Difference between revisions of "Empire State Building" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox Skyscraper
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    {{Infobox Skyscraper
 
 
|building_name= Empire State Building
 
|building_name= Empire State Building
 
|image= [[Image:Manhattan at Dusk by slonecker.jpg|center|200px|Empire State Building]]
 
|image= [[Image:Manhattan at Dusk by slonecker.jpg|center|200px|Empire State Building]]
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|year_end= 1972
 
|year_end= 1972
 
|location= 350 [[Fifth Avenue]]<br/>[[Manhattan|New York]], [[New York]] 10118-0110<br/> [[United States|USA]]<ref>Please note that the entire 10118 series of 9-digit ZIP Codes are assigned to the Empire State Building. Source: USPS.</ref>
 
|location= 350 [[Fifth Avenue]]<br/>[[Manhattan|New York]], [[New York]] 10118-0110<br/> [[United States|USA]]<ref>Please note that the entire 10118 series of 9-digit ZIP Codes are assigned to the Empire State Building. Source: USPS.</ref>
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|roof=1,250 ft (381 m)
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|roof=1,250 ft
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|antenna_spire=1,454 ft (443 m)
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|antenna_spire=1,454 ft
 
|height_stories= 102
 
|height_stories= 102
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|construction_period= [[1929]] – [[1931]] <ref name="Citycyclopedia">'''Kenneth T. Jackson: ''The Encyclopedia of New York City''''': The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 375-376.</ref>
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|construction_period= 1929 – 1931 <ref>Kenneth T. Jackson, ''The Encyclopedia of New York City'' (Yale University Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0300055368). 375-376.</ref>
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|[[complete]]=[[1931-05-01]]
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|[[complete]]=1931-05-01
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|floor_area=2,200,000 sq. ft<br/>200,000 sq. m<br>External: 2 acres<ref name="Citycyclopedia"/>
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|floor_area=2,200,000 sq. ft<br/>200,000 sq. m<br/>External: 2 acres
 
|architect= [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]]
 
|architect= [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]]
 
|contractor= Starrett Brothers and Eken
 
|contractor= Starrett Brothers and Eken
 
|emporis_id= 114095
 
|emporis_id= 114095
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Empire State Building''' is a 102-story [[Art Deco]] [[skyscraper]] in [[New York City]]. Its name is derived from the [[List of U.S. state nicknames|nickname]] for the state of [[New York]]. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the [[World Trade Center]] North Tower in 1972.
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The '''Empire State Building''' is a 102-story [[Art Deco]] [[skyscraper]] in [[New York City]]. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of [[New York]]. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than 40 years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the [[World Trade Center]] North Tower in 1972.  
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The Empire State Building has been named by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] as one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Modern World]]. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]], and confirmed by the [[New York City Board of Estimate]].<ref name="AIA">White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot; AIA Guide to New York City, 4th Edition; New York Chapter, American Institute of Architects; Crown Publishers. 2000. p.226.</ref> With the World Trade Center destroyed in the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], it is currently the tallest building in New York City and the [[50 Tallest buildings in the U.S.|second-tallest]] building in the [[United States]], after the [[Sears Tower]] in [[Chicago]].
 
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==History==
 
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The present site of the Empire State Building was first developed as the John Thomson Farm in the late 18th century. The  block was occupied by the original [[Waldorf-Astoria Hotel|Waldorf Hotel]] in the late 19th century, and was frequented by [[The Four Hundred]], the social elite of New York.
 
  
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The Empire State Building was designed by the architectural firm [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]], which produced the building drawings in just two weeks, possibly using its earlier design for the [[Carew Tower]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]] as a basis. The general contractors were Starrett Brothers and Eken, and the project was financed by [[John J. Raskob]] and [[Pierre S. DuPont]]. The construction company was chaired by [[Alfred E. Smith]], a former [[Governor of New York]].<ref name="Citycyclopedia"/>
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The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Modern World]]. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. After the [[World Trade Center]] was destroyed in the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the Empire State Building became once again the tallest building in New York City and the second-tallest building in the [[United States]], after the [[Sears Tower]] in [[Chicago]].
  
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[[Image:Old timer structural worker.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Worker bolting beams during construction]]
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Despite the appearance of taller buildings throughout the world over the years, the Empire State Building, born in the aftermath of the [[Stock Market Crash]] and the beginning of the [[Great Depression]], has remained an icon of the American spirit and the nation's ingenuity.
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{{toc}}
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Though not as flashy as the nearby [[Chrysler Building]], or as massively striking at the former [[World Trade Center]] Twin Towers, the Empire State Building presents a strong yet eloquent presence over the [[Manhattan]] skyline. Its observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors have beckoned millions of visitors. Completed in just 410 days, the Empire State Building is an enduring symbol of the American will to accomplish great works. 
  
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Excavation of the site began on [[January 22]], [[1930]], and construction on the building itself started on [[March 17]]. The project involved 3400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, along with hundreds of [[Mohawk nation]] iron workers. According to official accounts, five workers died during the construction.<ref>
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==Background==
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[http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/empirefacts.htm about.com] &ndash; Empire State Building Trivia and Cool Facts</ref>
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The present site of the Empire State Building was first developed as the John Thomson Farm in the late eighteenth century. The  block was occupied by the original [[Waldorf-Astoria Hotel|Waldorf Hotel]] in the late-nineteenth century and was frequented by the social elite of [[New York]].
  
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The construction was part of an intense competition in New York for the title of the world's tallest building. Two other projects vying for the title, [[40 Wall Street]] and the [[Chrysler Building]], were still under construction when work began on the Empire State Building. Both would hold the title for less a year, as the Empire State Building had surpassed them upon its completion, just 410 days after construction commenced. The building was officially opened on [[May 1]], [[1931]] in dramatic fashion, when [[United States President]] [[Herbert Hoover]] turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from [[Washington, D.C.]].
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The Empire State Building was designed by the [[architecture|architectural]] firm [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]], which produced the building drawings in just two weeks, possibly using its earlier design for the Carew Tower in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]] as a basis. The general contractors were Starrett Brothers and Eken, and the project was financed by [[John J. Raskob]] and [[Pierre S. DuPont]]. The construction company was chaired by [[Alfred E. Smith]], a former Governor of New York.  
  
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The building's opening coincided with the [[Great Depression]] in the [[United States]], and as a result much of its office space went unrented. In its first year of operation, the observation deck took in over a million dollars, as much as its owners made in rent that year. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building".<ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features/travel/destinations/unitedstates/newyork/newyorkcity/sight_details.html?vid=1083747021107&inline=nyt-classifier] &ndash; NYT Travel: Empire State Building</ref> The building would not become profitable until 1950.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/ pbs.org] &ndash; [[New York: A Documentary Film]]</ref>
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==Construction==
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[[Image:Old timer structural worker.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Worker bolting beams during construction.]]
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Excavation of the site began on January 22, 1930, and construction on the building itself started on March 17. The project involved 3400 workers, mostly immigrants from [[Europe]], along with hundreds of [[Mohawk|Mohawk Nation]] iron workers. According to official accounts, five workers died during the construction. <ref>Jennifer Rosenberg,
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[https://www.thoughtco.com/empire-state-building-trivia-1779280 All About the Empire State Building]. ''Thought.co''. Retrieved September 11, 2017.</ref>
  
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The building's distinctive [[art deco]] [[spire]] was originally designed to be a mooring mast and depot for [[Dirigible]]s. The 102nd floor was originally the landing platform for the Dirigible Gang Plank. One elevator, which travels between the 86th and 102nd floors was supposed to transport passengers after they checked-in at the observation deck on the 86th floor.<ref name="Citycyclopedia"/> However, the idea proved to be impractical and dangerous after a few attempts with [[airship]]s, due to the powerful updrafts caused by the size of the building itself. The T-shaped mooring devices remain in place, and a large broadcasting antenna was added to the top of the spire in 1952.
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The construction was part of an intense competition in [[New York]] for the title of the world's tallest building. Two other projects vying for the title, [[40 Wall Street]] and the [[Chrysler Building]], were still under construction when work began on the Empire State Building. Both would hold the title for less than a year, as the Empire State Building had surpassed them upon its completion, just 410 days after construction commenced. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931 in dramatic fashion, when [[United States]] President [[Herbert Hoover]] turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from [[Washington, D.C.]].
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[[Image:Looking Up at Empire State Building.JPG|thumb|250px|A series of setbacks causes the building to taper off with height.]]
  
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At 9:49 a.m. on Saturday [[July 28]], [[1945]], a [[B-25 Mitchell]] [[bomber]] flying in a thick fog accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the [[National Catholic Welfare Council]] were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed in the incident.<ref>[http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/News/News8-0112.html tms.org]</ref> Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]] for the longest survived elevator fall recorded.<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=53746 guinnessworldrecords.com]</ref> Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday.  
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The Empire State Building rises to 1,250 feet at the one-hundred-and-second floor, and its full structural height (including broadcast antenna) reaches 1,453 feet and eight and nine-sixteenth inches. The building is typically described as being 102 stories tall, although it has only 85 stories of commercial and office space (2,158,000 square feet), with an observation deck on the 86th floor. The remaining 16 stories represent the spire, which supports the broadcast antenna on top. The Empire State Building is the first building to have more than 100 floors. The building weighs approximately 330,000 metric tons. It has 6,500 windows, 73 [[elevator]]s, 1,860 steps to the top floor, and a total floor area of 2,200,000 square feet.
  
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The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for a record 41 years, and stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for 23 years. It was surpassed by the North Tower of the [[World Trade Center]] in 1972, and the [[Sears Tower]] shortly afterwards. With the destruction the World Trade Center in the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in [[New York City]], and the [[50 Tallest buildings in the U.S.|second-tallest building]] in the United States.
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{{readout||left|250px|The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for over 40 years}}
  
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Over the years, more than thirty people have committed suicide from atop the building.<ref name="suicide1">[http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/26/features/empside.php iht.com]</ref> The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump over a three-week span.<ref name="suicide2">Compass American Guides: Manhattan, 4th Edition.  Reavill, Gil and Zimmerman, Jean P. 160.</ref> In 1979, [[Elvita Adams]] jumped from the 86th floor, only to be blown back onto the 85th floor and left with only a broken hip.<ref name="suicide3">[http://www.hytti.uku.fi/~vaisala/DOC/ShadesOfBronze.htm hytti.uku.fi]</ref> The building was also the site of suicides in 2004 and 2006.<ref name="suicide4">[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/387808p-329080c.html nydailynews.com]</ref>
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The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for a record 41 years and stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for 23 years.
  
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==Features==
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==Design features==
 
[[Image:Empire State Lobby.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Entrance lobby]]
 
[[Image:Empire State Lobby.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Entrance lobby]]
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The Empire State Building rises to 1,250 [[Foot (unit of length)|feet]] ([[1 E2 m|381&nbsp;m]]) at the 102nd floor, and its full structural height (including broadcast antenna) reaches 1,453 feet and 8 9/16th inches ([[1 E2 m|443&nbsp;m]]).  The building is typically described as being 102 stories tall, although it has only 85 stories of commercial and office space (2,158,000 square feet), with an observation deck on the 86th floor. The remaining 16 stories represent the spire, which supports the broadcast antenna on top. The Empire State Building is the first building to have more than 100 floors. The building weighs approximately 330,000 [[Tonne|metric tonnes]].  It has 6,500 windows, 73 [[elevator]]s and 1,860 steps to the top floor. It has a total floor area of 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 square metres).
 
  
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[[Image:Looking Up at Empire State Building.JPG|thumb|200px|left|A series of setbacks causes the building to taper off with height.]]
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Unlike most of today's high-rise buildings, the Empire State Building features a classic facade. The modernistic, stainless-steel canopies of the entrances on Thirty-third and Thirty-forth Streets lead to two-story-high corridors around the elevator core, crossed by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges at the second floor level. The elevator core contains 67 elevators.
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Unlike most of today's high-rise buildings, the Empire State Building features a classic façade. The modernistic stainless steel canopies of the entrances on 33rd and 34th Streets lead to two-story-high corridors around the elevator core, crossed by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges at the second floor level. The elevator core contains 67 elevators.<ref name="AIA"/>
 
  
 
There are various setbacks in the building's design, as required by New York City's Zoning Resolution of 1916. The main purpose for the law was to reduce shadows cast by tall buildings. These setbacks give the building its unique tapered silhouette.
 
There are various setbacks in the building's design, as required by New York City's Zoning Resolution of 1916. The main purpose for the law was to reduce shadows cast by tall buildings. These setbacks give the building its unique tapered silhouette.
  
 
The lobby is three stories high and features an aluminum relief of the skyscraper without the antenna, which was not added to the spire until 1952. The north corridor contains eight illuminated panels, created by Roy Sparkia and Renée Nemorov in 1963, depicting the building as the [[Eighth Wonder of the World]] alongside the traditional seven.  
 
The lobby is three stories high and features an aluminum relief of the skyscraper without the antenna, which was not added to the spire until 1952. The north corridor contains eight illuminated panels, created by Roy Sparkia and Renée Nemorov in 1963, depicting the building as the [[Eighth Wonder of the World]] alongside the traditional seven.  
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[[Image:Redandgreenfloodlights.JPG|thumb|right|200px|left|Red and green floodlights during [[Christmas]] ]]
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Long-term forecasting of the life cycle of the structure was implemented at the design phase to ensure that the building's future intended uses were not restricted by the requirements of future generations.
  
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Long-term forecasting of the life cycle of the structure was implemented at the design phase to ensure that the building's future intended uses were not restricted by the requirements of future generations. This is particularly evident in the over-design of the building's electrical system.
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Floodlights illuminate the top of the building at night, in colors chosen to match seasonal and other events, such as [[Christmas]] and [[Independence Day]]. After the eightieth birthday and subsequent death of [[Frank Sinatra]], for example, the building was bathed in blue light to represent the singer's nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes."
  
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==Floodlights==
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The floodlights bathed the building in red, white, and blue for several months after the destruction of the [[World Trade Center]], then reverted to the standard schedule. In June 2002, during the [[Golden Jubilee]] of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] of the [[United Kingdom]], New York City illuminated the Empire State Building in purple and gold (the monarchical colors of the Royal House of Windsor). After the death of actress [[Fay Wray]] in late 2004, the building stood in complete darkness for 15 minutes in commemoration of her famous role in the movie [[King Kong]], in which the building was prominently featured.
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[[Image:Redandgreenfloodlights.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Red and green floodlights during [[Christmas]] ]]
 
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Floodlights illuminate the top of the building at night, in colors chosen to match seasonal and other events, such as [[Christmas]]. After the eightieth birthday and subsequent death of [[Frank Sinatra]], for example, the building was bathed in blue light to represent the singer's nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes." After the death of actress [[Fay Wray]] in late 2004, the building stood in complete darkness for 15 minutes.
 
  
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The floodlights bathed the building in red, white, and blue for several months after the destruction of the [[World Trade Center]], then reverted to the standard schedule.<ref>[http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_lightingschedule.cfm?CFID=15475194&CFTOKEN=55096369 esbnyc.com]</ref> Traditionally, in addition to the standard schedule the building will be lit in the colors of New York's sports teams on the nights they have home games (orange, blue and white for the [[New York Knicks]], red, white and blue for the [[New York Rangers]], and so on).  The building is illuminated in tennis ball yellow during the [[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]] tennis tournament in late August and early September. It was once even lit [[scarlet]] red for a Rutgers University football game on November 9th, 2006, when they played the [[University of Louisville]] in what would result in the biggest win in school history.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2656070 espn.com]</ref>
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The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people. The 86th floor observation deck offers impressive 360-degree views of the city. There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. It was closed in 1999, but reopened in November 2005. Completely enclosed and much smaller, it may be closed on high-traffic days.
  
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In June 2002, during the [[Golden Jubilee]] of Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] of the [[United Kingdom]], New York City illuminated the Empire State Building in purple and gold (the monarchical colors of the Royal House of Windsor). [[Mayor of New York City|New York City Mayor]] [[Michael Bloomberg]] said that it was a sign of saying thank you to HM The Queen for having the National Anthem of the United States played at [[Buckingham Palace]] after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], as well as the support [[Great Britain]] provided afterwards.
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==History==
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The building's opening coincided with the [[Great Depression]] in the [[United States]], and as a result much of its office space went unrented in the beginning. In its first year of operation, the observation deck took in over a million dollars, as much as its owners earned in rent that year. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building."
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==Observation decks==
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[[Image:Empire State Building Dec.2005.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Empire State Building with downtown New York City in the background.]]
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The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people.  The 86th floor observation deck offers impressive 360-degree views of the city. There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. It was closed in 1999, but reopened in November 2005. Completely enclosed and much smaller, it may be closed on high-traffic days.
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The building's distinctive [[art deco]] spire was originally designed to be a mooring mast and depot for [[dirigible]]s. The 102nd floor was originally the landing platform for the Dirigible Gang Plank. One elevator, which travels between the 86th and 102nd floors was supposed to transport passengers after they checked in at the observation deck on the 86th floor. However, the idea proved to be impractical and dangerous after a few attempts with [[airship]]s, due to the powerful updrafts caused by the size of the building itself. The T-shaped mooring devices remain in place, and a large broadcasting antenna was added to the top of the spire in 1952.
  
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On [[April 27]], [[2006]], daredevil [[Jeb Corliss]], who was one of the [[stunt performer|stuntmen]] on the [[Discovery Channel]] series ''[[Stunt Junkies]]'', was arrested after attempting to parachute off of the 86th floor observation balcony. He had passed internal security disguising as an old person with a fat suit, and was getting ready to make his jump wearing a parachute and video equipment when building security and the [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] intercepted him trying to scale up the iron suicide fence and arrested him.  He faces several felony charges, including endangerment of his own life and others around. Subsequently [[Discovery Networks]] denied it had given Corliss any permission to attempt the stunt, noting they require their production companies to obtain permits and permissions from local authorities before any filming. The network then fired him from ''Stunt Junkies'' and gave him a lifetime ban from appearing on any other Discovery Networks project.<ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6329593.html?title=Article&spacedesc=news broadcastingcable.com]</ref> <ref>[http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/stuntjunkies/stuntjunkies.html dsc.discovery.com]</ref>
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At 9:49 a.m. on Saturday July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell [[bomber]] flying in a thick fog accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the [[National Catholic Welfare Council]] were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed in the incident. Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]] for the longest, survived, elevator fall recorded. Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday.  
  
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'''Panoramic view of New York City from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, spring 2005''':
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Over the years, more than 30 people have committed [[suicide]] from atop the building. The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump over a three-week span. In 1979, [[Elvita Adams]] jumped from the 86th floor, only to be blown back onto the 85th floor and left with only a broken hip. Despite security measures, the building was also the site of suicides as recently as 2004 and 2006.
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<div style="height: 297px; width: 95%; overflow: auto; padding: 3px;text-align: left; border:solid 1px;" title="braglist - zum scrollen"; >
 
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<center>
 
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[[Image:Skyline-New-York-City.jpg|3000px|360° panorama of New York City from Empire State Building in spring 2005.]] </div> <br style="clear:both;"/>
 
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</center>
 
  
 
==Broadcast stations==
 
==Broadcast stations==
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[[Image:Empirestatebuilding29122005.JPG|thumb|225px|right|Communications devices of all sorts adorn the very top of the building.]]
 
New York City is the largest media market in the United States. Since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], nearly all of the city's commercial broadcast stations (both television and radio) have transmitted from the top of the Empire State Building, although a few stations are located at the nearby [[Condé Nast Building]].
 
New York City is the largest media market in the United States. Since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], nearly all of the city's commercial broadcast stations (both television and radio) have transmitted from the top of the Empire State Building, although a few stations are located at the nearby [[Condé Nast Building]].
  
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[[Image:Empirestatebuilding29122005.JPG|thumb|200px|left|Communications devices of all sorts adorn the very top of the building.]]
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Broadcasting began at Empire in the late 1930s, when [[RCA]] leased the 85th floor and built a laboratory there for [[Edwin Howard Armstrong]]. When Armstrong and RCA terminated their relationship, the 85th floor became the home of RCA's New York television operations, first as an experimental station and eventually as a commercial station WNBT, channel 4 (now WNBC-TV). Other television broadcasters would join RCA at Empire, on the 83rd, 82nd, and 81st floors, frequently bringing sister FM stations with them.
  
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Broadcasting began at Empire in the late 1930s, when [[RCA]] leased the 85th floor and built a laboratory there for [[Edwin Howard Armstrong]].  When Armstrong and RCA fell out, the 85th floor became the home of RCA's New York television operations, first as an experimental station and eventually as a commercial station WNBT, channel 4 (now [[WNBC-TV]]).  Other television broadcasters would join RCA at Empire, on the 83rd, 82nd, and 81st floors, frequently bringing sister FM stations along for the ride.  When the [[World Trade Center]] was being constructed, it caused serious problems for the television stations, most of which moved to the World Trade Center as soon as it was completed. This made it possible to renovate the antenna structure and the transmitter facilities for the benefit of the FM stations remaining there, which were soon joined by other FMs and UHF TVs moving in from elsewhere in the metropolitan area. The destruction of the World Trade Center necessitated a great deal of shuffling of antennas and transmitter rooms in order to accommodate the stations moving back uptown.
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When the [[World Trade Center]] was being constructed, it interfered with broadcast signals and caused serious problems for the television stations, most of which moved to the WTC as soon as it was completed. This made it possible to renovate the antenna structure and the transmitter facilities for the benefit of the FM stations remaining there, which were soon joined by other FMs and UHF TVs moving in from elsewhere in the metropolitan area. The destruction of the World Trade Center necessitated a great deal of shuffling of antennas and transmitter rooms in order to accommodate the stations moving back into the ESB.
  
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[[As of 2005]], the Empire State Building is home to the following stations:
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==Similar skyscrapers==
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* TV: [[WCBS-TV]] 2, [[WNBC-TV]] 4, [[WNYW]] 5, [[WABC-TV]] 7, [[WWOR-TV]] 9 [[Secaucus, New Jersey|Secaucus]], [[WPIX-TV]] 11, [[WNET]] 13 [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[WNYE-TV]] 25, [[WXTV]] 41 [[Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson]], [[WNJU]] 47 [[Linden, New Jersey|Linden]], and [[WFUT-TV]] 68 Newark
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[[File:Skyscrapercompare.png|thumb|225px|Height comparison with the [[Burj Khalifa]], [[Willis Tower]], [[Taipei 101]], and the [[Petronas Twin Towers]] ]]
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* FM: [[WFNY-FM]] 92.3, [[WPAT-FM]] 93.1 Paterson, [[WNYC]]-FM 93.9, [[WPLJ]] 95.5, [[WQXR-FM]] 96.3, [[WQHT-FM]] 97.1, [[WSKQ-FM]] 97.9, [[WRKS-FM]] 98.7, [[WBAI]] 99.5, [[WHTZ]] 100.3 Newark, [[WCBS-FM]] 101.1, [[WQCD]] 101.9, [[WNEW-FM]] 102.7, [[WKTU]] 103.5 [[Lake Success, New York|Lake Success]], [[WAXQ]] 104.3, [[WWPR-FM]] 105.1, [[WCAA]] 105.9 Newark, [[WLTW]] 106.7, and [[WBLS]] 107.5.
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The ''Torre Latinoamericana'' in [[Mexico City]] very much resembles the Empire State Building, including setbacks and antenna. The main differences are the size and outer paneling—the Torre Latinoamericana is glass-paneled on the outside. Also of similar design are the [[Seven Sisters (Moscow)|Seven Sisters]] in Moscow (such as the main building of [[Moscow State University]]) and the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland. The Williams Tower in Houston is a glass-architecture version of the design, and the entrance on the ground floor is very similar.
  
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==In pop culture==
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The Reynolds Building, headquarters for the [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] in Winston-Salem, [[North Carolina]] is said to be the prototype for the Empire State Building.  The Carew Tower in [[Cincinnati]], is also thought to be the basis of the tower, due to the similar design by the same architectural firm, [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]] Associates. Another tower thought to be an inspiration for the Empire State Building is the [[Penobscot Building]] in [[Detroit, Michigan]], completed in 1928.
  
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*Perhaps the most famous popular culture representation of the building is in the [[1933 in film|1933 film]] ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'', in which the title character, a giant ape, climbs to the top to escape his captors. In 1983, for the 50th anniversary of the film, an inflatable King Kong was placed on the real Empire State Building. However, a mouse chewed through it one day, partially deflating the ape. It also needed a constant supply of air, and was never fully inflated.  
+
==In popular culture==
 +
*Perhaps the most famous popular culture representation of the building is in the 1933 film [[King Kong]], in which the title character, a giant ape, climbs to the top of the Empire State Building to escape his captors. In 2005, a new version of ''King Kong'' was released, set in a re-creation of 1930s New York City. Like its predecessor, it included a final showdown between Kong and the bi-planes atop a greatly detailed Empire State Building.
  
−
*In ''[[James and the Giant Peach]]'', Roald Dahl's much-loved children's story, orphan James Henry Trotter's flying peach finally docks in New York by setting down on the Empire State Building's spire. Published in 1961, the story was made into an Oscar-nominated [[Tim Burton]]-produced film, [[James and the Giant Peach (film)|''James and the Giant Peach'']], in 1996.
+
*The observation deck of the Empire State Building was the site of a romantic rendezvous in the films ''Love Affair'', ''An Affair to Remember'', and ''Sleepless In Seattle''. It was also the location of a phony Martian invasion in an episode of ''[[I Love Lucy]]''.
  
−
*In the video game [[Super Monkey Ball 2]], the ESB can be seen in the background of World 4 (Inside The Whale).
+
*In the movie ''Independence Day'', the building is [[ground zero]] when an alien spaceship destroys New York City.  
  
−
*In the video game [[Twisted Metal|Twisted Metal 2]], the Empire State Building along with the Chrysler Building can be seen in the background of the New York City level.
+
*[[Andy Warhol]]'s 1964 silent film ''Empire'' is one continuous, eight-hour shot of the Empire State Building at night, shot in [[black-and-white]]. In 2004, the [[National Film Registry]] deemed its cultural significance worthy of preservation in the [[Library of Congress]].
  
−
* In the season 2 (1988) episode ''[[The Incredible Shrinking Turtles (TMNT 1987 episode)|The Incredible Shrinking Turtles]]'' of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)|1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon]], [[Shredder (TMNT)|Shredder]] uses an alien crystal, which fell down as an alien spaceship crashed on the [[Earth]], to shrink down the Empire State Building into the size of a [[dollhouse]]. The people inside it are not affected by the shrinking, and have to escape to avoid being crushed as the building shrinks down.
+
[[Image:Skyline-New-York-City.jpg|thumb|center|900px|Panoramic view of New York City from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, spring 2005]]
  
−
* In 2005, a new version of ''[[King Kong (2005 film)|King Kong]]'' was released, set in a re-creation of 1930's New York City, including a final showdown between Kong and the bi-planes atop a greatly detailed Empire State Building.  (The retro-dating of this remake stands in contrast to the 1976 remake of ''[[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]]'', which was set in then-modern times and held its climactic scene on both towers of the (now-destroyed) World Trade Center instead of the Empire State Building.)
+
==Notes==
−
[[Image:KkdvdESB.JPG|right|thumb|250px|A 100% [[Computer-generated imagery|Computer-Generated]] Empire State Building, as depicted in [[Peter Jackson|Peter Jackson's]] [[King Kong]] [[remake]].]]
+
<references />
−
*The observation deck was the designated site for romantic rendezvous in the films ''[[Love Affair]]'', ''[[An Affair to Remember]]'', and ''[[Sleepless In Seattle]]''. It was also the location of a phony [[Martian]] invasion in an episode of ''[[I Love Lucy]]''.
 
−
*The film ''[[Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow]]'' opens with a zeppelin docking at the building's mooring mast. Additionally, the building can be seen with King Kong scaling it in the background of one of the shots.
 
−
*"Terror in New York City", an episode of the [[Supermarionation]] series ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'' involves an attempt in 2026 to move the Empire State Building to a new location on tracks to allow for the redevelopment of midtown Manhattan. Ground subsidence beneath the tracks results in the building's collapse.
 
−
 
 
−
*In the 300th issue of ''Superman'' magazine, the Empire State building is refurbished during the early 1980s to reclaim the title of world's tallest building; rising 1000 stories.
 
−
*In the movie ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', the building is [[ground zero]] when an alien spaceship destroys New York City.  This depiction was a homage to a similar SF invasion movie scene described in the [[science fiction]] short story ''"Publicity Campaign"'' by [[Arthur C. Clarke]].
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Andy Warhol]]'s 1964 [[Silent film|silent]] film ''[[Empire (1964 film)|Empire]]'' is one continuous, eight-hour shot of the Empire State Building at night, shot in [[black-and-white]]. In 2004, the [[National Film Registry]] deemed its cultural significance worthy of preservation in the [[Library of Congress]].
 
−
 
 
−
[[Image: Empire_still.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A still from Andy Warhol's ''Empire''.]]
 
−
 
 
−
*In ''[[The Chase (Doctor Who)|The Chase]]'', a 1965 serial from the [[William Hartnell]]-era of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctor]], [[Barbara Wright (Doctor Who)|Barbara Wright]], [[Ian Chesterton]] and [[Vicki]], fleeing through time and space with a group of [[Dalek]]s in hot pursuit, arrive in their [[TARDIS]] time machine on the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building (thus avoiding the long lines). They leave shortly after arriving and shortly before the pursuing Daleks' time machine materializes. The Daleks, ignoring the view, also leave almost immediately.
 
−
 
 
−
*The building has a cameo role in the 1946 [[cartoon]] ''Baseball Bugs''. Fitting the cartoon's theme, the skyscraper is labeled the "[[Umpire]] State Building".
 
−
 
 
−
*In ''[[Godzilla: Final Wars]]''. the [[pterosaur]] [[Rodan]] flies over the Empire State Building then perches atop a nearby skyscraper with The Empire State Building in the background, then and howls at the moon before continuing his rampage on New York City eventually destroying the [[Statue of Liberty]].
 
−
 
 
−
* In ''[[Unbuilding]]'', by [[David Macaulay]], the building is bought and disassembled, to be reassembled halfway across the world as a corporate headquarters.
 
−
 
 
−
* In the [[2003 in film|2003]] Christmas-themed film ''[[Elf (film)|Elf]]'', [[Will Ferrell]]'s father, Walter Hobbs, played by [[James Caan]], works in a publishing company in the building called Greenway Press.
 
−
 
 
−
* In ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', "[[Storm Front (Enterprise episode)|Storm Front]]", a two-part season 4 episode, had an alternate timeline in which the eastern side of the United States is being conquered by the Germans, with the aid of aliens.  The opening teaser of part 2 shows a propaganda news reel with footage of [[Adolf Hitler]] visiting [[New York]] and the Empire State Building.  The ESB is seen again in a CGI sequence near the end of the episode.
 
−
 
 
−
* In ''[[Futurama]]'' the setting takes place in the year 3000 in New New York City. Old New York is now underground and in ruins. The Empire State Building is never seen in the underground ruins, but it is seen on the Surface land of New New York. This implies that either the building was rebuilt or was simply taken from the ruins and was restored. The longest time the building was shown was in the episode "[[Anthology of Interest I]]", huge [[Bender Bending Rodríguez|Bender]] falls on the Empire State Building which pierces through the robot while his two arms destroy two fantasy neighboring buildings, the Empire State Building comes out undamaged. He says before dying: "Oooh... who put this in here?"
 
−
 
 
−
* In the video games ''[[Spider-Man 2 (video game)|Spider-Man 2]]'' and ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (video game)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', players can explore, swing from and climb Manhattan skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building in Spider-Man 2 is the tallest structure you can find.
 
−
 
 
−
* The pulp hero [[Doc Savage]] had his headquarters on the 86th floor of a 'New York City skyscraper.'  It was repeatedly implied that this was the Empire State Building, though in real life, the 86th floor is the observation deck.
 
−
 
 
−
* In the animated series ''[[The Transformers (TV series)|Transformers]]'', the Empire State Building is stolen by the Decepticons and modified to resemble a building similar on the Transformers homeworld as part of Megatron's plan in ''City of Steel''. It is eventually restored back to its former self at the end of the episode.
 
−
 
 
−
* In the 2002 movie ''[[The Time Machine (2002 film)|The Time Machine]]'' Alexander Hartdegen, a scientist and time traveler, uses his time machine and travels to the year 2030. Upon his arrival at the futuristic ''[[New York]],'' you can see many noticeable structures, such as the New York Public Library and the ''Empire State Building''.
 
−
 
 
−
* In the 2004 movie "[[The Day After Tomorrow]]" New York was going through a series of devastating storms, including heavy rain, snow storms, and a [[storm surge]]. When the city encountered a deep freeze, many buildings including the ''Empire State Building'' were turning pale white as the cold settled to the ground, shattering windows as it descended.
 
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−
* The building can be built as a landmark in both ''[[Sim City 4]]'' and ''[[Sim City 3000]]''.
 
−
 
 
−
* In rapper [[Lloyd Banks|Lloyd Banks']] first video "On Fire", the party shown is in the Empire State Building.
 
−
 
 
−
* The building is featured on the cover of British band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis's]] fourth studio album [[Standing on the Shoulder of Giants]].
 
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−
* There was a scene there in the 1986 film [[Yogi's Great Escape]].
 
−
 
 
−
==Similar skyscrapers==
 
−
[[Image:Skyscrapercompare.svg|thumb|200px|Height comparison with the [[Sears Tower]], [[Taipei 101]] and the [[Petronas Twin Towers]] ]]
 
−
The [[Torre Latinoamericana]] in Mexico City looks very similar to the Empire State Building, including setbacks and antenna. The main differences are the size and outer paneling—the Torre Latinoamericana is glass-paneled on the outside. Also of similar design are the [[Seven Sisters (Moscow)|Seven Sisters]] in Moscow (such as the main building of [[Moscow State University]]) and the [[Palace of Culture and Science]] in Warsaw, Poland. The [[Williams Tower]] in Houston is a glass-architecture version of the design, and the entrance on the ground floor is very similar.
 
−
 
 
−
The Reynolds Building, headquarters for the [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] in [[Winston-Salem]], [[North Carolina]] is said to be the prototype for the Empire State Building.  The [[Carew Tower]] in [[Cincinnati]], is also thought to be the basis of the tower, due to the similar design by the same architectural firm, [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]] Associates. Another tower thought to be an inspiration for the Empire State Building is the [[Penobscot Building]] in [[Detroit, Michigan]], completed in 1928.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
<references />
+
*Jackson, Kenneth T. ''The Encyclopedia of New York City''. Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0300055368
−
 
+
*Kingwell, Mark. ''Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building and American Dreams''. Yale University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0300106220
−
==Further reading==
+
*Mann, Elizabeth. ''Empire State Building: When New York Reached for the Skies''. Mikaya Press, 2006. ISBN 978=1931414081
−
*''The Empire State Building Book'', by Jonathan Goldman, St. Martin's Press, 1980.
+
*Tauranac, John. ''Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark''. St. Martin's Griffin, 1997. ISBN 978-0312148249
−
*''Unbuilding'', by David Macaulay, Houghton Mifflin, 1986.
+
*Willis, Carol. ''Building the Empire State''. W.W. Norton, 2007. ISBN 978-0393732313
−
*''The Empire State Building - The making of a landmark'', by John Tauranac, Scribner, 1995.
 
−
*''Construction: Building the Impossible'', by Nathan Aaseng, The Oliver Press, Inc., 2000.
 
−
*'' Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal, and the Battle for an American Icon'', by Mitchell Pacelle, Wiley, 2002
 
−
 
 
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==See also==
 
−
*[[World's tallest free standing structure on land]]
 
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*[[skyscrapers#History of tallest skyscrapers|History of tallest skyscrapers]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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{{Commonscat|Empire State Building}}
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All links retrieved February 13, 2024.
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*[http://www.esbnyc.com/ Empire State Building], official Web site
 
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*[http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_lightingschedule.cfm Lighting Schedule]
 
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*[http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=131032 The Construction of the Empire State Building, 1930-1931], [[New York Public Library]]
 
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*[http://www.whereskong.com Live Webcam]
 
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*[http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfile21019/empire-state-building-3D.htm 3D model of the building for use in Google Earth]
 
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*[http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=131032 The Construction of the Empire State Building, 1930-1931] – New York Public Library. ''digitalgallery.nypl.org.
  
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[[Category:Geography]]

Latest revision as of 18:29, 13 February 2024


Empire State Building
Empire State Building
Empire State Building was the world's tallest building from 1931 to 1972.*
Preceded by Chrysler Building
Surpassed by World Trade Center (1972-2001)
Sears Tower (1973)
Information
Location 350 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10118-0110
USA[1]
Status Complete
Constructed 1929 – 1931 [2]
Height
Antenna/Spire 1,454 ft
Roof 1,250 ft
Technical details
Floor count 102
Floor area 2,200,000 sq. ft
200,000 sq. m
External: 2 acres
Companies
Architect Shreve, Lamb and Harmon
Contractor Starrett Brothers and Eken
*Fully habitable, self-supported, from main entrance to highest structural or architectural top.

The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than 40 years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the World Trade Center North Tower in 1972.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. After the World Trade Center was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Empire State Building became once again the tallest building in New York City and the second-tallest building in the United States, after the Sears Tower in Chicago.

Despite the appearance of taller buildings throughout the world over the years, the Empire State Building, born in the aftermath of the Stock Market Crash and the beginning of the Great Depression, has remained an icon of the American spirit and the nation's ingenuity.

Though not as flashy as the nearby Chrysler Building, or as massively striking at the former World Trade Center Twin Towers, the Empire State Building presents a strong yet eloquent presence over the Manhattan skyline. Its observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors have beckoned millions of visitors. Completed in just 410 days, the Empire State Building is an enduring symbol of the American will to accomplish great works.

Background

The present site of the Empire State Building was first developed as the John Thomson Farm in the late eighteenth century. The block was occupied by the original Waldorf Hotel in the late-nineteenth century and was frequented by the social elite of New York.

The Empire State Building was designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, which produced the building drawings in just two weeks, possibly using its earlier design for the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio as a basis. The general contractors were Starrett Brothers and Eken, and the project was financed by John J. Raskob and Pierre S. DuPont. The construction company was chaired by Alfred E. Smith, a former Governor of New York.

Construction

Worker bolting beams during construction.

Excavation of the site began on January 22, 1930, and construction on the building itself started on March 17. The project involved 3400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, along with hundreds of Mohawk Nation iron workers. According to official accounts, five workers died during the construction. [3]

The construction was part of an intense competition in New York for the title of the world's tallest building. Two other projects vying for the title, 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building, were still under construction when work began on the Empire State Building. Both would hold the title for less than a year, as the Empire State Building had surpassed them upon its completion, just 410 days after construction commenced. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931 in dramatic fashion, when United States President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from Washington, D.C..

A series of setbacks causes the building to taper off with height.

The Empire State Building rises to 1,250 feet at the one-hundred-and-second floor, and its full structural height (including broadcast antenna) reaches 1,453 feet and eight and nine-sixteenth inches. The building is typically described as being 102 stories tall, although it has only 85 stories of commercial and office space (2,158,000 square feet), with an observation deck on the 86th floor. The remaining 16 stories represent the spire, which supports the broadcast antenna on top. The Empire State Building is the first building to have more than 100 floors. The building weighs approximately 330,000 metric tons. It has 6,500 windows, 73 elevators, 1,860 steps to the top floor, and a total floor area of 2,200,000 square feet.

Did you know?
The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for over 40 years

The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for a record 41 years and stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for 23 years.

Design features

Entrance lobby

Unlike most of today's high-rise buildings, the Empire State Building features a classic facade. The modernistic, stainless-steel canopies of the entrances on Thirty-third and Thirty-forth Streets lead to two-story-high corridors around the elevator core, crossed by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges at the second floor level. The elevator core contains 67 elevators.

There are various setbacks in the building's design, as required by New York City's Zoning Resolution of 1916. The main purpose for the law was to reduce shadows cast by tall buildings. These setbacks give the building its unique tapered silhouette.

The lobby is three stories high and features an aluminum relief of the skyscraper without the antenna, which was not added to the spire until 1952. The north corridor contains eight illuminated panels, created by Roy Sparkia and Renée Nemorov in 1963, depicting the building as the Eighth Wonder of the World alongside the traditional seven.

Red and green floodlights during Christmas

Long-term forecasting of the life cycle of the structure was implemented at the design phase to ensure that the building's future intended uses were not restricted by the requirements of future generations.

Floodlights illuminate the top of the building at night, in colors chosen to match seasonal and other events, such as Christmas and Independence Day. After the eightieth birthday and subsequent death of Frank Sinatra, for example, the building was bathed in blue light to represent the singer's nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes."

The floodlights bathed the building in red, white, and blue for several months after the destruction of the World Trade Center, then reverted to the standard schedule. In June 2002, during the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, New York City illuminated the Empire State Building in purple and gold (the monarchical colors of the Royal House of Windsor). After the death of actress Fay Wray in late 2004, the building stood in complete darkness for 15 minutes in commemoration of her famous role in the movie King Kong, in which the building was prominently featured.

The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people. The 86th floor observation deck offers impressive 360-degree views of the city. There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. It was closed in 1999, but reopened in November 2005. Completely enclosed and much smaller, it may be closed on high-traffic days.

History

The building's opening coincided with the Great Depression in the United States, and as a result much of its office space went unrented in the beginning. In its first year of operation, the observation deck took in over a million dollars, as much as its owners earned in rent that year. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building."

Empire State Building with downtown New York City in the background.

The building's distinctive art deco spire was originally designed to be a mooring mast and depot for dirigibles. The 102nd floor was originally the landing platform for the Dirigible Gang Plank. One elevator, which travels between the 86th and 102nd floors was supposed to transport passengers after they checked in at the observation deck on the 86th floor. However, the idea proved to be impractical and dangerous after a few attempts with airships, due to the powerful updrafts caused by the size of the building itself. The T-shaped mooring devices remain in place, and a large broadcasting antenna was added to the top of the spire in 1952.

At 9:49 a.m. on Saturday July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber flying in a thick fog accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed in the incident. Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest, survived, elevator fall recorded. Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday.

Over the years, more than 30 people have committed suicide from atop the building. The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump over a three-week span. In 1979, Elvita Adams jumped from the 86th floor, only to be blown back onto the 85th floor and left with only a broken hip. Despite security measures, the building was also the site of suicides as recently as 2004 and 2006.

Broadcast stations

Communications devices of all sorts adorn the very top of the building.

New York City is the largest media market in the United States. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, nearly all of the city's commercial broadcast stations (both television and radio) have transmitted from the top of the Empire State Building, although a few stations are located at the nearby Condé Nast Building.

Broadcasting began at Empire in the late 1930s, when RCA leased the 85th floor and built a laboratory there for Edwin Howard Armstrong. When Armstrong and RCA terminated their relationship, the 85th floor became the home of RCA's New York television operations, first as an experimental station and eventually as a commercial station WNBT, channel 4 (now WNBC-TV). Other television broadcasters would join RCA at Empire, on the 83rd, 82nd, and 81st floors, frequently bringing sister FM stations with them.

When the World Trade Center was being constructed, it interfered with broadcast signals and caused serious problems for the television stations, most of which moved to the WTC as soon as it was completed. This made it possible to renovate the antenna structure and the transmitter facilities for the benefit of the FM stations remaining there, which were soon joined by other FMs and UHF TVs moving in from elsewhere in the metropolitan area. The destruction of the World Trade Center necessitated a great deal of shuffling of antennas and transmitter rooms in order to accommodate the stations moving back into the ESB.

Similar skyscrapers

Height comparison with the Burj Khalifa, Willis Tower, Taipei 101, and the Petronas Twin Towers

The Torre Latinoamericana in Mexico City very much resembles the Empire State Building, including setbacks and antenna. The main differences are the size and outer paneling—the Torre Latinoamericana is glass-paneled on the outside. Also of similar design are the Seven Sisters in Moscow (such as the main building of Moscow State University) and the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland. The Williams Tower in Houston is a glass-architecture version of the design, and the entrance on the ground floor is very similar.

The Reynolds Building, headquarters for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is said to be the prototype for the Empire State Building. The Carew Tower in Cincinnati, is also thought to be the basis of the tower, due to the similar design by the same architectural firm, Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates. Another tower thought to be an inspiration for the Empire State Building is the Penobscot Building in Detroit, Michigan, completed in 1928.

In popular culture

  • Perhaps the most famous popular culture representation of the building is in the 1933 film King Kong, in which the title character, a giant ape, climbs to the top of the Empire State Building to escape his captors. In 2005, a new version of King Kong was released, set in a re-creation of 1930s New York City. Like its predecessor, it included a final showdown between Kong and the bi-planes atop a greatly detailed Empire State Building.
  • The observation deck of the Empire State Building was the site of a romantic rendezvous in the films Love Affair, An Affair to Remember, and Sleepless In Seattle. It was also the location of a phony Martian invasion in an episode of I Love Lucy.
  • In the movie Independence Day, the building is ground zero when an alien spaceship destroys New York City.
  • Andy Warhol's 1964 silent film Empire is one continuous, eight-hour shot of the Empire State Building at night, shot in black-and-white. In 2004, the National Film Registry deemed its cultural significance worthy of preservation in the Library of Congress.
Panoramic view of New York City from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, spring 2005

Notes

  1. ↑ Please note that the entire 10118 series of 9-digit ZIP Codes are assigned to the Empire State Building. Source: USPS.
  2. ↑ Kenneth T. Jackson, The Encyclopedia of New York City (Yale University Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0300055368). 375-376.
  3. ↑ Jennifer Rosenberg, All About the Empire State Building. Thought.co. Retrieved September 11, 2017.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Jackson, Kenneth T. The Encyclopedia of New York City. Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0300055368
  • Kingwell, Mark. Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building and American Dreams. Yale University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0300106220
  • Mann, Elizabeth. Empire State Building: When New York Reached for the Skies. Mikaya Press, 2006. ISBN 978=1931414081
  • Tauranac, John. Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark. St. Martin's Griffin, 1997. ISBN 978-0312148249
  • Willis, Carol. Building the Empire State. W.W. Norton, 2007. ISBN 978-0393732313

External links

All links retrieved February 13, 2024.


Popular visitor attractions in New York City

Times Square (35M) • Central Park (20M) • Metropolitan Museum of Art (4.5M) • Statue of Liberty (4.24M) • American Museum of Natural History (4M) • Empire State Building (4M) • Museum of Modern Art (2.67M) •

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