An iconic structure in New York and of the USA in general, the Empire State building was once the world’s tallest skyscraper. It was constructed for that very purpose: to win the race to erect the tallest building on Earth. But it was not all hubris; this much-visited landmark has become a symbol of western culture, featured in various films and countless photographs.
Interestingly, the building broke ground at the height of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. While the rest of the country was reeling, New York was booming. It took just over a year to construct, and by the time it was inaugurated on the first of May in 1931, it bested the original two projects vying for the title of tallest: the Chrysler and the Bank of Manhattan buildings.
Image source: nydailynews.com
For almost 40 years, the Empire State Building wore the crown, looming at 1,250 feet over Midtown Manhattan. It would relinquish the title only in 1970, with the completion of the first World Trade Center tower. The Empire State building takes up an entire city block, and even has its own zip code.
Art Deco, very popular at that time, was the design inspiration, and the idea is to make the building resemble a pencil. Architect William Lamb modeled it after two earlier structures: the Reynolds Building in North Carolina and the Carew Tower in Cincinnati. These two buildings are now often cited as the Empire State’s architectural ancestors.
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Image source: ny.curbed.com
Reddy Kancharla has more than 25 years of experience in civil construction and geotechnical consultation. Currently based in Briarcliff Manor, he obtained his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India and his master's degree from Texas Tech University at Lubbock. For more on his work and interests, check out this webpage.
