How the Empire State Building was Built

Who hasn't heard of the Empire State Building? Anyone who has watched some of the old romantic films know it was a location for lovers to meet, but how many people really know much about the history of this grand structure?  There had to be a starting point as there is with any project, large or small, and this certainly was the former.

The site chosen for this endeavor was 350 5th Avenue at 34th where the Waldorf Astoria Hotel stood.  Therefore, this existing structure had to be demolished.  The demolition started on January 22, 1930 and construction on the Empire State Building began on March 17, 1930.  Could this be accomplished, even today?

This modern engineering marvel was designed from the top down by Gregory Johnson while Shreve, Lamb and Harmon were the architects.  At lease 3400 workers, mostly European immigrants plus a hundred of Mohawk iron workers from nearby Montreal were the main work force.  Only five of these laborers lost their lives during construction even though 7 million man-hours were required.  This fine structure was built at record speed, the frame rose at a rate of one story a day, a feat of time that has never been matched since.  One year and 45 days, including Sundays and Holidays, after the onset of construction the project was finished at a cost of $40,948,900.

After a race with 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building to be the tallest building in New York City, President Herbert Hoover turned on the lights to the Empire State Building from a remote switch in Washington D. C. illuminating 1252 feet, 102 stories and 2.1 million square feet.  The race to become the world's tallest skyscraper was won and the title remained from 1931 to 1971.