The Empire State Building was constructed because of competition between Walter Chrysler and John Raskob (GMC) to see who could build the tallest building. To start out with, the process of building it started on March 17, 1930 where the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel site on 350 5th Avenue and 34th Street, and was completed in May of 1931. The architects were Shreve, Lamb ,Harmon & Associates. The contractors were Starrett Brothers & Eken, Inc.

The Empire State Building is a commercial office tower or skyscraper made from a steel frame, stone cladding system with a low key Art Deco style. The building has 103 floors, and is 1,472 feet high. Some other facts are the following: 1,860 steps, 37 million cubic feet in volume, 365,000 tons in weight, has 6500 windows, 5 entrances, 73 elevators which 6 of them are freight elevators moving at speeds of 600-1400 feet per minut

Standing in lonely dignity in the midriff of Manhattan, a sentinel by land, a reassuring landmark by air, the Empire State Building is the quadri-faced pharos of the city. And until outstripped by the twin towers of the World Trade Center, its 103 floors were the highest in New York. Though designed at the end of the so-called Art Deco period in the 1920’s, when zigzagged appliques were prominent, its exterior shows little of the frippery characteristic of that ‘decorated’ period. It is, moreover, one of the very few skyscrapers with four facades, not just one facing the avenue….Zoning required several setbacks, but these were given a skillful buildup of scale at the lower levels, while the tower itself rises unflinchingly. Indented setbacks in the center of each of the long sides help lateral scale. An observation platform and a pylon topped by a television transmission antenna crown all.

In a high structure, there must be a way to escape in case of fire, so contractors used a special water system, which gives 400 hose connections throughout the building. An extremely outstanding audio alarm system and strobe light guidance system was installed in 1998.

The Empire State Building also displays special exhibits including museums, cultural institutions, and tourist attractions. It also exhibits many forms of art and artists.

The interior lobby was made up of ceiling high marble from France, Italy, Belgium, and Germany. Imagine installing communication, heat, air conditioning, electricity, and fire safety, telephone cable into this massive structure. How did contractors do this?

Secondly, to install heat, they used local public utility supplies steam about 50 miles of radiator pipe. They also used 7,450 to

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