandatory checks will not allow bulky bags, suitcases, drinks, water, and even large camera tripods to be brought into the building.

3. It's a good idea to stock up on a few 50 cents ahead of time. They will be needed to use the binoculars located on the observation decks.

Observation deck on the 86th floor

4. The observation deck on the 86th floor is open to all winds, so you should take care of the appropriate clothing and headgear.

5. The skyscraper opens to visitors at 8 am and closes at 2 am. In the mornings, the queue is much smaller. And on holidays and weekends there are so many people that it is better not to plan a visit here.

The remains of a bomber on the facade of a skyscraper

• The state of New York is often referred to by Americans as the Imperial State, which is why the tallest skyscraper in the city is called the Imperial State Building.
• The Empire State Building is so huge that the country's postal department assigned it its own index - 10118.
• 55,000 tons of steel, 10 million bricks, 200 thousand cubic meters were spent on the construction of a high-rise building. feet of stone, 2 million feet of electrical wire and 1,170 miles of elevator cables. The marble floor in the Empire State Building covers an area of ​​30,000 square meters. m. The skyscraper itself weighs about 331,000 tons.
• The strength of the Empire State Building skyscraper was tested as a result of tragic events. At the end of July 1945, a B-25 Mitchell military plane crashed into him between the 79th and 80th floors. This happened because in conditions of heavy fog and low visibility, the aircraft commander, Lieutenant Colonel William Smith (Jr.), lost control. The impact was so strong that one of the bomber's engines flew through the entire building. As a result of this tragedy, 14 people died and 26 people received various injuries. However, the building itself suffered little damage. The outer walls were damaged and a fire broke out inside, which was extinguished after only 40 minutes. All the consequences were eliminated very quickly, and the next day the offices were working as usual.
• The famous high-rise building "became famous" thanks to the film about King Kong. It was from this skyscraper of the Empire State Building that he fell, shot by police helicopters. Many suicides tried to commit suicide by jumping down from a high-rise building, so now guards are constantly on duty at the observation decks, and a metal canopy was equipped over the sidewalk to protect pedestrians.
King Kong on top of the Empire State Building. Frame from the 1933 film

How to get there

The Empire State Building skyscraper stands in the central part of Manhattan. On the subway lines N, Q, P you need to go to the station "34th Street / Herald Square". If you use ground public transport, you can drive up to the skyscraper by buses M4, M10, M16 and M34.

A few years ago, the Empire State Building was the tallest skyscraper in New York, and although buildings have since appeared that surpass it in size, this place has remained one of the significant centers of tourism. Every day, thousands of people go up to the observation deck to take a 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 have already been used 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 the construction itself began on March 17. In total, about 3.5 thousand people were involved, while the builders for the most part were either emigrants or representatives of the indigenous population.

The work on the project was carried out during the construction period of the city, so the tension from the pressing deadlines was felt on the site. Simultaneously with the Empire State Building, the Chrysler building and a skyscraper on Wall Street were being built, while each owner wanted his project to be the most advantageous in comparison with competitors.

As a result, the Empire State Building turned out to be the highest, maintaining 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 the 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 president, who declared the Empire State Building open on May 1, 1931.

American skyscraper architecture

The height of the building, together with 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 facade has classical elements in the design. In total, the Empire State Building has 103 floors, while the top 16 are a superstructure with two observation decks. The area of ​​the premises exceeds 208 thousand square meters. Many are interested in how many bricks it took to build such a structure, and although no one individually counted their number, it is known that it took about 10 million building units.

The roof is made in the form of a spire, as planned, it was supposed to be a stopping point for airships. When the highest 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. As a result, in the middle of the 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 commensurate with three floors. Marble slabs add stateliness to the room, and pictures with the seven wonders of the world are bright decor 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 illumination of the tower, which is constantly changing. There is a special set of colors applied to different days of the week, as well as their combination for national holidays. Each significant event for a city, country or world is colored in symbolic shades. So, 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 of the birth of the British Queen, the scale from the heraldry of the Windsors 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. It was only with the change of ownership in 1951 that the office center began to make a profit.

There are mourning dates in the history of the skyscraper, in particular, during the war years, a bomber flew into the building. 1945 July 28 was devastating as the plane crashed between the 79th and 80th floors. The blow broke through the building, one of the elevators fell from a great height, while Betty Lou Oliver, who was in it, remained alive and was among the world record holders for this. 14 people died as a result of this incident, but the work of the offices did not stop there.

Because of its fame and huge height, the Empire State Building is quite popular with those who want to end their lives. It is for this reason that the construction of observation platforms was additionally reinforced with fences. Since the opening of the tower, there have been more than thirty suicides. True, sometimes misfortunes can be prevented, and sometimes chance decides to do its bit. This happened to Elvita Adams, who jumped from the 86th floor, but due to strong winds 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 often episodes with a skyscraper appear in box office films. The most famous stage for the world community is King Kong hanging from the spire and waving off the planes hovering around. The rest of the pictures 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 to the 86th floor for a while. The most successful winner completed the task in 9 minutes 33 seconds, and in fact for this he had to climb 1576 steps. It also conducts tests for firefighters and police officers, but they fulfill the conditions in full gear.

Many 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 in translation sounds ordinary for 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 was close in sound, but meant that the building was empty. In those years, office space was very difficult to rent out, so the owners of the skyscraper suffered significant losses.

Useful information for tourists

Tourists in New York certainly think about how to get to the Empire State Building. Skyscraper address: Manhattan, Fifth Avenue, 350. Visitors will have to stand in a long line, as many people want to climb the observation decks.

It is allowed to look at the view of the city from a height of 86 and 102 floors. Elevators rise to both levels, but the price of this changes slightly. It is forbidden to shoot video 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 surroundings of the city. If you are lucky, you will meet King Kong at the entrance to the observation deck, which is rightfully considered a symbol of this place.

You will surely become one of the millions of tourists crowding in huge queues in order to get into Empire State Building. This is not surprising, because King Kong himself sought to get to the top of the building. Everywhere in New York you will find souvenirs, postcards, flyers and T-shirts with the image of the Empire State Building.

Empire State Building officially opened on May 1, 1931, and became the tallest building of that time. Its height is 1250 feet (381 m). This skyscraper has become not only an icon of New York, it has become a symbol of the human desire to achieve the impossible.

Built in 1889, the 984-foot (300 m) Eiffel Tower spurred American architects to build something taller. This may have been the reason for the start of the skyscraper race in the twentieth century. So, in 1909, the fifty-story MetLife Tower (Metropolitan Life Tower) was built, whose height is 700 feet (214 m). 4 years later, in 1913. the 57-story Woolworth Building was built, 792 feet (241 m) high. And in 1929, the tallest in New York was the 71-story Bank of Manhattan Building - 927 feet (283 m).

When former General Motors vice president John Jakob Raskob decided to join the skyscraper race, Walter Chrysler (founder of the Chrysler Corporation) was already building the Chrysler Building. Chrysler kept the height of his building a strict secret, so when he started construction, Raskob did not know whose building would be higher, his or Chrysler's.

In 1929, Raskob bought a site for his skyscraper at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. The glamorous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was located on this site. The land on which the hotel was located has grown in value, so the owners of the hotel decided to sell it and build a new hotel in another place. Raskobu cost this plot of land (together with the hotel) about $16 million.

Raskob hired Shreve, Lamb & Harmon to design the skyscraper.

Discussing the design of the building with the architect William Lamb, Raskob took a long pencil, put it on the table and asked: - "Bill, how high can you build the building so that it does not fall?". Thus began the saga of the construction of one of the most famous buildings in the world.

Raskob needed the best builders to implement the project. By inviting contractors from Starrett Bros. & Eken”, Raskob asked – do they have the necessary construction equipment? To which Poll Starrett, the foreman of the company, replied that they did not even have a pick and a shovel. Raskob, of course, was surprised by this answer, since other construction companies, with whose representatives he spoke, had all the necessary equipment, and rented the missing. However, Starrett convinced him that a building of this magnitude needed a special approach and conventional construction equipment would not help here. For the construction of the skyscraper, Starrett offered to buy new equipment on credit and sell it after the work was completed. Largely due to his honesty and openness, Starret received an eighteen-month contract to build Empire State Building.

The first item on Starrett's schedule was the demolition of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. After people learned about the demolition of the hotel, Raskob received thousands of requests for mementos in the form of parts of the building. An Iowa resident asked for part of a metal railing to be sent to him, several people asked for the keys to the room they occupied during their honeymoon. They also asked to send a flagpole, stained-glass windows, fireplaces, lamps, bricks, etc. And for some especially demanded positions, an auction was held.

The rest of the building materials were sold for reuse. The main part of the debris was taken to the dock, loaded onto barges, towed fifteen miles from the coast and dumped into the Atlantic Ocean.

Even before the complete demolition of the hotel, the builders had already begun excavating a foundation pit for a new building. Two shifts of 300 men worked day and night, digging into the hard rocky ground.

The steel frame of the building was completed on March 17, 1930. Two hundred and ten steel columns formed a vertical frame. Twelve of them ran the full height of the building, the other parts were six to eight stories high.

Passers-by often stopped and, raising their heads, looked with admiration at the workers. Harold Butcher, a correspondent for the London Daily Herald, described the builders as "carelessly strolling, crawling, climbing, arm-waving men, hovering on gigantic steel frames."

But the most interesting thing was to watch the rivet riveters. They worked in groups of four: the warmer, the catcher, the thrower, and the riveter. The heater placed about ten rivets in a fiery forge, when they were red hot, he pulled them out with huge tongs and handed them to the thrower, who in turn threw them at a distance of 50 to 75 feet - at the catcher. The catcher caught the rivets with a tin can, they fell into the can while still in a hot state. With the other hand, he pulled the rivet out of the can with tongs, blew the ashes off it, and then inserted it into the hole. The riveter had only to beat it with a hammer. These people walked all the way from the 1st to the 102nd floor in this way. The last rivet was solemnly hammered in in the presence of a large number of people - this rivet was poured from pure gold.

Construction frame Empire State Building was a model of efficiency. All work was aimed at saving time, money and human resources. For the prompt delivery of materials at the construction site, a railway was built. Instead of unloading ten million bricks at the construction site, as they usually did, Starrett's workers unloaded them into a special chute that led to a bunker located in the basement. The chute narrowed at the bottom to control the release of its contents. If necessary, the bricks were poured from the bunker directly into carts, which were then lifted to the desired floor. This process eliminated the need to block off streets to store bricks, and also eliminated the need to manually load bricks from piles into carts.

Literally simultaneously with the construction of the frame, electricians and plumbers installed the internal communications of the building.

Having rebuilt 80 floors, Raskob realized that this was not enough, as the Chrysler Building was getting even higher. Having completed 5 more floors, the Empire State Building was only four feet taller than its competitor. Raskob was worried about the idea that Walter Chrysler was hiding a rod in the building's spire, thanks to which, at the last moment, he could make the skyscraper even higher.

The skyscraper race became more and more dramatic. After studying the model of the building, Raskob came up with the idea to build a pier for airships on top of the skyscraper. The new design of the Empire State Building, which included a pier for landing airships, made the building 1,250 feet (381 m) high.

Have you ever waited for an elevator in a six or nine story building that seemed to take forever? Or have you ever taken an elevator that stopped at every floor to pick up or drop off a passenger? The Empire State Building had 102 floors, with the capacity to accommodate 15,000 people. How to get all people to the right floor without waiting for hours for the elevator and without climbing the stairs?

To solve this problem, the architects developed seven categories of elevators, each serving a specific floor. For example, group A serves from the third to the seventh floor, group B serves from the 7th to the 18th floor. So, if you need to get to the 65th floor, for example, you could take the group F elevator, which stops from the 55th to the 67th floor, and not from the 1st to the 102nd.

The Otis Elevator Company installed 58 passenger and 8 freight elevators in the Empire State Building. Although these elevators could travel up to 1,200 feet (365 m) per minute, they were limited by building codes to 700 feet (213 m) per minute. A month after the opening of the Empire State Building, this restriction was lifted, and the elevators accelerated their movement to 1200 feet per minute.

Empire State Building was built within the scheduled time frame of 1 year and 45 days, which was an amazing achievement. The construction of the building did not go over budget due to the onset of the Great Depression, during which labor costs were reduced. The total cost of construction work amounted to $40,948,900 instead of the planned $50 million.

The Empire State Building was opened on May 1, 1931. The ribbon was cut by New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker, and President Herbert Hoover lit the skyscraper with thousands of lights with a symbolic push of a button from Washington.

Empire State Building received the status of the tallest building in the world and held this bar until the construction of the first tower of the World Trade Center in 1972.

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 project for a building with more than a hundred floors. Opened on Mahatten 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 United States, but also in other countries, made the halo of uniqueness fade.

As a result, a new stage of development that began in the life of the Empire State Building at the end of the 20th century defined it as a participant in the race, no longer technological or construction, but tourism. The owners of the skyscraper, leaving it as a huge office building, which employs over 20 thousand people, are also focusing on its attractiveness for tourists. In particular, the unique gold painting of the ceiling in the lobby in the spirit of the 30s was restored, both observation decks (86th and 102nd floors) were equipped so that they have a 360 ° view, a visitor center with a separate entrance from 34 a museum that inscribes the history of the Empire State Building in the history of New York. These and other changes lead to the fact that visiting 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 megacities in the world, developing before your eyes.

Height of the Empire State Building in New York

There is anecdotal evidence that the investors who invested in the Empire State Building project did not discuss the number of floors with the architect, asking him to design the building as high as possible. Architect William Lamb started with 50 floors, but ended up with 103 floors.

The height of the Empire State Building from the base to the roof is 381 meters, including the antenna installed on the roof - 443.2 meters. For 2020, this is the second largest building in New York, the third in the USA, and the 51st in the world.

From the moment of commissioning and until 1970, this skyscraper in Manhattan remained unsurpassed in height not only in the States, but throughout the planet. A competitor appeared a dozen blocks to the south - in December 1970, the north tower of the World Trade Center was completed. Including the antenna, the new building reached a record height of 530 meters.

In subsequent years, the skyscrapers of other states moved the Empire State Building to more distant positions in the world lists. So by the time of the destruction of the twin towers in 2001, he returned to the leader's position only in the ranking of New York. But even in it, in 2012, the building was in second place, since the Freedom Tower, 417 meters high (along the roof), was erected on the site of the World Trade Center.

Construction Empire State Building

The developers of the Empire State Building project created it in just 2 weeks. Efficiency is explained by the fact that they used developments from other orders. On the site of the future skyscraper, one of the hotels of the Astoria chain stood, 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 investments and begin construction of a new building in the 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, the threat of low demand for offices in the future skyscraper due to the apparent crisis, Raskob and Smith chose to take out a loan rather than abandon the project altogether.

Construction of the Empire State Building started on January 22, 1930, at the height of the Great Depression.

In the winter months, the demolition of the hotel was completed, and in parallel, a hole was dug under 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 later they built about 4 floors per week.

By November, 75 floors had been built, and the steel structures were up to the 95th floor. Since that time, the simultaneous interior decoration of the finished levels began. The installation of 66 elevators has also begun, each with a lifting speed of 366 m/min. 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 is located on 34th Street. Tickets are sold from vending machines with a simple interface. If you have any difficulties, you can contact one of the employees present in the hall for help.

The vending machines partially solved the problem of queuing at the ticket office, 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 come to the opening of the site 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 the nearest buildings, which can be seen if you approach the panoramic windows. From here you have a view of both the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. To better understand the details of the opened view, it is worth downloading the free Observatory Experience application from the official website of the skyscraper. Also on 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 pictures in the huge paw of King Kong, as well as a kind of illumination. Acquaintance with these details will make the impression of visiting a skyscraper brighter.

Lobby

Since 2009, visitors to the lobby of the Empire State Building have been able to see the same ceiling that appeared over the heads of the first visitors to the skyscraper in 1931. A large fresco, created using aluminum and gold, was covered with a false ceiling in the middle of the 20th century and decided to be restored only fifty years later.

Art Deco painting depicts a sky full of planets and stars, which at the same time represent an assembly line of gears. So the designers of the last century expressed their respect for the era of discoveries and technological progress. Also noteworthy is the wall behind the reception desk in the lobby, which depicts the skyscraper itself and the rays emanating from its top.

It took the restoration team 18 months to completely restore the frescoes, as well as authentic lamps in the spirit of the 30s of the 20th century, while the entire building was built in only 13 months.

Museum and gift shop

A museum is organized on the 2nd floor, which 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 the vintage Otis elevators were like and how they worked, as well as get acquainted with films, cartoons, comics, clips and other pop culture products that showcase the Empire State Building.

Among these films is the film "King Kong", filmed in 1933, as well as its remake, released in the "zero". The museum has even decorated a corner, which consists of an image of King Kong peering through the window and models of his fingers breaking through the wall. The brave ones can take pictures with them!

Near the museum there is a gift shop where you can buy magnets, dishes and other items with the image of the Empire State Building. It also sells clothes with the image of a skyscraper.

Stairs

Another notable object is the staircase, which consists of 1860 steps. Every year on February 5, it hosts high-speed climbing competitions. At the same time, the distance is limited to 1576 steps - the participants finish on the 86th floor. Also on the stairs of the Empire State Building are training firefighters and rescuers in New York. Tourists can get on the stairs only on the days of the competition, participating in the race. The rest of the time it is closed to visitors, only high-speed elevators are used for lifting.

Backlight

The skyscraper's ambient lighting system also makes it one of New York City's most notable buildings. Spotlights are located on the upper tiers. They have been working every day since 1964, with each day of the week having its own color.

On holidays and in honor of anniversaries, a unique range of shades is chosen. For example, on the days of the games of the 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 parades are held, the facade is painted in all the colors of the rainbow. The skyscraper's official website even has a backlight gamut schedule.

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, use the walking trail map posted on the building's website. If you plan to get to the Empire State Building by public transport, then use the subway or bus.

Underground. 34 Street - Herald Square Station is a 5-minute walk from the building. It is followed by trains of routes 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. Routes such as M34-SBS, M34A-SBS, QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM24 go to it.

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