Famous Visitors
The world's famous have come to admire the unmatched view from the Empire State Building's Observatory.

ESB in the News
Find out information about past events related to the ESB in our "ESB in the news" archive.

Broadcasting
From high atop the Empire State Building, above the 86th floor Observation Deck, Metro Networks monitors traffic conditions in the metropolitan New York area by way of two broadcast cameras and microwave antennas…

ESB in the Movies
Find out what great movies used the ESB as a backdrop. Movies such as Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally and An Affair to Remember – to see what other movies the ESB makes appearances in click on the link above.

Books and Videos
We have hand-picked reference materials and history books about the ESB so you can find all the information you want about America’s favorite landmark.

Monument of the millennium
Empire State Building Designated Skyscraper of the Millennium by ASCE

Awards
The ESB has won the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the 1991-92 Building Owners' and Managers' Association (BOMA) International Building of the Year in the Historic Building Category

EPA Energy Star
The Empire State Building Becomes a Charter Member of the Energy Star Building Label Program.

Group Tours
Get the information you need to plan your own group tour.

Valentine's Day Weddings
Interested in getting married at the ESB, visit the weddings section for more information.

Get all the information you want about your favorite building right here on the official ESB facts and trivia page!

Everyone wants to know something about this structure and, if security permits, we are happy to try and answer almost any question. If you can't find the answer below, maybe you can find it in the FAQ Database (Frequently Asked Questions)! This database is sure to have you quite interested!

	Architect: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates Contractor: Starrett Brothers and Eken Excavation: Began on January 22, 1930 Construction: Commenced March 17, 1930. Framework rose at a rate of 4 ½ stories per week. Cornerstone: Original laid by Alfred E. Smith on September 17, 1930. The 50th Anniversary addition laid May, 1981. Masonry: Completed on November 13, 1930. Total Time: One year and 45 days including Sundays and holidays. (Ahead of schedule). Man-Hours: 7,000,000 Cost: $40,948,900 (including land) Building Alone: $24,718,000 (the onset of the Depression halved the anticipated cost of the building.) Area of Site: 79,288 square feet (7,240 meters) or about two acres. East to west, 424 feet (129 meters), north to south, 187 feet (56.9 meters.) Foundation: 55 feet (16.7 meters) below ground Basement: 35 feet (10.6 meters) below ground Lobby: 47 feet (14.3 meters) above sea level Total Height: 1,454 feet (1,453 feet, 8 9/16th inches) or 443.2 meters to top of lightning rod. To 86th Floor Observatory: 1,050 feet (320 meters) To 102nd Floor Tower: 1,224 feet (373 meters) 102nd Floor to Tip: 230 feet Height of Antenna: 204 feet Floors: 103 Steps: 1,860 from street level to 102nd floor Volume: 37 million cubic feet Weight: 365,000 tons Plan: Base of building rises five floors above the street. The entrance is four floors high. The lobby is three floors high. From the 60 foot setback on the fifth floor, the building soars without a break to the 86 th floor. Steel Frame: 60,000 tons Exterior Materials: 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana Limestone, 10,000 square feet of Rose Famosa and Estrallante marble. 300,000 square feet of Hauteville and Rocheron marble for elevator lobbies and corridors on the office floors. Windows: 6,500 Street Level Access: Five entrances on 33rd Street, Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. Elevators: 73, including six freight elevators, operating at speeds from 600 to 1,000 feet per minute. The total enclosed in several miles of elevator shaft. (It is possible to ride from lobby to 86th floor in less than one minute.) Escalators: Eight high-speed escalators serve the concourse and second floor areas. Telecommunications: Special amenities available to tenants include fiber optic cable, proprietary telephone switch and cable TV, and Internet website directory listing. Heat: Local public utility supplies steam utilizing 50 miles of radiator pipe. Air Conditioning: 7,450 tons of refrigeration (The air conditioning was installed in 1950 and upgraded with new equipment in 1984 and 1997). Water: 70 miles of pipe provide water to tanks at various floor levels with the uppermost at the 101st floor, satisfying average daily demand of 26,500 cubic feet. Electricity: 2,500,000 feet of electrical wire conveys 40 million kilowatt hours used by building and tenants each year. Fire Safety: A special water system feeds 400 fire hose connections throughout the building. A state-of-the-art audio warning and strobe light guidance system was installed in 1998. Telephone Cable: 1,060 air miles of telephone cable serve tenants. Waste Handling: 100 tons of trash and waste are removed from the building each month. Staff: About 250 persons, including a maintenance staff of 150

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