New york empire state building

The iconic Empire State Building!

Here are some interesting facts and information about the Empire State Building:

History

• The Empire State Building was completed in just over a year, from March 1930 to April 1931.
• It was designed by architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates and built by Starrett Brothers & Eken.
• The building was commissioned by John J. Raskob, a DuPont executive, and Pierre S. du Pont, a General Motors executive, who wanted to build a skyscraper that would surpass the height of the Chrysler Building, which was then the tallest building in the world.

Architecture

• The Empire State Building stands at a height of 1,454 feet (443.2 meters) and has 102 floors.
• The building's Art Deco design features a distinctive silhouette, with a series of setbacks and a distinctive mooring mast on the roof.
• The building's exterior is made of limestone, granite, and steel, with a distinctive "ziggurat" shape.

Fun Facts

• The Empire State Building has been featured in over 250 movies and TV shows, including "King Kong," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "Friends."
• The building has 73 elevators, including the world's fastest elevator at the time of its construction, which could travel at a speed of 1,200 feet per minute.
• The building's observation decks, located on the 86th and 102nd floors, attract over 4 million visitors each year.
• The Empire State Building is home to over 500 businesses, including the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York City Department of Education.

Interesting Trivia

• The building's original cost was $24.7 million, which is equivalent to over $400 million in today's dollars.
• The building's iconic mooring mast was originally intended for use by airships, but it was never used for that purpose.
• The building's observation decks were originally intended to be a luxury feature for the building's tenants, but they were opened to the public in 1935 due to popular demand.

Conservation and Sustainability

• The Empire State Building has undergone several major renovations and restorations over the years, including a major energy-efficient retrofit in the 2010s.
• The building is now one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world, with a LEED Gold certification.
• The building's owners, the Empire State Realty Trust, have implemented a number of sustainability initiatives, including a rooftop garden and a program to reduce energy consumption.

Overall, the Empire State Building is an iconic symbol of New York City and American ingenuity, and it continues to be a popular tourist destination and a hub of commercial activity.