1. The construction of the Empire State Building took only 1 year and 45 days. The construction process was sped up by ESB's participation in a skyscraper construction race.
2. Much less money was spent than planned. The construction cost nearly $41 million. This is less than half of the projected costs.
3. The building has been empty for many years. Because of the Great Depression, no one could afford to rent an office at ESB. At the time of opening, about 80% of all premises were free.
4. One day, a plane crashed into the Empire State Building. It happened on July 28, 1945. A B-25 bomber crashed into a building between the 79th and 80th floors. The accident killed 11 people.
5. Rumor has it that the spire of the building was intended for tying airships.
6.
At the top of the tower, on the 103rd floor, there is a tiny room. It is used for maintenance and is not available to the public. 
7.
AT Empire State The building strikes up to 100 lightning strikes a year. 
8.
ESB has its own postal code - 10118. 
9.
The Empire State Building is a movie star. He played his first major role in a film about King Kong. Filming took place two years after its opening. 
10. Many of the workers, or as they were also called, "skywalkers", who built the building, were Mohawk Indians. They were famous for not being afraid of heights.
11.
Every year, on February 14, mass weddings take place in the skyscraper. The newlyweds get married on the 80th floor, receive free tickets to the observation deck and become members of the "Wedding Club". 
12. Every year, the skyscraper hosts a run up the stairs to the very top (1536 steps up to the 86th floor). The fastest time, at the time of this writing, was 9 minutes and 33 seconds by Paul Craik of Australia.
13. There are no residential premises in the ESB. Its premises are intended only for offices.
14. Very strong static electricity is generated at the top of the Empire State Building. Try to kiss your soul mate and between the lips you will feel the current)
15.
The ESB lights were first turned on from Washington, DC.
The opening of the Empire State Building on May 1, 1931 was a national event. President Herbert Hoover turned on the lights of the building while in Washington.
If you are in New York, be sure to take the time to visit this beautiful skyscraper and its observation deck.
Don't forget to buy a card. With it, you will save a lot of time and money when visiting the sights of New York.
How the ESB was built:
Views from the observation deck:
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 tourist. 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 1930s has been restored, both observation decks (86th and 102nd floors) are 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 investment 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 known 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 vintage Otis elevators were 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 are staying at a hotel in Manhattan or are close to a skyscraper, use the walking route map posted on the building's website. If you plan to get to the Empire State Building on public transport then take 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
New York is a city of thousands of skyscrapers, each of which is unique and inimitable in its own way. But only one of them managed to gain worldwide fame, and forever firmly gain a foothold in the history of the city. The Big Apple boasts the Empire State Building, its most recognizable landmark.
Located in the southern part of Manhattan Island, near 5th Avenue, at the intersection of 33rd and 34th Streets. Nearby are several significant places in the city, such as the City University of New York, Madison Avenue and Broadway. You can get there by car or public transport.
skyscraper height
The height of the Empire State Building in New York is just over 443 meters (including the spire), and the height on the roof of the building is 381 m. The last floor is located at around 373.1 m.
In total, the building has 103 floors. All of them occupy an area of more than 200 thousand square meters. For the convenience of visitors, it is equipped with 73 elevators that will take you to the very top in a matter of minutes.
85 tiers are reserved for offices. There are observation decks on two more. In the rest of the building there are exhibition halls, trading floors and halls for business meetings and negotiations.
Story
Its history began at the beginning of the last century. At that time, a real boom in the construction of skyscrapers began in America.
Design
A well-known architect, William Lamb, was invited to work on the project. The legendary skyscraper was not his first creation. He also designed the famous Carew Tower and the Reynolds Building.
According to the author's idea, the object was to become not only the tallest building, but also the first 100-story building in America. As a result, according to the project, the Empire State Building gained 103 floors and a 60-meter spire. The latter, by the way, was originally intended to be used for re-mooring airships. However, due to the danger of collision and constant strong winds, it was decided to abandon this idea. Now the spire is used as a radio and television antenna.
Construction
Construction began in 1930. The main contractors were the brothers Starrett and Eken. The project was financed by Pierre Dupont and John Raskob.
Almost 3.5 thousand workers from Europe were involved in the process, as well as casters of Indian origin, who were not at all afraid of heights.
At the time of construction, an old hotel was located on the site where the construction was planned. The former building had to be demolished, and the hotel itself was moved to Fifth Avenue.
To bring the project to life, several tons of aluminum, steel, limestone, concrete and granite were used. Construction lasted only 13 months, which by those standards is very fast.
Opening
It was solemnly opened on May 1, 1931. The red ribbon was cut by the then head of state, Al Smith. At the same moment, the President of the country pressed a button in the capital, and the skyscraper shone with thousands of lights.
Despite all the pomposity, initially it did not gain much popularity. Such a reaction, first of all, was due to the Great Depression, prevailing at that time in America.
Due to the crisis, the offices were completely filled only after a decade. The skyscraper brought its first profit only in 1951.
Among the most original are:
- elevators go up in 1 minute;
- an annual speed climb competition is held. The first person to climb 1860 steps will receive $1 million;
- during the Second World War, a plane crashed into a skyscraper due to heavy fog;
- the Empire State Building has a hall dedicated to world records;
- the skyscraper has its own index;
- the name embodies the grandeur of the state of New York;
- more than 50 weddings are held here annually;
- attendance - about 35 thousand people a year;
- Almost 100 lightning strikes the Empire State Building each year;
- the high-rise "played" a major role in the film about King Kong;
- the building has survived more than two dozen suicides in its history;
- listed on the US National Register of Historic Places;
- a professional athlete from Australia completed all the steps in less than 10 minutes.
Specifications
The height, together with the spire, is a little more than 440 m. The width of the structure is 140 m. The choice of such dimensions is due to the need for natural light and the correct installation of the ventilation system. The main support is the first five flights of stairs of the building, on which there are shops and a lobby.
The Empire State Building has 6,500 windows with a total area of 2 km². The design is as simple as possible. This greatly facilitated and accelerated the construction process.
The spire consists of 16 tiers. At its very top, an antenna is installed that transmits television and radio signals throughout the country.
architectural features
The main distinguishing feature of the buildings of the early 20th century was restraint and elegance. In this regard, The Empire State Building was erected in the classic art deco style. The facade is finished with steel and gray limestone slabs.
The Empire State Building was one of the first skyscrapers to be built using prefabricated steel frames. The assembled structure was overlaid with brick, after which it was revetted.
Lighting
In addition to conventional lighting, it is equipped with additional lighting. In 1964, special spotlights were installed on the upper part, and the famous skyscraper sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow.
The color scheme is selected depending on the day and event. For example, on days sports games the top lights up in the colors of a particular team, on the day of the gay parades - in multi-colored colors, and on St. Patrick's Day - in green.
When the world heard the news of the death of Frank Sinatra, in memory of him the building was dressed in blue, in honor of the birthday of the Queen of Great Britain, the skyscraper lit up with the colors of the royal house.
Interior
The lobby is decorated with German marble, in discreet gray-lilac tones. At the end of the corridor, there is an aluminum bas-relief depicting a skyscraper basking in the sun.
Lookouts
Thanks to the viewing platforms, it has become extremely popular among both locals and visitors to the city. In total, more than 110 million people have already visited it.
The skyscraper boasts two of them at once. One is on tier 86. The viewing angle from this place is as much as 360 degrees, thanks to which the Big Apple is visible at a glance.
No less impressive view opens from the 102nd tier. This observation platform is slightly inferior in size to the first one, and for maximum safety of visitors, it is completely glazed. She doesn't work all the time. On very busy days, the site is closed.
On the 2nd floor there is a fascinating attraction. It was created specifically for the guests of the famous metropolis. The New York Skyride is a simulated flight over New York City. The virtual tour lasts 25 minutes. During this time, you can fly around the whole city and visit its most famous sights in absentia.
The attraction operates all year round. The ticket price is $52. Opening hours - from 8.00 to 22.00.
Exhibition "Sustainability"
He is also famous for his unusual exhibitions. To get started, you should go up to the second floor of the building and visit the Sustainability exhibition. Its main task is to show what internal and external changes have taken place in the Empire State Building over time.
During the tour, you can see building materials, sculptures, Newest technologies used for reconstruction. For better perception, all processes are presented on digital displays.
Exhibition "Don't be afraid to dream"
Climbing up to the 80th floor, you can see an equally interesting exhibition - "Don't be afraid to dream." It demonstrates all stages of design and construction of the world's first 100-story skyscraper. The name of the exhibition was not chosen by chance.
Visitors to the exhibition can not only learn complete history skyscrapers, but also see the original sketches, accounting documents, photographs.
How to get there
There are several ways to get there. It can be either your own car or public transport.
To get to your destination by subway, you need to take the Herald Square stations (lines B, N, R, M, D, Q, F) or Penn Station (lines 1,2 and 3). If your choice fell on the bus, then you should use the routes M4, M10, M16 and M34. If desired, you can use the services of a taxi. The time and cost of the trip will depend on the point of departure.
Opening hours
Works daily, without days off. Hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 2:00 am. The elevator makes its last ascent to the observation deck at 1.15. The time spent in the building and on observation decks throughout the day is not limited.
How to get
Entrance to the territory is absolutely free for all visitors. But to get to the observation decks, you need to purchase a ticket. You can go upstairs either by elevator or on foot.
Purchasing tickets
To avoid long queues, it is better to purchase a ticket in advance before visiting. This can be done at the box office or on the official website. Entrance to the 86th floor observation deck will cost $32. For a complex visit, you will have to pay $ 52. If you could not buy a ticket in advance, and you do not want to stand in line for a long time, you can buy an express pass. The cost is $55 and $75 respectively.
Local residents can get to the observation decks with a special city ticket. Schoolchildren, students and pensioners receive discounts.
You should know:
- there are no left-luggage offices, so all personal items will have to be carried with you;
- security does not allow bulky items and bags to be carried to the upper floors;
- tickets must be purchased in advance;
- there is a strong wind blowing on the 86th floor, so you should take a hat with you;
- to see the city through binoculars, you need to stock up on 50-cent coins;
- It is better to visit observation platforms in the morning.
Official website and other contact information
Address: New York, Manhattan, 350 Fifth Avenue
Empire State Building - 102-story skyscraper, located in New York on the island of Manhattan. Office building. From 1931 to 1972, before the opening of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world. In 2001, when the towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, the skyscraper again became the tallest building in New York. The architecture of the building belongs to the Art Deco style.
In 1986, the Empire State Building was listed as a National Historic Landmark in the United States. In 2007, the building was ranked number one on the American Institute of Architects' list of America's Best Architecture. The building is owned and operated by W&H Properties. The tower is located on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th streets.
The Empire State Building is currently the second tallest skyscraper in the United States, behind only the Willis Tower in Chicago, and the 15th tallest in the world. The building is currently undergoing a $550 million renovation, $120 million of which is going towards converting the building into a greener, lower energy structure.
The building was built with the money of John Rockefeller Jr. The hall is 30 meters long and 3 floors high, finished with marble and decorated with 8 panels depicting 7 wonders of the world and the eighth is the Empire State Building itself. The Guinness Records Hall contains a unique collection of unusual records. Taking the elevator in a minute, you can get to the observation deck on the 86th or 102nd floor. From here you have a stunning view of the city, especially at night, when the whole city sparkles with neon shop windows and colorful lights. A webcam, thanks to which you will have the opportunity to make a virtual trip to the skyscraper and see Manhattan in great detail, is best used in daylight. Illumination of the building is something that you can talk about endlessly. Each day of the week has its own color, holidays and significant dates have special color combinations. A unique spectacle.
CONSTRUCTION HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IN NEW YORK |
The tower got its name from the everyday name of the US state of New York, which is called the "imperial state". The name of the tower can also be translated as "House of the Imperial State", it was designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lam and Harmon, and it was built with the money of John D. Rockefeller Jr.
The site where the Empire State Building now stands has been a center of high society since 1860. Then there were two aristocratic houses that belonged to members richest family Astor. John Jacob Astor III and William Backhouse Astor, Jr. built their houses side by side. William Backhouse's wife Astoria, a famous lady, ruled New York society like a queen. Then she quarreled with her nephew William Waldorf Astor. In the course of the quarrel, he demolished his house and built the Waldorf Hotel in its place. William Backhouse's wife Astor moved to another area for this reason. Her son Jacob then broke down his mother's house and built the Astoria Hotel. Both hotels functioned in the 90s years XIX century and were known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It was the city's most sophisticated hotel until 1929, when it was demolished to make way for the Empire State Building.
Earthwork on the site began on January 22, 1930, and the construction of the tower itself began on March 17 - St. Patrick's Day. The construction site employed 3,400 workers, mostly European immigrants, as well as several hundred Mohawk steelworkers, many of whom came to the site from the Kahnawake reservation near Montreal. According to official figures, five deaths among workers were recorded during construction.
The construction of the building became part of the high altitude race taking place in New York at the time. The other two projects in this race, 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building, were underway when the Empire State Building was just beginning to be built. Each of the competing projects held the title of tallest building for several months, until the Empire State Building surpassed them all. The construction took only 410 days. Approximately four and a half floors were built in a week, and in the most intensive period, 14 floors were erected in 10 days. The official opening took place on May 1, 1931, when US President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights by pressing a button in Washington. The very next year, the first use of lighting on top of the building was in celebration of Roosevelt's victory over Hoover in the presidential race in November 1932.
At the opening of the building on May 1, 1931, Governor Smith's children cut the ribbon. When the Empire State Building officially opened on May 1, 1931, the United States of America was in an era of economic depression. Therefore, far from all the premises were handed over, and the building was called the Empty State Building. It took ten years until all the premises were finally commissioned. The building did not generate income for the owners until 1950. Only in 1951, after the sale to Roger Stevens and his partners for $ 51 million (the record price for those times paid for a single structure), the building ceased to be unprofitable.
At the beginning of the operation of the building, its spire was intended to be used as a mooring mast for airships. The 102nd floor was a docking platform with a gangway for climbing onto the airship. A special elevator running between the 86th and 102nd floors could be used to transport passengers. Registration, as planned, was carried out on the 86th floor. However, the idea of an air terminal was deemed untenable due to safety reasons (strong and unstable air currents at the top of the building made docking very difficult, and after the first attempt it became clear that this idea was utopian). Not a single zeppelin ever landed on the building. In 1952, telecommunications equipment was placed on the site of the terminal. Subsequently, the idea was nevertheless virtually implemented in the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
On July 28, 1945, a US Air Force B-25 "Mitchell" bomber, piloted in thick fog by Lieutenant Colonel William Smith, crashed into the north facade of the building between the 79th and 80th floors. One of the engines broke through the tower and fell on a neighboring building, the other fell into the elevator shaft. The fire that arose as a result of the collision was extinguished after 40 minutes. 14 people died in the incident. Elevator Betty Lou Oliver survived a fall in an elevator from a height of 75 floors - this achievement was included in the Guinness Book. Despite this incident, the building was not closed, and work in most offices did not stop the next business day.
Over the entire period of operation of the building, more than 30 suicides were committed here. The first suicide occurred just after the construction was completed by a recently fired worker. In 1947, a fence was erected around the observation site, as in just three weeks there were 5 suicide attempts here. In 1979, Miss Elvita Adams decided to take her own life and jumped from the 86th floor. But a strong wind threw Miss Adams to the 85th floor, and she escaped with only a broken hip. One of the latest suicides occurred on April 13, 2007, when a lawyer who was failing in his professional activities jumped from the 69th floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ESPIRER STATE BUILDING IN NEW YORK |
ARCHITECTURE. The building has 102 floors, its height is 381.3 meters. Together with the TV tower built in the 1950s, it reaches a total height of 443 meters. Commercial space occupies the first 85 floors of the building (257,211 m²). The remaining 16 floors are an art deco superstructure, with an observation deck on the 102nd floor. The Empire State Building is the first building in the world to have over 100 floors. The tower has 6,500 windows and 73 elevators. The building weighs 331,000 tons, is built on a two-story foundation and is supported by a steel structure weighing 54,400 tons. Ten million bricks and 700 kilometers of cable went into it. The total area of the windows is two hectares, and the area of the foundation is more than 8,000 m². The staircase has 1860 steps, where once a year a competition for the fastest climb is held. Office space can accommodate 15,000 people, and elevators can carry 10,000 people in one hour. The tower has about 1,000 offices and 21,000 employees, making the Empire State Building America's second-most-employed building after the Pentagon. The total length of infrastructure pipes reaches 113 km, the length of electrical wires - 760 km. Heating steam low pressure. Limestone slabs were used for decoration.
Since the skyscraper is surrounded by various business buildings, it is not fully visible from below. It is made in a modest but elegant Art Deco style. Unlike most modern skyscrapers, the facade of the tower is made in a classical style. Strips of stainless steel stretch upward along the gray stone façade, and the upper floors are arranged in three ledges. The hall inside has a length of 30 meters and a height of three floors. It is decorated with panels depicting the seven wonders of the world, only an eighth is added to them: the Empire State Building itself. The Guinness Hall of Records contains information about unusual records and record holders.
LIGHTING. In 1964, a floodlight system was installed on the tower in order to illuminate the top in a color scheme corresponding to any events, memorable dates or holidays (St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, etc.). For example, after Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday and the subsequent death of Frank Sinatra, the building was illuminated in blue tones, due to the singer's nickname "Mr. Blue Eyes". Following the death of actress Faye Wray on August 8, 2004, the tower's lights were completely turned off for 15 minutes.
Traditionally, in addition to normal lighting, the building is illuminated in the colors of the New York sports teams on the days that the teams play in the city (orange, blue, and white for the New York Knicks; red, white, and blue for the New York Rangers, etc.). During the US Open tennis tournament, the illumination is dominated by yellow (the color of a tennis ball). In June 2002, during the celebration of the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the backlight was purple-gold (the colors of the House of Windsor).
VIEWING POINTS . The observation decks of the Empire State Building are one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City and one of the most visited observation decks in the world. In total, they were visited by more than 110 million people. The platform on the 86th floor has a 360-degree viewing angle. Another observation deck is open on the 102nd floor. It closed in 1999, then reopened in 2005. The upper platform is completely closed, its area is much smaller than the area of the lower platform. Because of a large number visitors, the upper platform is closed on the busiest days. Tourists pay for visiting the observation decks at the box office on the 86th floor (there is a separate additional payment for visiting the 102nd floor).
ATTRACTIONS. On the second floor of the building there is an attraction, opened in 1994 for tourists. The attraction is called the New York Skyride and is a simulator of air travel around the city. The duration of the attraction is 25 minutes.
From 1994 to 2002, the old version of the attraction operated, in which James Doohan, Scotty from the series " Star way”, as an airplane pilot, humorously tried to maintain control of the plane during a storm. After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, this attraction was closed. In the new version, the plot remained the same, but the towers of the World Trade Center were removed from the scenery, and Kevin Bacon became the pilot instead of Doohan. The new version pursued primarily not entertaining, but educational and informational goals. It also included patriotic elements.
SPORT. The Empire State Building is not only the most high building in the city, a hallmark of Manhattan and a symbol of American architecture, but also a jogging ground. On February 5, running competitions are held on the stairs of the Empire State Building. Well-trained runners manage to overcome the 1576 steps of the building - from the 1st to the 86th floor - in a few minutes. In 2003, Paul Craik set a record that has not yet been broken - 9 minutes 33 seconds. In addition, competitions are held among firefighters and policemen, who, unlike ordinary runners, must run with full gear.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IN PHOTOS |
Empire State Building (ESB) - main symbol New York City, a US National Historic Landmark and the best American architectural achievement of all time.
The skyscraper got its name in honor of the US state of New York, which is often referred to as the Empire State.
According to legend, when Henry Hudson was sailing down the Hudson River, he was so struck by the beauty and grandeur of the area that he exclaimed, "This is a new empire!"
Empire State Building - 103-story office building located on Manhattan Island in New York, USA. The entrance to the building is located on the side of Fifth Avenue - between West 33rd and 34th streets.
Location on Google maps, the map itself can be enlarged:
Translation into Russian
With in English"The Empire State Building" can be translated into Russian as " Imperial State building or "House of the Imperial State".
History of the skyscraper: design and construction
Looking back into history, we find that The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Architects., whose main architect was William F. Lamb.
The design used early designs for the skyscrapers Reynolds Building in North Carolina and Carew Tower in Ohio.
Tower construction started on St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 1930, and ended after 1 year and 45 days, in total, the construction of a skyscraper took more than 7 million man-hours.
Above the construction of the building 3400 workers worked: most of them are immigrants from Europe, as well as several hundred installers - natives of the Indian tribe of tomohawks, whose hallmark was the absence of fear of heights.
At the time of the start of construction of the ESB, the future symbols of New York - the Trump Building and the Chrysler Building - claimed the title of the highest skyscraper in the shortest possible time and were already in the process of construction.
A serious struggle broke out between them, as a result of which the ESB overtook everyone: the building grew by four and a half floors a week, the record is fourteen floors in ten days.
So, after 410 days, 5662 m 3 of building materials, 60 thousand tons of steel structures, 10 million bricks and 700 km of cable, tallest building in the world at that time appeared on the skyline of Manhattan.
Opening of the Empire State Building
Solemn the opening of the building took place on May 1, 1931: The state governor cut the ribbon, and President Herbert Hoover lit the tower's spotlights with a knife switch in Washington.
Note! At that time, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, and not everyone could afford to rent space in a skyscraper, and therefore the building was empty for a long time: offices occupied about 20% of the entire area. It was possible to completely rent out the tower only after a whole decade.
Height and other technical characteristics of the building
At the time of the official opening of the skyscraper its height was 381 m, and after the construction of a television tower on the roof of a skyscraper in 1952, height reached 443.2 m. After that, the top of the tower began to be used for the location of equipment.
How many floors?
The building has 103 floors: commercial premises occupy the first 85 floors buildings, their total area is more than 257 thousand m².
The remaining 16 floors are an Art Deco superstructure, a combination of modernism and neoclassicism.
Observation decks are located on the 86th and 102nd floors of the skyscraper.
The width of the tower at the base is about 140 m: the building occupies about one hectare of land. In total, the building has 6500 windows, 1860 steps and 73 elevators. which are capable of transporting up to 10 thousand people per hour.
observation decks
Main observation deck
The highest observation deck operates on the 86th floor of the skyscraper outdoors in New York. Dozens of movie scenes were filmed here, millions of unforgettable moments were experienced.
For reference! The site is located around the spire of the building, presenting the view of visitors to the panorama of New York and its environs. From here you can enjoy breathtaking views of Central Park, the Hudson River, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and more.
You can also use binoculars with multiple magnification and see objects in great detail.
Upper observation deck
Sixteen floors above - on the 102nd floor of the building - there is another observation deck, which is significantly inferior in area to the main one, and is also completely closed.
Lighting
The tradition of ceremonial lighting of the tower in different colors in honor of major events, holidays and celebrations has been preserved for many decades.
Previously, the top 30 floors were illuminated by 200 spotlights: on Independence Day, the building turned white-red-blue, and on St. Patrick's Day - green.
To achieve this effect, filters were manually changed on the spotlights: the process took several hours.
In 2012, cardinal changes took place in the illumination system of the tower: A dynamic LED lighting system was installed. If earlier the change of architectural lighting took place within 10 colors, today the eyes of New Yorkers are presented with a palette of 16 million shades.
The new illumination system allows you to control the light remotely, adjust its direction and create various effects.
No holiday in New York is complete without a light show on the tower, which is often synchronized with the musical accompaniment.
Interior: what's inside?
Building interior - one of the few recognized landmarks New York City Architectural Preservation Committee. In 2009, 18 months were spent restoring the aesthetics of the original interior design from 1930 (recall that the construction of the entire building took only 13 months).
Inside there is a hall thirty meters high, which stretches for three floors. It is decorated with a panel of the Seven Wonders of the World, and on the wall above the reception in the lobby, one of the most famous in New York, is an image of the building itself, radiating light.
Useful information for tourists
The skyscraper is open all year round from 8 am to 2 am, and every day it is visited by a huge number of people.
The least number of visitors occurs at 8 am and 3 pm, as well as late in the evening.
In order not to waste time in line in front of the cashier, you can buy a ticket on the official website. The validity of such a ticket is a year, that is, it is possible to schedule a visit at any convenient time. However, you still have to queue up (screening, elevator). Only visitors with VIP tickets can skip these lines.
Prices. The cost of visiting the open observation deck on the 86th floor is from $37 for an adult and from $31 for a child. A VIP ticket costs $65 for everyone. A visit to the upper observation deck on the 102nd floor is paid separately (plus $20 for all ticket categories).
The New York Pass allows you to visit more than 90 attractions in the Big Apple, including the Empire State Building, on a single ticket.
The cost of such a ticket depends on its validity period - from one to ten days: from $124 to $420 for an adult and from $94 to $279 for a child.
Exhibition "Sustainability"
On the second floor of the skyscraper there is an exhibition "Sustainability" (Sustainability). The building is currently being reconstructed: about $120 million is being spent on reducing energy consumption.
The Sustainability exhibition showcases the latest technologies and processes and tells the story of building renovation through digital displays, sculptures and real building materials.
Exhibition "Don't be afraid to dream"
On the 80th floor, there is an exhibition called Dare to Dream. History of the Empire State Building - the story of the American dream: the exhibition reflects the history, design and construction of the building. It includes original documents: photographs, architectural sketches, construction notes and daily accounting documents.
Get more information about the building, its place and role in modern world thanks to the interactive multimedia tour included in the ticket price. To do this, you need to download the appropriate application in the AppStore or Google Play, which can be done on the spot using the free wireless Internet.
In addition, in our Vkontakte group you can find more photos in good quality, in a separate album dedicated to the skyscraper.