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The architects planned that the project would be completed in only eighteen months. The schedule on this project was as adventurous as the design. Raskob wanted to beat his arch-rival in creating the tallest building in the world.Įxcavation for the building began in January 1930 and just two months later the construction of the building started. The 1453-foot, 103-story Empire State Building came to be a project because General Motors executive John J. The Empire State Building is an iconic American site. Although it is no longer the tallest building it the world, its relevance in pop culture is still evident through photos of New York City, as it stands above every building that surrounds it.
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Today, nearly 70 years after the skyscraper was constructed, it stands for the liberty and grandeur of the United States. The building lights up the night sky, with its renowned floodlights that are pointed toward the top of the building. Still today, the Empire State Building is the centerpiece of many pictures of New York.
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When the tower first opened on May 1, 1931, it instantly became one of the largest New York attractions, attracting those who were sightseeing New York. At the time, New York was chasing the title of having the world’s tallest building, and the Empire State Building would be a solution to that problem. Work officially began on the Empire State Building on March 17th, 1930. Lamb, whose firm produced the blueprints for the building in less than 14 days, using a plethora of previous designs.
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During the renovation, they will ensure that the building is up to energy efficiency standards and environmentally safe. The building is in the process of undergoing some serious renovation to ensure that the building is ready for the future. The a ward shows how beloved the skyscraper is in American culture, even now.Īs of today, the Empire State Building is recognized as the 3rd highest skyscraper in America (surpassed only by the Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower), and is also recognized as the 15th tallest building in the world. In fact, even in 2007, over 70 years after construction on the tower was completed, it was still ranked number one on the List of America’s Favorite Architecture, which is an award that is given by the American Institute of Architects. The huge building has received numerous awards for its excellent architecture. Following the events of September 11th, 2001, during which the North Tower collapsed after having a jetliner flown into it, the Empire State Building is once again the tallest skyscraper in the city, towering above the rest. Construction of the Empire State Building ended in 1931, and the building remained the world’s tallest building until several other buildings were built in the city, including the World Trade Center North Tower, which eclipsed its mark when it was finished in 1972. The name of the building is derived from the nick name for New York, which is also known as The Empire State.Īfter its erection, the building was the tallest building in the world for longer than four decades. Standing at 102 stories tall, the Empire State Building is located where 5th Avenue and West 34th Street collide. In previous decades, the skyscrapers relevance in pop culture was sky-high, as it was included in many different pieces of literature and films. To many the Empire State Building is one of the most renowned tourist attractions within New York City, and is high atop the list of many New York sightseers.
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