7 Things You Must Know About the Empire State Building

An Enduring Icon of Art Deco

The Empire State Building, consistently ranked among the world's most recognizable structures, continues to attract approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. It stands as a quintessential masterpiece of the Art Deco architectural style that defined New York City in the 1920s.

Upon its completion in 1931, the skyscraper reached a height of 1,250 feet. This stature was later extended to 1,454 feet with the addition of the Alford Antenna in 1965, securing its reign as the world's tallest building until the early 1970s with the rise of the World Trade Center towers.

However, its status as a modern "eighth wonder of the world" was earned not only by its dizzying height but also by the breathtaking pace of its construction, which saw it soar from an empty lot to a finished colossus in just one year and 45 days.

A Political Setback Sparks an Ambitious Project

As detailed in John Tauranac's The Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark, the project originated from a partnership between two prominent New Yorkers. John J. Raskob, a top executive at DuPont and General Motors, was appointed chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1928 to lead the presidential campaign of four-term Governor Al Smith.

Following their defeat by Herbert Hoover, Smith and Raskob turned their ambitions to the real estate boom transforming New York's skyline. They focused their efforts on a prime property between 33rd and 34th Streets, which was home to the once-opulent Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

"The Waldorf-Astoria was falling on hard times," Tauranac notes. "During Prohibition, speakeasies thrived, but the high-profile hotel couldn't sell alcohol without public scrutiny, causing significant financial losses."

In mid-1929, the duo established the Empire State Corporation with several associates. They installed the popular Smith as president to leverage his influence and promotional skills, purchasing the large lot for an estimated $16 to $17 million.

Design Driven by Deadline and Ego

The corporation hired architects Richmond H. Shreve and William Lamb, later joined by Arthur Loomis Harmon, to design what was initially planned as a 65-story building. However, Raskob and Smith demanded a grander vision, leading to a redesign for an 80-story, 1,000-foot office tower.

An aggressive timeline compounded the challenge. To capitalize on the city's commercial lease cycle, which centered on May 1st, the owners demanded the building be ready for occupancy by May 1, 1931. This left a mere 21 months from the first architectural sketches to the finished product.

Function dictated the form. The architects designed a central core housing elevators, plumbing, and utilities, surrounded by a 28-foot-deep perimeter of rentable office space. Exterior choices were guided by cost and speed: durable limestone and sleek chrome-nickel steel mullions created the iconic look, while a setback design adhered to zoning laws and fulfilled Raskob's desire for a pencil-like silhouette.

The project was further complicated by the owners' rivalry. Upon discovering that the Chrysler Building would claim the title of world's tallest with its spire, Smith and Raskob insisted on a redesign. The architects added a five-story penthouse, bringing the building to 85 stories and 1,050 feet.

Yet, this was still insufficient. "They then conceived what I call the looniest scheme since the Tower of Babel," Tauranac remarks. "They decided to top the building with a mooring mast for dirigibles, pushing its final height to 1,250 feet."

Overcoming Construction Hurdles

Demolition of the Waldorf-Astoria began in the fall of 1929 and proved more difficult than anticipated. "The hotel was far more robust than anyone had guessed," says Tauranac. "Its thick walls took longer to tear down and generated more rubble than expected, all at a greater cost."

Further challenges emerged during excavation for the foundation in January 1930, when workers encountered a stubborn underground stream. Initial attempts to dam it failed, forcing the team to construct a roof over the water source.

A Marvel of Industrial Efficiency

Construction commenced in earnest on March 17, 1930, with the placement of the first of 210 steel columns. The project proceeded with remarkable efficiency, operating like a well-oiled assembly line. Materials were delivered by truck, and a sophisticated system of derricks and railway carts on each floor enabled workers to erect the steel frame at a peak rate of nearly five stories per week.

The site employed over 3,000 workers at its peak, whose daring feats high above the city drew daily crowds. Specialized four-man riveting teams, in particular, worked with such precise coordination that the absence of one member would halt the entire group's work.

Incredibly, each major phase of construction—the steel framework, concrete floors, and exterior cladding—was finished days or even weeks ahead of schedule. This allowed for the swift installation of interior utilities and finishes.

Lobbying for a Modern Skyscraper

Smith used his political clout to secure two crucial amendments to New York City's building codes. The first increased the allowable steel bearing load, saving on material costs. The second permitted faster elevator speeds, ensuring a journey to the 80th floor could take less than a minute.

While the U.S. Navy investigated the feasibility of the dirigible mooring mast, the idea was ultimately abandoned after a couple of precarious docking attempts. The space intended for the 86th-floor terminal was converted into a high-altitude tearoom, and the 102nd-floor loading station became a second observation deck.

A Grand Opening Amid Economic Gloom

The Empire State Building opened with great fanfare on May 1, 1931, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a lighting display activated remotely from the White House.

Although the 86th-floor observatory was an instant success, the office spaces remained largely vacant, a victim of the Great Depression. "They could only rent out the lower floors initially," Tauranac explains. "Management even left lights on in empty offices to create the illusion of occupancy, but it didn't work. The building was soon nicknamed the 'Empty State Building.'"

While the construction was a triumph of speed and engineering, its commercial success would only come with the post-war economic boom. In the interim, it earned universal acclaim from the architectural world, a clear sign that the Empire State Building was destined to become the singular icon of the New York skyline.