Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a very tall skyscraper with 102 stories in the Midtown South area of Manhattan, New York City, United States. It was built between 1930 and 1931 in a style called Art Deco by the architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon. The building gets its name from the nickname of New York state, "Empire State". It has a roof height of 1,250 feet (380 meters) and stands 1,454 feet (443 meters) tall including its antenna.

For a time, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world until another building was built in 1970. After some sad events in 2001, it became the tallest building in New York City again until a new building was finished in 2012. Today, it is still one of the tallest buildings in the city, the United States, and the world.

Many people visit the Empire State Building each year to see the amazing views from its observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. It is also very famous and has been in many movies and TV shows since the movie King Kong came out in 1933. The building is a symbol of New York City and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by experts in building design.

Site

The Empire State Building stands on the west side of Fifth Avenue, between 33rd Street and 34th Street, in the Midtown South neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States. People enter through the Art Deco lobby at 350 Fifth Avenue. Visitors to the observation decks use an entrance at 20 West 34th Street.

The area around the Empire State Building includes famous spots like Macy's at Herald Square and Koreatown. Nearby neighborhoods and landmarks include Murray Hill and the B. Altman and Company Building. The closest New York City Subway stops are 34th Street–Herald Square and 33rd Street at Park Avenue, with a PATH station also nearby at 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Architecture

The Empire State Building was designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon in the Art Deco style. Standing 1,250 feet (381 meters) tall to its 102nd floor, it was the first building in the world to have more than 100 stories. The building has special viewing areas on the 86th and 102nd floors.

The Empire State Building has a symmetrical shape due to its large lot and short base. Its design includes three main parts: a base, a shaft, and a capital, similar to the parts of a column. The building has several setbacks, or steps back in the walls, which were required by old city rules to let sunlight reach the streets below.

The building's facade is made of special limestone panels that give it a pale yellow color. It also features decorative designs that are mostly geometric shapes, unlike older buildings which often told stories through their decorations.

The building was originally lit with white searchlights. Later, it got bright "Freedom Lights" and then colorful lights for holidays and special events. Today, the lights can show over 16 million colors and even create light shows with music.

The Empire State Building has many elevators, including some very tall ones that go from the bottom to the 80th floor. There are special elevators for visitors going to the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors.

The 86th floor has both inside and outside viewing areas, while the 102nd floor is completely enclosed. Both are popular spots to see New York City from above.

History

The Empire State Building stands as a famous skyscraper in New York City. Originally, the land belonged to the Astor family, who built grand hotels there. In 1929, new owners planned a tall office building. Construction began quickly, and despite challenges like the Great Depression, the building was finished ahead of schedule in 1931. It became an important symbol of New York City.

Over the years, the Empire State Building has seen many changes. It was once the tallest building in the world but lost that title when newer skyscrapers were built. Today, it remains a popular tourist spot and a landmark. The building has been updated with modern features while keeping its historic charm.

Height records

The Empire State Building once held the record for the tallest skyscraper in the world for 42 years. It was surpassed by the North Tower of the World Trade Center in October 1970. Before that, it was the tallest human-made structure until the Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma was built in 1954, and the tallest freestanding structure until the Ostankino Tower was completed in 1967.

After the World Trade Center was destroyed, the Empire State Building became the tallest building in New York City again. It stayed that way until One World Trade Center grew taller in April 2012. As of 2022, it is the seventh-tallest building in New York City and the tenth-tallest in the United States. Worldwide, it ranks as the 49th-tallest building.

Notable tenants

As of 2013, the Empire State Building was home to around 1,000 different businesses. Some of the current businesses there include Air China, Boy Scouts of America, Bulova, Coty, Expedia Group, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, LinkedIn, and Qatar Airways.

In the past, other well-known groups such as The King's College and the YWCA of the USA also had offices in the building.

Impact

The Empire State Building became an important symbol for New York City and the United States when it was built. It was the tallest building in the world and the first to have more than 100 floors. In 2013, Time magazine said the building perfectly represents the city. In 1981, the building was named a city landmark, and in 1986, it became a National Historic Landmark because of its special design.

The Empire State Building has been very popular in movies, books, and TV shows. It first appeared in a children’s story in 1932 and later in the famous movie King Kong. Many other films, like An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, have featured the building too. Famous people and royalty often visit its observation deck.

Since 1978, people have been running up the Empire State Building from the ground to the 86th floor. This race covers 1,050 feet and 1,576 steps. The fastest time ever was 9 minutes and 33 seconds, set by a runner from Australia in 2003.