The legendary skyscraper Empire State Building - its history and interesting facts. Empire State Building: the history of the famous tower History of the Empire State

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Its authors, the architectural agency Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, were the first in history to decide to create a building project with more than a hundred floors. Opened in Mahattan in 1931, built in less than a year and a half, it was rightly considered the “eighth wonder of the world,” which was reflected in the painting of its hall. But in the 70s, the construction of the World Trade Center deprived it of the palm among the tallest buildings, and the growth in the number of skyscrapers not only in the USA, but also in other countries made the aura of uniqueness fade.

As a result, the new stage of development that began in the life of the Empire State Building at the end of the 20th century identified it as a participant in the race, no longer technological or construction, but tourist. The owners of the skyscraper, leaving it a huge office building that employs over 20 thousand people, also focus on its attractiveness for tourists. In particular, the unique gold painting of the ceiling in the lobby in the spirit of the 30s has been restored, both observation platforms (86th and 102nd floors) have been equipped so that they have a 360° view, a visitor center has been opened with a separate entrance from 34th Street, it is open a museum that inscribes the history of the Empire State Building into the history of New York. These and other changes mean that a visit to the Empire State Building today is not only about looking at the Big Apple from a height of 373 meters, it is also about touching the living history of one of the most famous metropolises in the world, developing before your eyes.

Height of the Empire State Building in New York

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

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

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

In subsequent years, skyscrapers from other countries moved the Empire State Building to more distant positions on world lists. So by the time the Twin Towers were destroyed in 2001, he had returned to the position of leader only in the New York rankings. But even there, in 2012, the building was in second place, since the Freedom Tower, 417 meters high (on the roof), was erected on the site of the World Trade Center.

Construction of the Empire State Building

The developers of the Empire State Building project created it in just 2 weeks. The efficiency is explained by the fact that they used developments from other orders. On the site of the future skyscraper stood one of the hotels of the Astoria chain; it was to be demolished. Work began in 1929. John Raskob, one of the businessmen who financed the construction of the skyscraper, hoped to attract investment and begin construction of a new building that same year, but in October the New York Stock Exchange collapsed, and a crisis began.

Neither Raskob nor another curator of the project, Alfred Smith, lost money, but people who planned to invest in the project went bankrupt. Despite the loss of a source of funds, and the threat of low demand for offices in the future skyscraper due to the obvious crisis, Raskob and Smith chose to take out a loan rather than abandon the project altogether.

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

In the winter months, the demolition of the hotel was completed, and at the same time a hole was being dug for a giant foundation. The construction of the first load-bearing structures began on March 17. The pace of construction from the first stage was impressive. The first 14 floors were erected in 10 days, and subsequently they built approximately 4 floors per week.

By November, 75 floors had been built, with steel structures up to the 95th floor. From this time on, simultaneous interior finishing of the finished levels began. The installation of 66 elevators, each with a lifting speed of 366 m/min, also began. About 3,500 workers worked on the construction of the building. The Empire State Building was commissioned on May 1, 1931, just 405 days after construction began.

Skyscraper observation decks

The building has 2 observation decks: on the 86th and 102nd floors. To get to them, you need to purchase a ticket. It is separate for each site. Tourists can access the Empire State Building through the Visitor's Center, which has an entrance on 34th Street. Tickets are sold in vending machines with a simple interface. If difficulties arise, you can contact one of the employees present in the room for help.

The machines have partially solved the problem of queuing at the ticket counters, but be prepared to spend some time waiting at the exit to the site. To avoid this, tourists visiting the Empire State Building are advised to arrive when the site opens at 8:00 or after 22:00. There are not many people at this time. In addition, at the beginning of the day you can watch the city wake up, and in the late evening enjoy the ocean of lights of the Big Apple.

The observation deck of the 86th floor is located at an altitude of approximately 340 meters, the 102nd floor - at a level of 371 meters. Both have a full all-round view, and are decorated on the ceiling and floor with projections of nearby buildings, which can be seen if you approach the panoramic glazing. It offers views of both the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. To better understand the details of the view that opens, you should download the free Observatory Experience application from the official website of the skyscraper. Also at the sites you will find powerful binoculars that will allow you to see the details of the panorama.

What else to see

The Empire State Building is famous not only for its observation decks, but also for its architecture, restored lobby interiors, a small museum where you can take a photo in King Kong's huge paw, and also for its unique lighting. Getting to know these details will make your experience of visiting the skyscraper brighter.

Lobby

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

The Art Deco mural depicts a sky full of planets and stars, which at the same time represent an assembly line of gears. This is how the designers of the last century expressed respect for the era of discoveries and technical progress. Also noteworthy is the wall behind the visitor registration desk in the lobby, which depicts the skyscraper itself and the rays emanating from its top.

It took a team of restorers 18 months to completely restore the frescoes, as well as the authentic lamps in the spirit of the 1930s, despite the fact that the entire building was built in only 13 months.

Museum and gift shop

On the 2nd floor there is a museum that tells not only about the history of the skyscraper and New York, but also about the place of the Empire State Building in popular culture. Here you can see photos of Manhattan streets in the 1920s, find out what ancient Otis elevators were like and how they worked, and also get acquainted with films, cartoons, comics, videos and other pop culture products that show the Empire State Building.

Among these films is the film “King Kong”, shot in 1933, as well as its remake, released in the “zero”. The museum even has a corner that consists of an image of King Kong looking through a window and models of his fingers breaking through the wall. Brave souls can take a photo with them!

Next to the museum there is a gift shop where you can buy magnets, dishes and other items depicting the Empire State Building. They also sell clothes with images of a skyscraper.

Ladder

Another remarkable object is the staircase, consisting of 1860 steps. Every year on February 5th, a speed climbing competition is held there. At the same time, the distance is limited to 1576 steps - participants finish on the 86th floor. New York firefighters and rescue workers also train on the stairs of the Empire State Building. Tourists can only access the stairs on competition days while participating in the race. The rest of the time it is closed to visitors; only high-speed elevators are used for ascent.

Backlight

The skyscraper's exterior lighting system also makes it one of the most remarkable buildings in New York. Spotlights are located on the upper tiers. They have been operating every day since 1964, with each day of the week corresponding to a different color.

On holidays and in honor memorable dates a unique range of shades is selected. For example, on the days of games of New York teams, the building takes on the color of their official colors, on the day of the celebration of the anniversary of Elizabeth II. In 2002, it became purple and gold (the official colors of the Windsor family), and when gay pride parades are held, the facade is painted in all the colors of the rainbow. The official website of the skyscraper even has a schedule of lighting gammas.

How to get to the Empire State Building in New York

If you're staying at a hotel in Manhattan or are close to a skyscraper, check out the walking map located on the building's website. If you plan to get to the Empire State Building by public transport, then use the subway or bus.

Metro. The 34 Street - Herald Square station is a 5-minute walk from the building. It is served by trains B, D, F and M (Sixth Avenue Line), N, Q, R, W (Broadway Line).

Bus. Opposite the skyscraper on West 34th Street is the W 34 St & 5 Av bus stop. It is reached by routes such as M34-SBS, M34A-SBS, QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM24.

To order a taxi ride, use the mobile applications Uber, Via, Gett, Arro, Waave or others.

Panoramic view of Manhattan from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building:

What is the view from the Empire State Building: video

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers, known not only in, but throughout the world. It stands on a par with such famous buildings as the Pyramid of Cheops and. This building was and remains a symbol of brilliant New York. Forty years ago, the Empire State was the tallest building in the world, but it still amazes with its size. On the wall of the huge marble-decorated lobby, the Empire State Building is presented as the eighth wonder of the world.

Features of the Empire State Building

The 102-story Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue. It was built back in 1931 and is the tallest skyscraper in New York.

Despite its large size, the skyscraper looks quite elegant: the proportions of the Empire State Building are simple and elegant. The upper floors are built somewhat deeper in relation to the general line of the facade. The building is designed in a modest but elegant art deco style. Stainless steel strips stretch upward along the gray stone façade, and the upper floors are arranged in three terraces.

Standing on the sidewalk in front of a 102-story skyscraper, it is very difficult to see the entire building - it is so large. The dimensions of the building are truly amazing: the height without the tower is 381 meters, and together with the television tower, built in the 50s, it reaches a total height of 449 meters. The weight of the structure is 331 thousand tons.

Of course, the best way to move between floors is with the help of elevators, but there are eccentrics who prefer to climb to the very top floor using the stairs, which have 1,860 steps. Once a year there is a competition for the fastest climb. The winner receives one million dollars.

The rest still prefer to use elevators. The office space can accommodate 15,000 people, and the elevators can carry 10,000 passengers in one hour.

The Empire State is not only a hub of offices, but also a real attraction for tourists. Inside the hall, which is 30 meters long and three floors high, hangs a huge panel with images of eight, one of which is the Empire State Building itself. The Guinness World Records Hall contains information about unusual records and record holders. There are observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors, which can be reached very quickly by elevator. From here you have an amazing view of the city.

History of the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue, New York. This part of Manhattan is still considered very prestigious. Skyscrapers, of which there are plenty, only further emphasize the respectability of this area.

New York and Chicago became the first cities to begin construction of high-rise buildings. There were many reasons for this. Firstly, technical innovations were already actively used - lightweight construction fittings, high-speed elevators, strip foundations, etc. Secondly, since the end of the 19th century, the price of land was quite high, so the construction of multi-story buildings turned out to be economically profitable. But, despite the lower price, placing an office in a skyscraper was and still remains very prestigious. Now, to rent an office in a skyscraper, you have to pay much more than for similar apartments in a regular building.

The modern Empire State Building is built on the site that has been a center for the local aristocracy since 1860. Then there were two noble houses here, belonging to members of the richest Astor family. Subsequently, the Waldorf and Astoria hotels were built here. These two hotels operated in the 90s of the 19th century. In 1929, both hotels were demolished to make way for the construction of the Empire State Building.

The building is built on a two-story foundation (to make the skyscraper more stable) and supported by a steel structure weighing 54,400 tons. Ten million bricks and 700 kilometers of cable were spent on construction. Construction was led by John Jacob Raskob (creator of General Motors). The project was completed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon.

The building was built simply with unheard of speed. In just over a year and a half, 38 construction teams (5 people each) assembled the frame of the skyscraper from a huge number of metal beams, which were delivered to the construction site along a specially built road. Construction was very difficult and risky: every day workers had to balance on the narrow beams of this frame.

The skyscraper grew literally before our eyes. Approximately four and a half floors were built each week, and during the most intense period, 14 floors were completed in 10 days. The entire building was built in 1 year and 45 days.

On May 1, 1931, the official opening of the Empire State Building took place, which received the status of the tallest building on our planet, overtaking the previous record holder - the headquarters of the Chrysler automobile corporation.

The opening of the skyscraper coincided with the great economic depression. Not many could afford to rent an office in this building. At the time, the building was even nicknamed the “Empty State Building.” Ten years passed until all the premises were finally delivered.

At first, the creators of the skyscraper planned to build a flat roof to create a platform for airships. But later this idea was abandoned: the site is an expensive pleasure, and airships were coming out and fashions were coming out. In 1950, it was decided to build on the skyscraper: a small television tower, 447 meters high, was installed on the roof.

The name of the Empire State Building comes from the words "bilding", which in English means "building" or "structure". "Empire State" (translated from English as "empire state") is the unofficial name of the state of New York.

The skyscraper quickly gained notoriety because it turned out to be very attractive to suicides. The first suicide occurred in 1933, just 3 years after its opening. In the same year, the film “King Kong” was released, and the image of this building was firmly connected in the minds of millions of viewers with a huge monster climbing the walls of a skyscraper. To top it all off, in 1945, due to poor visibility, a plane crashed into the 79th floor. 14 people were killed and damage amounted to one million dollars. Then they began to say that the Empire State Building was almost a diabolical invention. True, successful businessmen called all this complete nonsense and continued to fight for the right to rent an office in the most respectable building in Manhattan.

In 1986, the Empire State Building was designated a National Landmark. More than 35,000 tourists visit it every year, not counting the fact that more than 50,000 people work in the building itself.

For decades now, the Empire State Building has been considered a symbol of New York and the entire American state.

The Empire State Building, long the tallest building in the world, repeats its own image on the central panel of the huge (30 meters long) and high (three floors) lobby.

In this seemingly “holy” image, the Empire State Building, painted in gold, is surrounded by a halo of divine radiance and medallions illustrating the achievements of mankind on the path to progress.

• An object:
• Location: New York, USA
• Project: Shreve, Lamb and Harmon
• Height: 381 m
• Materials: steel, brick, aluminum and limestone
• Year of construction: 1931
• STYLE: Art Deco
• The onset of the economic depression halved the estimated cost of construction

“The Center of the Universe” and the eighth wonder of the world, the Empire State Building is frankly proud of the fact that it once held the world height record. He took it over in 1931 and owned it until 1972, when the construction of the World Trade Center marked the beginning of a new era.

John Jacob Raskob was tormented by envy. The founder of General Motors simply could not live knowing that his rival, Walter Chrysler, had recently built the tallest building in the world. But Raskob had his own ideas. He approached William Lamb, one of the partners in the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, and shared with him his dream of a skyscraper that would dwarf the Chrysler building. Raskob asked a completely simple and at the same time frightening question: “How high can you make it without it falling?”

Soon after, the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Fifth Avenue near 34th Street was demolished to make way for the Empire State Building.

It was named so thanks to George Washington: when he sailed along the Hudson River, he noticed that this place would be “symbolic for the new empire.”

After the destruction of the Twin Towers, the Empire State Building reluctantly returned to its role as the main symbol of New York and America. Its easily recognizable image is built on the foundation of statistics, operating with unprecedented figures: 10 million bricks, a total weight of 365,000 tons, 59,800 tons of steel beams, 687 km of electrical wires and 2 million square meters windows, which are constantly cleaned by a special team.

Bold plan

Only two criteria were stated: that the building should look like a pencil, and that it should be taller than anything else on Earth. It is not at all surprising that the size and weight of the project were in danger. Its location was considered commercially “not very profitable.” No prospective renter has yet appeared. And the stock market began to fall, and then the whole country found itself facing the Great Economic Depression.

With such an unstable foundation, the building needed another, stronger one. 210 concrete and steel columns were driven into the granite base of Manhattan Island. This platform, just two stories deep, had to support a tower 102 stories high (380 meters) and weighing about 365 tons.

An architect once said, “Of the things we do in peacetime, building skyscrapers is the closest thing to war.” An army of workers and craftsmen was gathered for this battle, 3,000 of them worked on the construction site at all hours of the day. The heroes among them were considered high-altitude installers, many of

They were Indians from the Mohawk and Iroquois tribes, because Native Americans are known for their fearlessness. These brave guys worked 13 hour days for just $1.92 an hour, hanging from insane heights and riveting over 50,000 heavy steel beams, each weighing a ton - enough to pave railway between New York and Baltimore. The amazingly straight beams, with an error of no more than 3 mm, were installed and fastened together just eight hours after they were produced at the Pittsburgh plant.

Despite the fact that the project was changed 16 times during the development and construction process, it was built 45 days ahead of schedule, with another 5 million left over from the budget. An amazing $41 million skyscraper rose above the city in record time (less than 14 months), and no one has ever built such a building faster. The building never deviates more than 6 mm from the center; it has 10 million bricks and 2 hectares of windows. The sophisticated Art Deco style is emphasized by graceful, tapering walls, or “overhangs,” which are officially recognized in New York City building codes.

Architectural features of the Empire State Building:

• The architectural power of this building lies in its distribution across volumes. A series of buildings rise from a five-story base, gradually transforming into a central structure that extends like a telescope to a height of 86 floors. Tapering, the structure continues to rise until it becomes an antenna.
• In the movie King Kong (1933), symbolic images of the Empire State Building were used as scenery. Against the background of the tower and antenna of the building, which even then were planned to be used as a berth for airships, an allegorical struggle unfolded between the creation of Nature and artificial civilization.
• Along the entire facade of the skyscraper there are endlessly repeating rows of modular windows, grouped horizontally, but also aligned vertically, which emphasizes the direction of empty and filled spaces.
• During the construction of the Empire State Building, ready-made blocks were used, which significantly reduced the construction time.
• Since the 1940s, the Empire State Building has been one of New York's tourist attractions. About two million tourists climb to its observation deck every year to admire the breathtaking views of the city.
• On major holidays and significant days, the top of the skyscraper sparkled with multi-colored illumination.

The entire dynamic bulk of the evil symbol of power and authority of the 1930s is distributed across volumes, uncontrollably rushing upward under the attentive gaze of the audience. From a five-story, 0.65-hectare base rises a series of buildings that gradually taper before the corner sections merge into a central structure that extends like a telescope to a height of 86 floors. The structure continues to rise, imperceptibly turning into an antenna.

The sense of plasticity emanating from this gigantic object, firmly rooted in the ground and at the same time directed towards the sky, is enhanced by the repeating rows of modular windows, grouped horizontally, but also aligned vertically, which emphasizes the direction of empty and filled spaces and creates a recognizable ornamental motif.

The forms of the Empire State Building, closely associated with Art Deco, are revealed from a completely unexpected side and from completely unexpected angles. First of all, one can see the triumphal, but partly threatening image of the Tower of Babel; then cinematic images of the era, like the fantastic structures from Fritz Lang's film Metropolis, and images from comic books: and finally, fantastic images of the city of the future, drawn by Hugh Ferriss.

It is important to emphasize that the extreme vertical orientation of the Empire State Building was the result of changes in the rules governing urban development in Manhattan. In order to equalize the rights of individual citizens who built houses on their own land with the rights of those who agreed with the need to build high-rise buildings, two types of structures were developed, depending on the location of construction.

The first was a kind of ziggurat, when the building was built with ledges, but up to a certain height, while the second, with a clearly defined central section, could, theoretically, rise to any height - these were skyscrapers with a central tower, or “bell tower,” which replaced the old ones. “vertically oriented” high-rise buildings.

The Empire State Building, along with the Seagram Building, is a landmark of midtown New York, just as the Twin Towers were a landmark of downtown, providing breathtaking views of the city and its surrounding landscape from their observation decks.

The Empire State owed its success at the beginning of its “career” to the latter circumstance. Its owners had difficulty finding companies willing to rent office space. Fortunately, the observation decks, which became a place of pilgrimage for tourists, saved the building from imminent bankruptcy. Considering that the construction of the building and its commissioning occurred during the years of the banking collapse and the subsequent Great Depression, from which America recovered only after World War II, achieving prosperity for the Empire State Building was far from easy.

The symbol of the city

After the skyscraper was built, there were so few tenants in the 186,000 m2 of total space that it was nicknamed the “Empty State Building.” But now more than 15,000 employees work in offices there and receive countless visitors. If you climb to the observation deck in one minute, you can look around at the surroundings at a distance of up to 128 kilometers.

Until 1972, the building remained the tallest in the world, then the infamous World Trade Center towers were built.

Even if it was not an ideal investment from a financial point of view, it was a huge success as a symbol of America. Hollywood eagerly began to exploit it - interiors, viewing terraces and views from them appear in all their splendor in films such as “King Kong” (filmed in 1933, when construction had just closed), “On the Town” (1949) , Empire (directed by Andy Warhol in 1964) and Manhattan (directed by Woody Allen in 1979). His role in these films was the main one: a gymnastic platform for the exercises of a giant gorilla, a backdrop against which a love story unfolds, a stage for an experimental theater of the absurd.

The Empire State is so popular that it is almost humanized in the minds of many New Yorkers and some marginalized artists. In his paintings, M. Vriesendorp exaggerates many of the features of skyscrapers and endows them with human qualities. Here is the plot of the most famous of them: Rockefeller Center opens the bedroom doors and, to his amazement, finds the masculine Empire State Building and the feminine, elegant Chrysler Building in the same bed. The bedspread is painted with a city plan of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty plays the role of a night light, and other skyscrapers peer curiously through the bedroom window.

Built for purely advertising purposes rather than out of any practical necessity, the Empire State Building, more than other skyscrapers of its generation, succeeded in its role as a standard-bearer and symbol of the American dream. His image was replicated in countless advertising projects, and, together with images of the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center and the Statue of Liberty, rose - on a planetary scale - to the level of an icon.

The appearance in the relatively young city of Las Vegas of skyscrapers tailored according to the New York model testifies to the wide popularity and triumph of this model, designed to symbolize the imperial state (New York) and continues to this day to represent the paradoxical spiritualism of the financial power of capitalism.

IN largest city The USA is home to more than five thousand skyscrapers. Only in New York could an office building become a historical landmark. The face of the American metropolis is giant high-rise buildings, and this building does its job well. The Empire State Building is an unshakable symbol of the Big Apple and one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the world. If you like to travel and study unusual architectural treasures, then this building will find something to surprise you.

Today, the Empire State Building (ESB) is a national monument and a must-see landmark in New York City. On observation platforms Over 130 million people have already visited this building, which is comparable to the population of an average country.

Where is the Empire State Building located?

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

This is interesting. IN beginning of XXI centuries in the world, and in America itself, many high-rise buildings appeared that surpassed the Empire State Building - the Freedom Tower in New York (104 floors), the Royal Clock Tower in Mecca (120 floors), Shanghai Tower in Shanghai (128 floors), International Commerce Center in Hong Kong (118 floors). Tallest building on this moment- Burj Khalifa, which has 163 floors. The skyscraper opened in 2010.

In 1986, the Empire State Building was included in the list of national treasures of the country, and in 2007 the building became the first on the list as the best architectural solution. The owner and manager of the building is W&H Properties.

How to get there

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

History of creation

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

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

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

Thousands of tourists come to the building every day. The thing is that there are two observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. On the first platform you can see the whole of New York; it is more difficult to get to the last floor - the platform is smaller and only a small number of visitors are allowed there. The skyscraper itself also houses an attraction that simulates flying over the city on the Hudson.

Construction or who became the architect of the Empire State Building

The building was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. It was this company that prepared the drawings in a couple of weeks, taking as a basis their previous project - the Carew Tower in Cincinnati in Ohio. The plan was created from top to bottom. The main contractors were the Starrett brothers and Eken, and the construction was financed by John Raskob.

The preparation of materials began on January 22, 1930, and construction began on St. Patrick's Day - March 17 of the same year. The project involved 3,400 workers, most of whom were immigrants from Europe, as well as the Mohawk Indian foundry workers from the Kanawake reservation near Montreal. The skyscraper has 102 floors, and the total weight of the structure is 365 thousand tons. They spent $41 million on construction.

This is interesting. It is believed that the ESB architects, when they met with investors, heard the question: “How high can you build a building without it falling?” The builders understood this hint well - the skyscraper was to be called the tallest skyscraper in America, and at the same time in the world.

The construction of a skyscraper became part of the competition - the winner received the right to be named tallest building. Wall Street and the Chrysler Building competed for the title. These structures held the title less than a year, as ESB beat its rivals on the 410th day of construction.

Thanks to the popular nickname of the state of New York, the skyscraper of the Imperial State or the Empire State Building got its name. Construction built in 13 months, which is very fast for the first half of the 20th century. For comparison, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were built in seven years.

Opening

The official “coming out” of the Empire State Building was solemn: President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington and turned on the lights in the building. Ironically, the lamps on the high-rise spire were lit for the first time on the day of Franklin Roosevelt's victory over Hoover in the November 1932 election.

This time was also marked as the Great Depression. The structure began to be called the Empty House of the Imperial State, since no one rented office space in the ESB. And the whole point was not only the crisis, but also the uncomfortable location - the metal structure occupied almost the entire internal area. The offices were cramped and looked like little closets. Afterwards, the building was reconstructed, creating modern comfortable premises. The legendary skyscraper is the penultimate one hosts Donald Trump and Hideki Yokoi sold for $57.5 million in 2002. The new owner of the skyscraper is the real estate company of Peter Malkin, which manages a couple of historic buildings in New York. Today, the view of the Big Apple from the Empire State Building is the most magnificent because of the opportunity to see a 360-degree panorama.

Architectural style

At the beginning of the 20th century, steel frames began to be used for the construction of multi-story buildings, which had previously been used for the construction of bridges and railway stations. In 1930, the Chrysler Building with a height of 319 m received the palm as the tallest building in the city. The building overtook the Bank of Manhattan, which reached a height of 282 m. However The Empire State Building surpassed everyone in 1931- towering 381 m above New York. The total weight of the structure is 365 thousand tons, and the steel structure has a mass of 59 thousand tons. There are 10 million bricks in the walls.

By increasing the length of the shafts and the speed of passenger elevators, the maintenance of the high-rise was simplified. The Empire State Building has 62 elevators arranged in groups. But according to city zoning laws, high-rise buildings must have narrowed upper floors. To better illuminate the streets, architects began to build skyscrapers that were completely different from the Chicago high-rises at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The new style of multi-storey buildings combined the motifs of art deco and avant-garde geometricism.

One of interesting places ESB is the spire. The structure has 16 floors and also houses a control room. The top of the building was going to be used as a pier for airships. The Spire only accepted two airships, and then all were canceled due to the risk of collision. There is also an antenna mast at the top of the structure, which is decorated with illumination from time to time. Only in the first few years the observation deck on the spire visited by several million people. The annual profit was $1 million, a significant amount during the Great Depression era.

The width of the Empire State Building depended on the requirements for ventilation and natural light. Before the installation of powerful air conditioners, the depth of the room from the window to the back wall could not be more than 8.5 m. The building has 6,500 windows connected by vertical steel strips. The outer covering of the walls is made of gray limestone, which is framed with aluminum sheets. The support platform has five floors and occupies the entire area of ​​its site. There is a three-story lobby in the center, surrounded by two tiers of shops. Due to the fact that there was no place on the construction site where materials could be stored, they were delivered on schedule and immediately lifted upstairs. The construction process was similar to a factory assembly line, which is why it was possible to build a skyscraper in such a short time.

The ESB style is art deco, created at the International Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. The style incorporates motifs from various historical forms - from culture Ancient Egypt before the development of the Maya. Art Deco is characterized by the use of new materials - chromed steel, glass and plastic. In their reviews, tourists note that the architecture of the Empire State Building is unusual, since all the most interesting things are located outside.

Empire State Building inside

But what is inside the famous skyscraper, since the building was not built for tourist purposes? ESB is an ordinary office high-rise, which during the years of construction was called the Empty State Building (empty - empty). Companies were reluctant to occupy the premises, but the situation soon changed due to interior remodeling. Just 10-15 years ago, small firms were the main tenants of 100 m2 offices. Today, entire floors are occupied by large companies thanks to colossal reconstructions of the internal halls.

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

Opening hours

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

Ticket prices

Since the observatory opened in 1931, the building has been visited by more than 110 million people. Accordingly, there are long queues before entering. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid the line of tourists. There is a standard version of the city pass, which allows you to visit the observation platform on the 86th floor and an audio guide. The cost of entry to the site on the 86th floor is $32, and if express without queues - $55. You can also visit the 102nd floor for $52 and $75 without waiting.

What to see nearby

If visiting the famous skyscraper is not enough, then you can check out the attractions nearby. The list below will help you have a good time:

• . The city on the Hudson is home to one of the most famous and largest parks in the world. Central Park is located in Manhattan on an area of ​​3.4 km2. 25 million people come here every year. There are hotels opposite the park, so it’s convenient to combine a walk and not be interrupted from your planned activities;
• . Sports complex, which is located on Eighth Avenue. This is a multifunctional facility that is used more than 300 days a year for various events. It hosts New York Knicks basketball games and New York Rangers hockey tournaments, concerts and performances. During hockey matches the hall seats 18,200 people, and during concerts - 2,000 visitors;
• . The pride of America, which rises above New York on Liberty Island near Manhattan. For more than 100 years, the symbol of democracy has been welcoming and seeing off hundreds of ships in the Big Apple harbor. It is an interesting attraction for tourists and a beacon of freedom for Americans;
• . One of the oldest hanging structures in the country, which was the longest in the world until 1903. Steel slings were used for the first time to build the Brooklyn Bridge. The main span over the East River is 487 m long and the total length is almost 2 km.

The Empire State Building is, 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 department - 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 two of its 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 peculiarities of aeronautics on airships. The drawings depicted passengers emerging onto the Empire State Building spire from the nose of the aircraft, when in reality the loading and unloading would take place in a gondola located under the airship. So the designers’ idea 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 NBC conducted the first transmission of a television signal as an experiment. And 10 years later, the era of commercial television broadcasting began. Today, the high-rise Empire State Building houses transmitters for almost all television channels and radio stations in the city.

History of construction

The first half of the last century took place in New York under the motto “Who will be able to build the tallest skyscraper?” Since 1913, the palm belonged to the Woolvault Building for 27 years. This building had 57 floors and reached a height of 241 m. Then the 70-story Trump Building, located at 40 Wall Street, became the leader. It rose into the sky at 282.5 m. 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 already reached 320 m.

Stages of construction 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 erect a building that would become a real legend.

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

The location for the new record-breaking skyscraper was chosen at the intersection of West 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. At that time, there was an old Waldorf-Astoria hotel there. It consisted of two buildings, which were connected by a wide hall. Both buildings were erected in the 90s of the 19th century according to the design of New York architect Henry J. Hardenberg. And this hotel was owned by Esther's family.

When the decision was made to build a huge skyscraper, construction began on a new building for the hotel on Fifth Avenue. At the end of autumn 1929, the old hotel began to be demolished, and more than 16 thousand truckloads of broken bricks and stone fragments were removed from here.

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

The main construction began on March 17, 1930, St. Patrick's Day, and began with excavation work 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 builders completed the installation of the 85th floor of the frame.

The construction was huge - 3,439 people took part in it, most of whom were emigrants who had recently arrived on American soil. Mohawk Indians were used in high-altitude work, since these natural climbers were considered excellent installers 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 their children in special cradles. Others argued that when hunting, the Indians were accustomed to placing their feet one after the other on narrow trails, and it was easier for them to stay on narrow metal structures. Another version said that Mohawk warriors perceived heights as a challenge and courageously dealt with the difficulties that arose 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 complex high-rise 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. To ensure that construction workers did not stray far from their jobs during lunch breaks, food for them (hot lunches, sandwiches, drinks and ice cream) was served on five levels of the building at once.

View of New York City 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, quick construction was made possible thanks to the simplicity of the design, the components of which were convenient to deliver and lift to the top. Pittsburgh became the supplier of steel structures for this skyscraper. And the logistics were so streamlined that often the frame was anchored with beams that the steel plant had produced just three days earlier.

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 costs for it broke all records. The high-rise building was built in just one year and 45 days - until May 1, 1931. It cost 24.7 million dollars instead of the planned 43. Such a low cost was due to the fall in prices during the Great Depression.

On the day of the official opening 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 was still ongoing, and it was only possible to return the funds spent on the construction of a new skyscraper by 1948. 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 office premises remained unfilled for a long time, so the townspeople initially called the new skyscraper Empty (empty).

View of the tower from the street of New York

Architectural features

In the early 30s of the last century, the Empire State Building, built, became not only the tallest building in the world, but also the first skyscraper with 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 wing-shaped ribs, increases it to 443 meters.

The Empire State Building's record stood for more than 30 years. It was not until 1972, when the World Trade Center was built in the city, that the Fifth Avenue high-rise took second place. But when the twin towers were destroyed after the terrorist attack in September 2001, the old skyscraper again received the status of the tallest building in the city.

The area of ​​the Empire State Building exceeds 250,000 square meters. m. There are 6.4 thousand windows on the longitudinally striped facades of the skyscraper, 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.

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

Interior of the Empire State Building

Entrance lobby to the Empire State Building

The high-rise building's entrance lobby is decorated in rich purple and gray Germanic marble. The large panel installed 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 delights, therefore, in the created premises, the installations created in the project were strictly maintained - no more than 8.53 m from windows to corridors. These dimensions were necessary to ensure the required level of lighting in all offices.

To ensure that employees and visitors can climb to any floor of the building, it has 73 high-speed elevators, which can take you to the 80th floor within one minute. Those who want to climb to the top floor on foot will have to climb 1,860 steps.

The location of the elevators and the fixed dimensions of the office spaces determined the entire configuration of the Empire State Building and the arrangement of its ledges. The size of floors decreases 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 clearly recognizable. It has become a real “crown” and decoration of New York. The designers of the Empire State Building created a structure that, like the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, dominates the entire city. From 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 does not have a 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, overcoming a staircase 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, green islands of parks and the strait. Good view You can see the city from the site both when the sun is shining and at night. Conveniently, all the sights that can be seen from above are marked on a diagram placed on the observation deck.

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

Views from observation decks

In 1964, during the World's Fair, spotlights were installed on the Empire State Building skyscraper, illuminating its upper part with white light. After 12 years, the decorative lighting was made colored. And today, on major holidays and memorable dates, the building is illuminated in different ways: red, orange and yellow flowers- 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 get married in the high-rise building.

Empire State Building Tickets

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 to the 86th floor observation deck for adults will cost $32, for those over 62 years old - $29, and for children from 6 to 12 years old - $26. Tickets to both observation decks (86th and 102nd floor) for everyone visitors over 6 years old cost $85. You will have to pay extra for the opportunity to skip the lines. It is noteworthy that tickets are valid for a year from the date of purchase, and they are not difficult to print.

Red illumination of a skyscraper

In addition, you can 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 will 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. There are no lockers at the entrance to the Empire State Building. And during a mandatory check, security will not allow bulky bags, suitcases, drinks, water, or even large camera tripods to be brought into the building.

3. It would be a good idea to stock up on a few 50-cent coins in advance. They will be needed to use the binoculars located at 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 appropriate clothing and hats.

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

Remains of a bomber on the facade of a skyscraper

• Americans often call the state of New York the Empire 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 zip code - 10118.
• 55,000 tons of steel, 10 million bricks, 200 thousand cubic meters were spent on the construction of the high-rise building. feet of stone, 2 million feet of electrical wire and 1,17 thousand 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 was tested by tragic events. In late July 1945, a B-25 Mitchell military plane crashed into it 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 right through the entire building. As a result of this tragedy, 14 people died and 26 people were injured in various ways. However, the building itself suffered little damage. The outer walls were damaged and a fire broke out inside, which was extinguished after just 40 minutes. All consequences were eliminated very quickly, and the very next day the offices worked as usual.
• The famous high-rise building became famous thanks to the film about King Kong. It was from this Empire State Building that he fell, shot by police helicopters. Many suicides have tried to commit suicide by jumping from a high-rise building, so security guards are now constantly on duty at the observation decks, and a metal canopy has been installed over the sidewalk to protect pedestrians.
King Kong on top of the Empire State Building. Still from the 1933 film

How to get there

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