Acerca del edificio Empire State

Terminado en 1931, el Empire State Building es un rascacielos con estructura de acero de 102 pisos ubicado en la calle 34 y la Quinta Avenida en Midtown Manhattan, Nueva York. Hasta 1971, el Empire State Building era considerado el edificio más alto del mundo. El Empire State Building es conocido por su distintivo e icónico diseño Art Déco y está considerado uno de los mejores ejemplos de arquitectura modernista en los Estados Unidos.

The building was constructed during a time of intense competition to be the tallest in the world. The Chrysler Building claimed this title in 1929, and the Empire State Building took the title in 1931. Originally intended to be a terminal for airships, the building stands at a height of 381 meters (1,250 feet) with its iconic spire. In 1950, a 68-meter antenna was added, increasing the building’s total height to 449 meters (1,472 ft). However, in 1985, the antenna was replaced and the building’s height was reduced to 443 meters (1,454 ft). (At the time, One World Trade Center, which officially opened in 1972, became the tallest building in the world.

El Empire State Building fue desarrollado por John J. Raskob y Al Smith. Raskob, un exitoso hombre de negocios y ex presidente del comité de finanzas de General Motors Corporation, y Smith, ex gobernador demócrata de Nueva York, parecían una pareja poco probable. Sin embargo, su amistad duradera puede haberse basado en sus experiencias compartidas como hijos de inmigrantes católicos que luchaban por llegar a los Estados Unidos. Raskob y Smith pudieron identificarse con las luchas y los éxitos de cada uno.

Antes de trabajar en el Empire State Building en 1929, Smith había reclutado a Raskob como presidente del Comité Nacional Demócrata y como su director de campaña para su segunda candidatura a la presidencia de Estados Unidos en 1928. A pesar de la derrota por parte de Smith del candidato republicano Herbert Hoover, la elección demostró que los votantes no estaban dispuestos a arriesgar la prosperidad económica de la década de 1920 eligiendo a un demócrata, ni querían elegir a un católico que potencialmente pudiera desafiar los valores protestantes de la mayoría.

After losing the 1928 election and the governorship in his bid for the presidency, Smith was out of work. It is unclear whether the idea for building a skyscraper on the site of the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel originated with Raskob or Smith, but the two ultimately teamed up on this ambitious and attention-grabbing project. Raskob was a key investor and helped to recruit additional investors, while Smith, a well-known and respected figure, oversaw the project as president of the newly formed Empire State Building Corporation. On August 29, 1929, Smith announced plans for the record-breaking building, which was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates.

Construction began on March 17, 1930, but between the announcement in August and the start of construction in March, the stock market crashed in October 1929 and the Great Depression began. Despite these challenges, construction continued and employed many in New York City. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931, and was completed in an impressive 410 days. Despite the media attention surrounding the Empire State Building, the Great Depression impacted its opening, and the building was nicknamed “The Empty State Building” due to the high number of vacant office spaces. It took about 20 years for the building to become profitable.

The Empire State Building has held world records, made appearances in various media, and remains a beloved icon of New York City. The observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors attract millions of visitors each year, and since 1994, an annual contest has offered couples the chance to win a Valentine’s Day wedding at the 86th-floor observatory. The building has been featured in several romantic films, including Love Affair (1939) and its remake An Affair to Remember (1957), as well as the hit rom-com Sleepless in Seattle (1993), which references An Affair to Remember. The Empire State Building has also made appearances in various movies, video games, and comics. In 2020, the building completed a multi-year renovation that significantly reduced energy use, decreased emissions by around 40%, and increased efficiency. This renovation demonstrated the building’s commitment to green engineering.