Editing Empire State Building (section)

==Architecture==
The Empire State Building was designed by [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]] in the [[Art Deco architecture of New York City|Art Deco]] style.<ref name="AIA">{{cite AIA4|page=226 }}</ref> The Empire State Building is {{cvt|1250|ft|m|0}} tall to its 102nd floor, or {{convert|1453|ft|8+9/16|in}} including its {{convert|203|ft|m|1|adj=on}} pinnacle.{{sfn|Willis|Friedman|1998|p=14}} It was the first building in the world to be more than 100 stories tall,{{sfn|Willis|Friedman|1998|p=56}} though only the lowest 86 stories are usable. The first through 85th floors contain {{convert|2.158|e6ft2|m2}} of commercial and office space, while the 86th floor contains an observatory.<ref name="Reynolds p. 290">{{harvnb|Reynolds|1994|ps=.|p=290 }}</ref>{{sfn|Willis|Friedman|1998|p=14}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=14}} The remaining 16 stories are part of the spire, which is capped by an observatory on the 102nd floor; the spire does not contain any intermediate levels and is used mostly for mechanical purposes.{{sfn|Willis|Friedman|1998|p=14}} Atop the 102nd story is the {{cvt|203|ft|m|1|adj=on}} pinnacle, much of which is covered by broadcast antennas, and surmounted with a [[lightning rod]].{{sfn|Jackson|2010|pp=413–414}}

===Form===
[[File:EmpireStateBuilding20205thAvenueEntrance.jpg|thumb|left|The five-story base as seen from Fifth Avenue, with the main entrance at center. The Empire State Building sets back significantly above the base.]]

The Empire State Building has a symmetrical [[massing]] because of its large lot and relatively short base. Its [[Articulation (architecture)|articulation]] consists of three horizontal sections—a base, shaft, and [[Capital (architecture)|capital]]—similar to the components of a [[column]].<ref name="Reynolds p. 290" /> The five-story base occupies the entire lot, while the 81-story shaft above it is [[Setback (architecture)|set back]] sharply from the base.{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=612}}<ref name="The New York Times 1930a">{{Cite news |year=1930 |title=Smith Skyscraper Has a Novel Design; Setbacks of the Empire State Building Will Begin With the Sixth Story |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/01/08/94228622.pdf |access-date=December 8, 2017 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503210732/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/01/08/94228622.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}} The setback above the 5th story is {{convert|60|ft}} deep on all sides.<ref name="Reynolds p. 290" /> There are smaller setbacks on the upper stories, allowing sunlight to illuminate the interiors of the top floors while also positioning these floors away from the noisy streets below.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=157}}{{sfn|Kayden|Municipal Art Society|2000|pp=8–9}} The setbacks are located at the 21st, 25th, 30th, 72nd, 81st, and 85th stories.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=16}} The setbacks correspond to the tops of elevator shafts, allowing interior spaces to be at most {{convert|28|ft}} deep {{crossreference|(see: {{section link||Interior}})}}.<ref name="Reynolds p. 290" />

The setbacks were mandated by the [[1916 Zoning Resolution]], which was intended to allow sunlight to reach the streets as well.{{Efn|name=zoning|Per the 1916 Zoning Act, the wall of any given tower that faces a street could only rise to a certain height, proportionate to the street's width, at which point the building had to be set back by a given proportion. This system of setbacks would continue until the tower reaches a floor level in which that level's floor area was 25% that of the ground level's area. After that 25% threshold was reached, the building could rise without restriction.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}}{{sfn|Kayden|Municipal Art Society|2000|p=8}}{{sfn|Willis|1995|p=67}}

The 1916 Zoning Act was amended in 1961 so that buildings erected thereafter could not exceed a [[floor area ratio]] that was calculated for each zoning district.{{sfn|Kayden|Municipal Art Society|2000|pp=11–12}} The maximum ratio for the Empire State Building's district is 15, unless it includes a public plaza.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/zoning/districts-tools/c6.page |title=Zoning Districts & Tools : C6 – DCP |website=www1.nyc.gov }}</ref> A [[grandfather clause]] permits preexisting structures to continue under the old rule. Therefore, the Empire State Building's floor area ratio of 25 cannot be duplicated, or even approached, by a new building in that district.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Willis |first=Carol |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/1550360 |title=Form Follows Finance: The Empire State Building |journal=Landscape of Modernity: Essays on New York City, 1900–1940 |year=1992 |editor1-last=Ward |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Zunz |editor2-first=Olivier |page=181 |access-date=March 7, 2019 |archive-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052820/https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/1550360 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} Normally, a building of the Empire State's dimensions would be permitted to build up to 12 stories on the Fifth Avenue side, and up to 17 stories on the 33rd Street and 34th Street sides, before it would have to utilize setbacks.<ref name="The New York Times 1930a" /> However, with the largest setback being located above the base, the tower stories could contain a uniform shape.{{sfn|Popular Mechanics|December 1930|p=920}}{{sfn|Willis|1995|p=96}}{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}} According to architectural writer [[Robert A. M. Stern]], the building's form contrasted with the nearly contemporary, similarly designed [[500 Fifth Avenue]] eight blocks north, which had an asymmetrical massing on a smaller lot.{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=612}}

===Facade===
The Empire State Building's Art Deco design is typical of pre–World War II architecture in New York City.<ref name="AIA" /> The facade is clad in [[Indiana limestone]] panels made by the Indiana Limestone Company<ref>{{cite web |title=Oolitic's Empire Quarry a 'Source of Pride' |website=The Herald-Times |first=Derrek |last=Tipton |date=June 22, 2017 |url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/2017/06/22/oolitics-empire-quarry-a-source-of-pride/46754905/ |access-date=December 30, 2023 |archive-date=December 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230204514/https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/2017/06/22/oolitics-empire-quarry-a-source-of-pride/46754905/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and sourced from a quarry in south-central Indiana;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/10/us/limestone-center-turns-to-tourism.html |title=Limestone Center Turns to Tourism |last=Peterson |first=Iver |date=November 10, 1981 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=September 5, 2016 |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524081323/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/10/us/limestone-center-turns-to-tourism.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the panels give the building its signature blonde color.{{sfn|Al-Kodmany|2017|p=72}} According to official fact sheets, the facade uses {{Convert|200000|ft3|m3}} of limestone and granite, ten million bricks, and {{Convert|730|ST|LT}} of aluminum and stainless steel.<ref name="ESBNYC-Facts" /> The building also contains 6,514 windows.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/empire-state-building-refaced-for-savings/ |title=Empire State Building Refaced for Savings |last=Lombardi |first=Candace |date=October 14, 2010 |publisher=CNET |access-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523233322/https://www.cnet.com/news/empire-state-building-refaced-for-savings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The decorative features on the facade are largely geometric, in contrast with earlier buildings, whose decorations often were intended to represent a specific narrative.<ref name="Reynolds p. 292">{{harvnb|Reynolds|1994|ps=.|p=292 }}</ref>

[[File:USA-NYC-Empire State1.JPG|thumb|A pair of sculpted concrete eagles above the Fifth Avenue entrance|left]]

The main entrance, composed of three sets of metal doors, is at the center of the facade's Fifth Avenue [[elevation (architecture)|elevation]], flanked by molded piers that are topped with eagles. Above the main entrance is a [[transom (architecture)|transom]], a triple-height transom window with geometric patterns, and the golden letters "Empire State" above the fifth-floor windows.<ref name="Reynolds p. 291">{{harvnb|Reynolds|1994|ps=.|p=291 }}</ref>{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}}{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=613}} There are two entrances each on 33rd and 34th streets, with modernistic, [[stainless steel]] canopies projecting from the entrances on 33rd and 34th streets there. Above the secondary entrances are triple windows, less elaborate in design than those on Fifth Avenue.<ref name="AIA" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}}{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=613}}

The storefronts on the first floor contain aluminum-framed doors and windows within a black granite cladding.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}}{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=613}} The second through fourth stories consist of windows alternating with wide stone [[Pier (architecture)|piers]] and narrower stone [[mullion]]s. The fifth story contains windows alternating with wide and narrow mullions, and is topped by a horizontal stone sill.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}}

The facade of the tower stories is split into several vertical [[bay (architecture)|bay]]s on each side, with windows projecting slightly from the limestone cladding. The bays are arranged into sets of one, two, or three windows on each floor.<ref name="Reynolds p. 291" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|pp=16–17}} The bays are separated by alternating narrow and wide piers, the inclusion of which may have been influenced by the design of the contemporary [[Daily News Building]].<ref name="Reynolds pp. 291-292">{{harvnb|Reynolds|1994|ps=.|pp=291–292 }}</ref> The windows in each bay are separated by vertical nickel-chrome steel [[mullion]]s and connected by horizontal aluminum [[spandrel]]s between each floor.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=16}}{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|p=613}} The windows are placed within stainless-steel frames, which saved money by eliminating the need to apply a stone [[Finishing (manufacturing)|finish]] around the windows. In addition, the use of aluminum spandrels obviated the need for cross-[[Bond (brick)|bonding]], which would have been required if stone had been used instead.<ref name="Reynolds p. 291" />

===Lights===
The building was originally equipped with white [[searchlight]]s at the top. They were first used in November 1932 when they lit up to signal Roosevelt's victory over Hoover in the [[1932 United States presidential election|presidential election of that year]].<ref name="Melina 2010">{{cite web |last=Melina |first=Remy |title=What Do the Empire State Building's Lights Mean? |website=Live Science |date=August 24, 2010 |url=https://www.livescience.com/11147-empire-state-building-lights.html |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111311/https://www.livescience.com/11147-empire-state-building-lights.html |url-status=live }}</ref> These were later swapped for four "Freedom Lights" in 1956.<ref name="Melina 2010" /> In February 1964, flood lights were added on the 72nd floor{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=353}} to illuminate the top of the building at night so that the building could be seen from the World Fair later that year.<ref name="The New York Times 1964">{{cite web |title=Top of the Empire State To Get New Floodlights |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=January 21, 1964 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/21/top-of-the-empire-state-to-get-new-floodlights.html |access-date=October 26, 2017 |postscript=none |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026163227/http://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/21/top-of-the-empire-state-to-get-new-floodlights.html |url-status=live}}; {{cite news |title=The Empire State to Glow at Night |last=Lelyveld |first=Joseph |author-link=Joseph Lelyveld |date=February 23, 1964 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1964/02/23/290250742.pdf |access-date=July 10, 2010 }}</ref> The lights were shut off from November 1973 to July 1974 because of the [[1970s energy crisis|energy crisis]] at the time.<ref name="waldorf-history">{{cite web |title=Hotel History |url=http://www.waldorfnewyork.com/about-the-waldorf/hotel-history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127101023/http://www.waldorfnewyork.com/about-the-waldorf/hotel-history.html |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |access-date=May 30, 2014 |publisher=Waldorfnewyork.com }}</ref> In 1976, the businessman [[Douglas Leigh]] suggested that Wien and Helmsley install 204 [[metal-halide lamp|metal-halide light]]s, which were four times as bright as the 1,000 incandescent lights they were to replace.<ref name="City Lights-1989">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOgCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 |title=City Lights – New York Magazine |date=May 22, 1989 |page=35 |language=en }}</ref> New red, white, and blue metal-halide lights were installed in time for the country's [[Bicentennial of the United States|bicentennial]] that July.<ref name="waldorf-history" />{{sfn|Berman|Museum of New York City|2003|p=108}} After the bicentennial, Helmsley retained the new lights due to the reduced maintenance cost, about $116 a year.<ref name="City Lights-1989" />

Since October 12, 1977, the spire has been lit in colors chosen to match seasonal events and holidays.<ref name="Reynolds p. 291" /> Organizations are allowed to make requests through the building's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esbnyc.com/explore/tower-lights |title=Tower Lights |publisher=Empire State Building |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029111730/http://www.esbnyc.com/explore/tower-lights |url-status=live }}</ref> The building is also lit in the colors of New York-based sports teams on nights when they host games: for example, orange, blue, and white for the [[New York Knicks]]; red, white, and blue for the [[New York Rangers]].<ref>See, for example: {{cite web |title=ESB to Light up with NYCFC, Red Bulls Colors |website=am New York |date=May 20, 2016 |url=https://www.amny.com/sports/empire-state-building-to-be-lit-with-new-york-city-fc-red-bulls-colors-1.11822431 |access-date=October 26, 2017 |postscript=none |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111926/https://www.amny.com/sports/empire-state-building-to-be-lit-with-new-york-city-fc-red-bulls-colors-1.11822431 |url-status=live}}; {{cite web |last=Peters |first=Chris |title=LOOK: Empire State Building lights up blue and orange for Islanders win |publisher=[[WCBS-TV]] |date=April 25, 2016 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/look-empire-state-building-lights-up-blue-and-orange-for-islanders-win/ |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026162954/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/look-empire-state-building-lights-up-blue-and-orange-for-islanders-win/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The spire can also be lit to commemorate events including disasters, anniversaries, or deaths, as well as for celebrations such as [[NYC Pride March|Pride]] and [[Halloween]]. In 1998, the building was lit in blue after the death of singer [[Frank Sinatra]], who was nicknamed "Ol' Blue Eyes".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/sinatra/94366.stm |title=Empire State Building Turns Blue as Silent Tribute |date=May 15, 1998 |website=BBC News |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-date=August 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802144734/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/sinatra/94366.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The structure was lit in red, white, and blue for several months after the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref name="lightingSchedule">{{cite web |url=http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_lightingschedule.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010920145315/http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/tourism_lightingschedule.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2001 |title=Lighting Schedule |publisher=Empire State Building |access-date=July 10, 2010 }}</ref> On January 13, 2012, the building was lit in red, orange, and yellow to honor the 60th anniversary of the [[NBC News|NBC]] program [[Today (U.S. TV program)|''The Today Show'']].<ref>{{cite web |title=TODAY Celebrates 60 Years! |publisher=NBC News |date=January 13, 2012 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/today/today-celebrates-60-years-45984730/ |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026110714/https://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/today/today-celebrates-60-years-45984730/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After retired basketball player [[Kobe Bryant]]'s [[Death of Kobe Bryant|January 2020 death]], the building was lit in purple and gold, signifying the colors of his former team, the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Irick |first=Whitney |title=Photos: Landmarks Light Up Purple, Gold to Remember Lifelong Laker Kobe Bryant |website=NBC Los Angeles |date=January 27, 2020 |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/photos-landmarks-light-up-purple-gold-to-remember-lifelong-laker-kobe-bryant/2299102/ |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502234204/https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/photos-landmarks-light-up-purple-gold-to-remember-lifelong-laker-kobe-bryant/2299102/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The evening after iconic actor [[James Earl Jones]] died, September 9, 2024, the building was lit up to look like Jones's iconic [[Darth Vader]] villain from "[[Star Wars]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Karen |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Mark Hamill, Kevin Costner Pay Tribute to Late James Earl Jones |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2024/09/10/james-earl-jones-reactions/2321725966523 |access-date=September 10, 2024 |website=United Press International |language=en |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910134902/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2024/09/10/james-earl-jones-reactions/2321725966523/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to lightings, the Empire State Building is able to do immersive visual projections on the building's exterior. It partnered with Netflix in May 2022 to celebrate the return of [[Stranger Things]] fourth season by projecting the Upside Down onto the Empire State Building.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Netflix and Giant Spoon Turned the Empire State Building 'Upside Down' |url=https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2022/06/15/how-netflix-and-giant-spoon-turned-the-empire-state-building-upside-down |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=Marketing Brew |language=en-us |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218225753/https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2022/06/15/how-netflix-and-giant-spoon-turned-the-empire-state-building-upside-down |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, the building's four hundred [[Metal-halide lamp|metal halide]] lamps and floodlights were replaced with 1,200 [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] fixtures, increasing the available colors from nine to over 16&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Taub |first=Eric A. |title=Bathed in New Lights, Empire State Building Will Star in More Vivid Show |website=City Room |date=May 8, 2012 |url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/with-new-lights-a-more-vibrant-look-for-the-empire-state-building/ |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043701/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/with-new-lights-a-more-vibrant-look-for-the-empire-state-building/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The computer-controlled system allows the building to be illuminated in ways that were unable to be done previously with plastic gels.<ref name="Santora 2013">{{cite web |last=Santora |first=Marc |title=The Empire State Building, Now in 16 Million Colors |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=July 6, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/nyregion/an-empire-state-building-light-show-that-rivaled-the-fireworks.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709000058/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/nyregion/an-empire-state-building-light-show-that-rivaled-the-fireworks.html |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |url-access=limited |access-date=October 23, 2017 }}</ref> For instance, [[CNN]] used the top of the Empire State Building as a scoreboard during the [[2012 United States presidential election]], using red and blue lights to represent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] electoral votes respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Empire State Building Lights up to Broadcast Election Results |first=Charlie |last=Wells |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-state-building-displays-election-results-article-1.1197707 |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109190348/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/new-york-state-building-displays-election-results-article-1.1197707 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, on November 26, 2012, the building had its first synchronized light show, using music from recording artist [[Alicia Keys]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Empire State Building Light Show: LED Display Synchronized To Two Alicia Keys Songs Over Manhattan |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/empire-state-building-light-show-alicia-keys-led-display-new-york-city_n_2198200.html |work=HuffPost |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=November 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129182415/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/empire-state-building-light-show-alicia-keys-led-display-new-york-city_n_2198200.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Artists such as Eminem and OneRepublic have been featured in later shows, including the building's annual Holiday Music-to-Lights Show.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/how-eminem-and-jimmy-kimmel-took-over-the-empire-state-building-1202982508/ |title=How Eminem and Jimmy Kimmel Took Over the Empire State Building |last1=Wagmeister |first1=Elizabeth |date=October 17, 2018 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=January 15, 2019 }}</ref> The building's owners adhere to strict standards in using the lights; for instance, they do not use the lights to play advertisements.<ref name="Santora 2013" />

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Empire State Building LED live election results Obama Romney Spire Close-up (8162616388).jpg|alt=The Empire State Building illuminated in red, white, and blue before the 2012 United States presidential election|Lights representing the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] parties as results are tabulated in the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]]
File:Empire State Building in Rainbow Colors for Gay Pride 2015 (19076876770).jpg|The Empire State Building is bathed annually in [[rainbow|rainbow-colored]] lighting during the [[NYC Pride March|Pride Month]] of June, evoking the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT)|international LGBT icon]], as seen in this 2015 image.|alt=The Empire State Building illuminated by rainbow-colored lighting at night
</gallery>

{{clear left}}

===Interior===
[[File:Empire State Building elevators 01.jpg|thumb|One of several elevator lobbies]]

According to official fact sheets, the Empire State Building weighs {{Convert|365000|ST}} and has an internal volume of {{Convert|37|e6ft3|m3}}.<ref name="ESBNYC-Facts">{{Cite web |url=https://www.esbnyc.com/sites/default/files/esb_fact_sheet_4_9_14_4.pdf |title=Empire State Building Fact Sheet |publisher=Empire State Realty |page=1 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-date=November 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106223727/http://www.esbnyc.com/sites/default/files/esb_fact_sheet_4_9_14_4.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The interior required {{Convert|1172|mi|0}} of elevator cable and {{Convert|2|e6ft|m}} of electrical wires.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/manhattanskyscra00nash_0 |url-access=registration |title=Manhattan Skyscrapers |last=Nash |first=Eric |date=August 1999 |publisher=Princeton Architectural Press |isbn=978-1-56898-181-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/manhattanskyscra00nash_0/page/75 75] |language=en }}</ref> It has a total floor area of {{cvt|2768591|ft2|m2|0}}, and each of the floors in the base cover {{cvt|2|acre|ha}}.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=183}} This gives the building capacity for 20,000 tenants and 15,000 visitors.{{sfn|Popular Mechanics|December 1930|p=920}}

The [[rivet]]ed steel frame of the building was originally designed to handle all of the building's gravitational stresses and [[wind load]]s.{{sfn|Taranath|2016|p=459}} The amount of material used in the building's construction resulted in a very stiff structure when compared to other skyscrapers, with a structural stiffness of {{convert|42|psf}} versus the [[Willis Tower]]'s {{convert|33|psf}} and the [[John Hancock Center]]'s {{convert|26|psf}}.{{sfn|Taranath|2016|p=527}} A December 1930 feature in ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' estimated that a building with the Empire State's dimensions would still stand even if hit with an impact of {{convert|50|ST|LT}}.{{sfn|Popular Mechanics|December 1930|p=920}}

Utilities are grouped in a central shaft.<ref name="The New York Times 1930a" /> On the 6th through 86th stories, the central shaft is surrounded by a main corridor on all four sides.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}} Per the final specifications of the building, the corridor is surrounded in turn by office space {{convert|28|ft|m}} deep, maximizing office space at a time before air conditioning became commonplace.{{sfn|Stern|Gilmartin|Mellins|1987|pp=612, 614}}{{sfn|Willis|1995|p=95}}<ref name="Reynolds p. 290" /> Each of the floors has 210 structural columns that pass through it, which provide structural stability but limits the amount of open space on these floors.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}} The relative dearth of stone in the Empire State Building allows for more space overall, with a 1:200 stone-to-building ratio compared to a 1:50 ratio in similar buildings.{{sfn|Popular Mechanics|December 1930|p=922}}

====Lobby====
[[File:Empire State Building lobby 20240521.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Fifth Avenue lobby]]
The original main lobby is accessed from Fifth Avenue, on the building's east side, and is the only place in the building where the design contains narrative motifs.<ref name="Reynolds p. 292" /> It contains an entrance with one set of double doors between a pair of [[revolving door]]s. At the top of each doorway is a bronze motif depicting one of three "crafts or industries" used in the building's construction—Electricity, Masonry, and Heating.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=13}} The three-story-high space runs parallel to 33rd and 34th Streets.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=15}} The lobby contains two tiers of marble: a [[wainscoting]] of darker marble, topped by lighter marble. There is a pattern of zigzagging [[terrazzo]] tiles on the lobby floor, which leads from east to west.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=15}} To the north and south are storefronts, which are flanked by tubes of dark rounded marble and topped by a vertical band of grooves set into the marble.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=15}} Until the 1960s, there was a [[Longchamps (restaurant chain)|Longchamps]] restaurant next to the lobby, with six oval murals designed by [[Winold Reiss]]; these murals were placed in storage when the Longchamps closed.<ref name="Collins 2023">{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Charlotte |title=Lost Art Deco Treasures From the Empire State Building Rediscovered |website=Architectural Digest |date=May 8, 2023 |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/lost-art-deco-treasures-from-the-empire-state-building-rediscovered |access-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510152659/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/lost-art-deco-treasures-from-the-empire-state-building-rediscovered |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Eve M. |date=May 7, 2023 |title=Vanished Murals From the Empire State Building Rediscovered |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/arts/design/vanished-murals-from-the-empire-state-building-rediscovered.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509191625/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/arts/design/vanished-murals-from-the-empire-state-building-rediscovered.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The western ends of the north and south walls include escalators to a mezzanine level.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=15}}{{Efn|name=layout-lobby}} At the west end of the lobby, behind the security desk, is an aluminum relief of the skyscraper as it was originally built (without the antenna).<ref name="Lepik 2008">{{cite book |last=Lepik |first=Andres |title=Skyscrapers |publisher=Prestel |year=2008 |isbn=978-3-7913-3992-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VJJAQAAIAAJ |pages=53–54 |access-date=October 23, 2017 }}</ref> The relief, which was intended to provide a welcoming effect,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=1}} contains an embossed outline of the building, with rays radiating from the spire and the sun behind it.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=14}} In the background is a state map of New York with the building's location marked by a "medallion" in the very southeast portion of the outline. A compass is depicted in the bottom right and a plaque to the building's major developers is on the bottom left.<ref name="Reynolds p. 293">{{harvnb|Reynolds|1994|ps=.|p=293 }}</ref>{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=14}} A scale model of the building was also placed south of the security desk.<ref name="Reynolds p. 293" />

[[File:Empire State Building Entrance decoration (6046008895).jpg|thumb|upright|Aluminum relief of the building]]
The plaque at the western end of the lobby is on the eastern interior wall of a one-story-tall rectangular-shaped corridor that surrounds the banks of escalators, with a similar design to the lobby.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|pages=12, 15}} The rectangular-shaped corridor actually consists of two long hallways on the northern and southern sides of the rectangle,{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=12}} as well as a shorter hallway on the eastern side and another long hallway on the western side.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|pages=12, 15}} At both ends of the northern and southern corridors, there is a bank of four low-rise elevators in between the corridors.<ref name="Reynolds p. 293" /><ref name="Reynolds p. 292" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=16}} The western side of the rectangular elevator-bank corridor extends north to the 34th Street entrance and south to the 33rd Street entrance. It borders three large storefronts and leads to escalators (originally stairs), which go both to the second floor and to the basement. Going from west to east, there are secondary entrances to 34th and 33rd Streets from the northern and southern corridors, respectively.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=15}}{{Efn|name=layout-lobby|See {{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981}}, PDF page 26, for a diagram of the lobby.}} The side entrances from 33rd and 34th Street lead to two-story-high corridors around the elevator core, crossed by stainless steel-and-glass-enclosed bridges at the mezzanine floor.<ref name="AIA" />{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=15}}<ref name="Reynolds p. 293" />

Until the 1960s, an [[Art Deco]] mural, inspired by both the sky and the [[Machine Age]], was installed in the lobby ceilings.<ref name="Lepik 2008" /> Subsequent damage to these murals, designed by artist Leif Neandross, resulted in reproductions being installed. Renovations to the lobby in 2009, such as replacing the clock over the information desk in the Fifth Avenue lobby with an [[anemometer]] and installing two chandeliers intended to be part of the building when it originally opened, revived much of its original grandeur.<ref name="Barron 2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/nyregion/23empire.html |title=Overhead, A Lobby Is Restored to Old Glory |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |last=Barron |first=James |author-link=James Barron (journalist) |date=September 22, 2009 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306125255/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/nyregion/23empire.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The north corridor contained eight illuminated panels created in 1963 by Roy Sparkia and Renée Nemorov, in time for the [[1964 World's Fair]], depicting the building as the [[Eighth Wonder of the World]] alongside the traditional seven.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior|1981|page=16}}<ref name="Bosworth 1984">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CveczaI95Q8C&pg=PA215 |title=Diane Arbus: A Biography |last=Bosworth |first=Patricia |date=1984 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=9780393326611 |language=en |page=215 }}</ref> The building's owners installed a series of paintings by the New York artist [[Kysa Johnson]] in the concourse level. Johnson later filed a federal lawsuit, in January 2014, under the [[Visual Artists Rights Act]] alleging the negligent destruction of the paintings and damage to her reputation as an artist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/artist-files-suit-over-missing-empire-state-building-paintings |title=Artist Files Suit Over Missing Empire State Building Paintings |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 31, 2014 |access-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131182708/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/artist-files-suit-over-missing-empire-state-building-paintings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of the building's 2010 renovation, [[Denise Amses]] commissioned a work consisting of 15,000 stars and 5,000 circles, superimposed on a {{Convert|13|by|5|ft|adj=on|m}} [[Glass etching|etched-glass]] installation, in the lobby.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9404E2DC163AF930A25751C0A9679D8B63.html |title=Restored Lobby's Crowning Touch |last=Barron |first=James |date=February 13, 2011 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=November 6, 2017 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230818/https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9404E2DC163AF930A25751C0A9679D8B63.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Elevators ====
The Empire State Building has 73 elevators in all, including service elevators.<ref name="Navarro 2009">{{cite web |last=Navarro |first=Mireya |date=April 7, 2009 |title=Empire State Building Plans Environmental Retrofit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/science/earth/07empire.html |access-date=October 27, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028044737/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/science/earth/07empire.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Its original 64 elevators, built by the [[Otis Worldwide|Otis Elevator Company]],{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=183}} in a central core and are of varying heights, with the longest of these elevators reaching from the lobby to the 80th floor.<ref name="The New York Times 1930a" /><ref>{{cite book |author=Bonnier Corporation |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8ycDAAAAMBAJ |title=Popular Science |date=April 1931 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8ycDAAAAMBAJ/page/n45 44] |publisher=Bonnier Corporation }}</ref> As originally built, there were four "express" elevators that connected the lobby, 80th floor, and several landings in between; the other 60 "local" elevators connected the landings with the floors above these intermediate landings.{{sfn|Willis|1995|p=96}} Of the 64 total elevators, 58 were for passenger use (comprising the four express elevators and 54 local elevators), and eight were for freight deliveries.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}} The elevators were designed to move at {{convert|1200|ft/min}}. At the time of the skyscraper's construction, their practical speed was limited to {{convert|700|ft/min}} per city law, but this limit was removed shortly after the building opened.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=183}}{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=81}}

Additional elevators connect the 80th floor to the six floors above it, as the six extra floors were built after the original 80 stories were approved.{{sfn|Willis|Friedman|1998|p=14}}{{sfn|Popular Mechanics|December 1930|p=921}} The elevators were mechanically operated until 2011, when they were replaced with automatic elevators during the $550&nbsp;million renovation of the building.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 16, 2011 |title=Empire State Building To Get Modernized Elevators |language=en |publisher=CBS |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/06/16/empire-state-building-to-get-modernized-elevators/ |access-date=December 16, 2017 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091504/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/06/16/empire-state-building-to-get-modernized-elevators/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An additional elevator connects the 86th and 102nd floor observatories, which allows visitors access to the 102nd floor observatory after having their tickets scanned. It also allows employees to access the mechanical floors located between the 87th and 101st floors.{{sfn|Taranath|2016|p=459}}

====Observation decks====
[[File:EmpireStateBuilding202080thFloorSouthEastCorner.jpg|thumb|80th floor observation deck]]
The 80th, 86th, and 102nd floors contain observatories.{{sfn|Al-Kodmany|2017|p=71}}<ref name="Lepik 2008" /><ref name="CBS News 2019">{{cite web |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Empire State Building's 80th Floor Renovations Offer New Visitor Experience |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/empire-state-building-80th-floor-165-million-renovations-complete/ |access-date=January 24, 2020 |publisher=CBS News |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222025308/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/empire-state-building-80th-floor-165-million-renovations-complete/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter two observatories saw a combined average of four&nbsp;million visitors per year in 2010.<ref name="CNN 1">{{Cite news |title=Empire State Building Fast Facts |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/us/empire-state-building-fast-facts/index.html |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101213938/https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/us/empire-state-building-fast-facts/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bagli 2011">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/nyregion/empire-state-building-observation-decks-generate-startling-profits.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/nyregion/empire-state-building-observation-decks-generate-startling-profits.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |title=Empire State Building Observation Decks Generate Startling Profits |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |date=December 24, 2011 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=October 24, 2017}}{{cbignore }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |title=3.3 Million Were Expected at Trade Center Attraction; A Million Haven't Shown Up |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=May 28, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/nyregion/3-3-million-were-expected-at-trade-center-attraction-1-million-havent-shown-up.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/nyregion/3-3-million-were-expected-at-trade-center-attraction-1-million-havent-shown-up.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |access-date=October 24, 2017}}{{cbignore }}</ref> Since opening, the observatories have been more popular than similar observatories at [[30 Rockefeller Plaza]], the Chrysler Building, the first One World Trade Center, or the [[Woolworth Building]], despite being more expensive.<ref name="Bagli 2011" /> There are [[Dynamic pricing|variable charges]] to enter the observatories based on demand and time of day.<ref>{{cite web | last=Small | first=Eddie | title=Empire State Building observatory to try out surge pricing | website=Crain&#039;s New York Business | date=February 20, 2025 | url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/empire-state-building-owner-launch-dynamic-ticket-pricing | access-date=February 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Schiffman | first=Zach | title=Surge Pricing Comes to the Empire State Building | website=Curbed | date=February 21, 2025 | url=https://www.curbed.com/article/empire-state-building-dynamic-pricing-observation-deck-tickets.html | access-date=February 23, 2025}}</ref> Though most tickets allow visitors to go to the 86th floor, an [[upcharge attraction|additional fee]] is charged for access to the 102nd floor. Other ticket options for visitors include scheduled access to view the sunrise from the observatory, a "premium" guided tour with VIP access, and the "AM/PM" package which allows for two visits in the same day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esbnyc.com/tickets/index.cfm |title=ESB Tickets |publisher=Empire State Building |access-date=July 10, 2010 |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512193246/https://www.esbnyc.com/tickets/index.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{multiple images
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| image1 = Empire State Building 86th floor.jpg
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| footer = Interior and exterior observation decks at the 86th floor
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The 86th floor observatory contains both an enclosed viewing gallery and an open-air outdoor viewing area, allowing for it to remain open 365 days a year regardless of the weather. The 102nd floor observatory is completely enclosed and much smaller in size. The 102nd floor observatory was closed to the public from the late 1990s to 2005 due to limited viewing capacity and long lines.{{sfn|Fodor's|2010|p=154}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Mates |first=Rich |title=City That Never Sleeps Is Full of Unexpected Treasures |newspaper=The Citizens' Voice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48518102/ |date=October 12, 2003 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref> The observation decks were redesigned in mid-1979.<ref name="Mouat 1979">{{Cite news |last=Mouat |first=Lucia |date=November 28, 1979 |title=No Longer The Tallest, 'Most Famous' Building in World |page=14 |work=Olean Times-Herald |publisher=[[The Christian Science Monitor|Monitor News Service]] |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252024%2FOlean%2520NY%2520Times%2520Herald%2FOlean%2520NY%2520Times%2520Herald%25201979%2FOlean%2520NY%2520Times%2520Herald%25201979%2520a%2520-%25201143.pdf |access-date=October 29, 2017 |via=[[fultonhistory.com]] }}</ref> The 102nd floor was again redesigned in a project that was completed in 2019, allowing the windows to be extended from floor to ceiling and widening the space in the observatory overall.<ref name="Wallace 2019">{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=Elizabeth |date=October 11, 2019 |title=The Empire State Building's View Just Got Even Better |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/empire-state-building-observatory-new-york/index.html |access-date=November 5, 2019 |website=CNN Travel |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105180832/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/empire-state-building-observatory-new-york/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Russell 2019" /> An observatory on the 80th floor, opened in 2019, includes various exhibits as well as a mural of the skyline drawn by British artist [[Stephen Wiltshire]].<ref name="Ricciulli 2019">{{cite web |last=Ricciulli |first=Valeria |date=December 2, 2019 |title=Empire State Building Completes $165M Revamp with New Observatory |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2019/12/2/20991515/empire-state-building-new-observatory-redevelopment-nyc |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=Curbed NY |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224040829/https://ny.curbed.com/2019/12/2/20991515/empire-state-building-new-observatory-redevelopment-nyc |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CBS News 2019" /> An interactive multimedia museum, with multiple hands-on exhibitions about the building's history, was added during this project.<ref name="CBS News 2019a">{{cite web |date=October 11, 2019 |title=Exclusive Look Inside the Empire State Building's $160 Million Makeover |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/empire-state-building-massive-renovation-exclusive-look-inside-new-observatory/ |access-date=September 29, 2023 |publisher=CBS News |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003012727/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/empire-state-building-massive-renovation-exclusive-look-inside-new-observatory/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The design of the {{cvt|10000|ft2}} Observatory Experience was inspired by the plans and designs of the original Empire State Building.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayes-Osterman |first=Cybele |date=July 29, 2019 |title=Inside the Empire State Building's New Interactive Museum, The Observatory Experience |url=https://untappedcities.com/2019/07/29/inside-the-new-empire-state-buildings-new-interactive-museum-the-observatory-experience/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=Untapped New York |language=en-US |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110020024/https://untappedcities.com/2019/07/29/inside-the-new-empire-state-buildings-new-interactive-museum-the-observatory-experience/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a 2010 report by [[Condé Nast Traveler|Concierge.com]], the five lines to enter the observation decks are "as legendary as the building itself". Concierge.com stated that there were five lines: the sidewalk line, the lobby elevator line, the ticket purchase line, the second elevator line, and the line to get off the elevator and onto the observation deck.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.concierge.com/ideas/hotspots/tours/500723?page=3 |title=Ten Things Not to Do in New York |publisher=Concierge.com |access-date=October 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316041809/http://www.concierge.com/ideas/hotspots/tours/500723?page=3 |archive-date=March 16, 2010 }}</ref> In 2016, New York City's official tourism website made note of only three lines: the security check line, the ticket purchase line, and the second elevator line.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nycgo.com/tours/empire-state-building-tickets-observatory-and-optional-skip-the-line-ticket |title=Empire State Building Tickets – Observatory and Optional Skip the Line Tickets |date=May 10, 2016 |work=The Official Guide to New York City |access-date=December 11, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211160853/https://www.nycgo.com/tours/empire-state-building-tickets-observatory-and-optional-skip-the-line-ticket |url-status=live }}</ref> Following renovations completed in 2019, designed to streamline queuing and reduce wait times, guests enter from a single entrance on 34th Street, where they make their way through {{convert|10,000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} exhibits on their way up to the observatories. Guests were offered a variety of ticket packages, including a package that enables them to skip the lines throughout the duration of their stay.<ref name="Russell 2019">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/arts/design/empire-state-building-observatory.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/arts/design/empire-state-building-observatory.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |title=The Empire State Building: Renewing the Affair |last=Russell |first=James S. |date=September 19, 2019 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=November 5, 2019}}{{cbignore }}</ref> The Empire State Building garners significant revenue from ticket sales for its observation decks, making more money from ticket sales than it does from renting office space during some years.<ref name="Bagli 2011" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/no-threat-from-large-gorillas-hhq8vn2zmck |title=No Threat from Large Gorillas |first=David |last=Robertson |date=April 23, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times (London, England)|The Times]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |quote=According to details prepared for the proposed initial public offering of Empire State Realty Trust, the skyscraper earned $62.9&nbsp;million from its observation deck in nine months last year, compared with $62.6&nbsp;million from the rental of office space. |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129121900/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article3391920.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{clear}}

{{wide image|Skyline-New-York-City.jpg|2000px|A 360° panoramic view of New York City from the 86th-floor observation deck in spring 2005. East River is to the left, Hudson River to the right, south is near center.}}

====New York Skyride====
In early 1994, a [[motion simulator]] attraction was built on the 2nd floor,<ref>{{cite news |last=Trucco |first=Terry |title=Travel Advisory: Empire State Building; New York on One Floor |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=January 1, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/01/travel/travel-advisory-empire-state-building-new-york-on-one-floor.html |access-date=October 31, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014939/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/01/travel/travel-advisory-empire-state-building-new-york-on-one-floor.html |url-status=live }}</ref> as a complement to the observation deck.<ref name="The New Yorker 2001">{{cite magazine |title=A Curious Flight Path |magazine=The New Yorker |date=November 5, 2001 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/11/12/a-curious-flight-path |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024100134/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/11/12/a-curious-flight-path |url-status=live }}</ref> The original cinematic presentation lasted approximately 25&nbsp;minutes, while the simulation was about eight minutes.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rosenberg |first1=A. |last2=Dunford |first2=M. |title=The Rough Guide to New York |publisher=Rough Guides |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84836-590-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781848365902 |url-access=registration |access-date=October 24, 2017 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781848365902/page/128 128] }}</ref> The ride had two incarnations. The original version, which ran from 1994 until around 2002, featured [[James Doohan]], ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek's]]'' [[Montgomery Scott|Scotty]], as the airplane's pilot who humorously tried to keep the flight under control during a storm.<ref>{{cite book |title=VR World |publisher=Mecklermedia |issue=v. 2–3 |year=1994 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REpVAAAAMAAJ |access-date=October 24, 2017 |page=32 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Michelin Tire Corporation |title=New York City |publisher=Michelin Tire Corporation |series=Michelin green guides |year=2002 |isbn=978-2-06-100408-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BaIXAQAAMAAJ |access-date=October 24, 2017 |page=82 }}</ref> After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the ride was closed.<ref name="The New Yorker 2001" /> An updated version debuted in mid-2002, featuring actor [[Kevin Bacon]] as the pilot, with the new flight also going haywire.<ref name="Fodors2012">{{cite book |title=Fodor's New York City |publisher=Fodor's Travel |series=Fodor's Travel Guides |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-8041-4370-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SobFCwAAQBAJ |access-date=October 24, 2017 |page=<!--no page numbers in this edition--> }}</ref> This new version served a more informative goal, as opposed to the old version's main purpose of entertainment, and contained details about the 9/11 attacks.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Quay |first1=Sara E. |last2=Damico |first2=Amy M. |title=September 11 in Popular Culture: A Guide |publisher=Greenwood |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-313-35505-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lx7i4YHl_NoC&pg=PA12 |access-date=October 31, 2017 |page=12 }}</ref> The simulator received mixed reviews, with assessments of the ride ranging from "great" to "satisfactory" to "corny".<ref>{{cite web |last=Kleinfield |first=N. R. |title=Feud Over Views From the Empire State Building |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=June 16, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/nyregion/feud-over-views-from-the-empire-state-building.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/nyregion/feud-over-views-from-the-empire-state-building.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |access-date=October 24, 2017}}{{cbignore }}</ref><!--The Skyride attraction permanently closed on December 31, 2015.-->

===Spire===
====<span class="anchor" id="Dirigible (airship) terminal"></span>Above the 102nd floor====
The final stage of the building was the installation of a hollow mast, a {{convert|158|ft|m|adj=on}} steel shaft fitted with elevators and utilities, above the 86th floor.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} The spire of the Empire State Building was originally intended to serve as a [[mooring mast]] for zeppelins and other airships, although the plan was abandoned after high winds made that impossible.<ref name="am New York 2016" /> At the top would be a conical roof and the 102nd-floor docking station.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} Inside, the elevators would ascend {{convert|167|ft|m}} from the 86th-floor ticket offices to a {{convert|33|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} 101st-floor{{efn|name=101st-floor}} waiting room.<ref name="Hearst Magazines 1931">{{cite book |author=Hearst Magazines |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_n-MDAAAAMBAJ |title=Popular Mechanics |date=May 1931 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_n-MDAAAAMBAJ/page/n173 812] }}</ref>{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=82}} From there, stairs would lead to the 102nd floor,{{efn|name=101st-floor}} where passengers would enter the airships.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}} The airships would have been moored to the spire at the equivalent of the building's 106th floor.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=82}}{{sfn|Jackson|2010|pp=1344}}

As constructed, the mast contains four rectangular tiers topped by a cylindrical shaft with a conical pinnacle.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} On the 102nd (formerly 101st) floor, there is a door with stairs ascending to a 103rd (formerly 102nd) floor. This top level, originally planned to be the airship docking station, now contains electrical equipment and features an exterior balcony.{{efn|name=101st-floor}}<ref name="Rothstein 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/arts/design/empire-state-buildings-new-exhibition-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/arts/design/empire-state-buildings-new-exhibition-review.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |title=A View Inside King Kong's Perch |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |first=Edward |last=Rothstein |date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2013}}{{cbignore }}</ref>  The floor is inaccessible to the public but celebrities and dignitaries may be given permission to take pictures there.<ref name="CBS New York 2011" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Carlson |first=Jen |title=Here's The View From The Private 103rd Balcony of the Empire State Building |website=Gothamist |date=February 2, 2016 |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/02/02/esb_103rd_floor_vertigo.php |access-date=October 22, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105170332/http://gothamist.com/2016/02/02/esb_103rd_floor_vertigo.php |archive-date=November 5, 2017 }}</ref> A set of stairs and a ladder ascend to the spire and are used by maintenance workers.<ref name="CBS New York 2011">{{cite web |title=Inaccessible New York: Up To The 103rd Floor Of The Empire State Building |website=CBS New York |date=June 6, 2011 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/inaccessible-new-york-up-to-the-103rd-floor-of-the-empire-state-building/ |access-date=October 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063137/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/inaccessible-new-york-up-to-the-103rd-floor-of-the-empire-state-building/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The mast's 480 windows were all replaced in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Keiko |title=Raising the Glass at the Empire State Building |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 31, 2015 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/raising-the-glass-at-the-empire-state-building-1440979749 |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074240/https://www.wsj.com/articles/raising-the-glass-at-the-empire-state-building-1440979749 |url-status=live }}</ref> The mast serves as the base of the building's broadcasting antenna.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}}

Inflatable objects have sometimes been mounted to the spire for promotional purposes. For example, a [[King Kong]] balloon was attached to the spire in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of the character's introduction,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Geist |first=William E. |date=April 8, 1983 |title=King Kong, At 50, Lacks Get Up and Go |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/08/nyregion/king-kong-at-50-lacks-get-up-and-go.html |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915050302/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/08/nyregion/king-kong-at-50-lacks-get-up-and-go.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and an inflatable dragon was placed on the spire in 2024 to promote the TV series ''[[House of Dragon]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Kristine |title=To Promote House of Dragon, The Empire State Building Displays a 270-Foot Inflatable Dragon |website=The Architect's Newspaper |date=June 18, 2024 |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/house-of-dragon-empire-state-building-displays/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630010631/https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/house-of-dragon-empire-state-building-displays/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Broadcast stations====
[[File:EmpireStateBuilding highest point-crop.jpg|thumb|left|Antennas for broadcast stations located at the top of the building]]

Broadcasting began at the Empire State Building on December 22, 1931, when [[NBC]] and [[RCA]] began transmitting experimental television broadcasts from a small antenna erected atop the mast, with two separate transmitters for the visual and audio data. They leased the 85th floor and built a laboratory there.<ref name="Haskett 1967" /> In 1934, RCA was joined by [[Edwin Howard Armstrong]] in a cooperative venture to test his FM system from the building's antenna.<ref name="Zarkin 2006" /><ref name="Lessing 1956 p. 20">{{cite book |last=Lessing |first=L. |title=Man of High Fidelity: Edwin Howard Armstrong: A Biography |publisher=Lippincott |year=1956 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYAeAAAAIAAJ |access-date=October 23, 2017 |page=20 }}</ref> This setup, which entailed the installation of the world's first [[Frequency modulation|FM transmitter]],<ref name="Lessing 1956 p. 20" /> continued only until October of the next year due to disputes between RCA and Armstrong.<ref name="Haskett 1967" /><ref name="Zarkin 2006">{{cite book |last1=Zarkin |first1=K. |last2=Zarkin |first2=M.J. |title=The Federal Communications Commission: Front Line in the Culture and Regulation Wars |publisher=Greenwood Press |series=Understanding our government |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-313-33416-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KZ33mq1mLmAC&pg=PA109 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |pages=109–110 }}</ref> Specifically, NBC wanted to install more TV equipment in the room where Armstrong's transmitter was located.<ref name="Lessing 1956 p. 20" />

After some time, the 85th floor became home to RCA's New York television operations initially as experimental station W2XBS channel 1 then, from 1941, as commercial station WNBT channel 1 (now [[WNBC]] channel 4). NBC's FM station, W2XDG, began transmitting from the antenna in 1940.<ref name="Haskett 1967" /><ref>{{cite book |author=Radio Corporation of America |title=Radio Age |publisher=Radio Corporation of America |issue=v. 3–4 |year=1943 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TaETAQAAMAAJ |language=en |access-date=October 23, 2017 |page=6 }}</ref> NBC retained exclusive use of the top of the building until 1950 when the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) ordered the exclusive deal be terminated. The FCC directive was based on consumer complaints that a common location was necessary for the seven extant New York-area television stations to transmit from so that receiving antennas would not have to be constantly adjusted. Other television broadcasters would later join RCA at the building on the 81st through 83rd floors, often along with sister FM stations.<ref name="Haskett 1967" /> Construction of a dedicated broadcast tower began on July 27, 1950,<ref name="Buffalo Courier-Express 1950">{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%25201950%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%25201950%2520-%25207585.pdf |title=O'Dwyer Starts TV Tower Work |date=July 28, 1950 |work=Buffalo Courier-Express |agency=Associated Press |access-date=October 27, 2017 |via=[[fultonhistory.com]] }}</ref> with TV, and FM, transmissions starting in 1951. The {{convert|200|ft|m|sigfig=1|adj=on}} broadcast tower was completed in 1953.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}}{{sfn|Al-Kodmany|2017|p=72}}<ref name="Kinney 1953">{{cite magazine |last1=Kinney |first1=Harrison |last2=Gill |first2=Brendan |date=April 1, 1953 |title=The Talk of the Town |url=http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1953-04-11#folio=018 |magazine=The New Yorker |page=19 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213081311/http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1953-04-11#folio=018 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 1951, six broadcasters agreed to pay a combined $600,000 per year for the use of the antenna.<ref name="Jamestown Journal 1951">{{cite news |date=June 22, 1951 |title=Appraiser's 'Inside' Helped Sell Empire State Building |page=1 |work=Jamestown Journal |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FJamestown%2520NY%2520Post%2520Journal%2FJamestown%2520NY%2520Post%2520Journal%25201951%2FJamestown%2520NY%2520Post%2520Journal%25201951%2520-%25203739.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2017 |via=[[fultonhistory.com]] }}</ref> In 1965, a separate set of FM antennae was constructed ringing the 103rd floor observation area to act as a master antenna.<ref name="Haskett 1967">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.tech-notes.tv/History&Trivia/ANTENNAS%20ON%20ESB_files/ANTENNAS%20ON%20ESB.htm |title=Broadcast Antennas On The Empire State Building |journal=Broadcast Engineering Magazine |date=August 1967 |first=Thomas R. |last=Haskett |pages=24–31 }}</ref>

The placement of the stations in the Empire State Building became a major issue with the construction of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in the late 1960s, and early 1970s. The greater height of the Twin Towers would reflect radio waves broadcast from the Empire State Building, eventually resulting in some broadcasters relocating to the newer towers instead of suing the developer, the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]].{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=356}} Even though the nine stations who were broadcasting from the Empire State Building were leasing their broadcast space until 1984, most of these stations moved to the World Trade Center as soon as it was completed in 1971. The broadcasters obtained a court order stipulating that the Port Authority had to build a mast and transmission equipment in the [[One World Trade Center#Original building|North Tower]], as well as pay the broadcasters' leases in the Empire State Building until 1984.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|pp=356–357}} Only a few broadcasters renewed their leases in the Empire State Building.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=357}}

The September 11 attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and the broadcast centers atop it, leaving most of the city's stations without a transmitter for ten days until the [[Armstrong Tower]] in [[Alpine, New Jersey]], was re-activated temporarily.{{sfn|Guerrero et al.|2002|p=36}} By October 2001, nearly all of the city's commercial broadcast stations (both television and FM radio) were again transmitting from the top of the Empire State Building. In a report that [[United States Congress|Congress]] commissioned about the transition from [[analog television]] to [[digital television]], it was stated that the placement of broadcast stations in the Empire State Building was considered "problematic" due to interference from nearby buildings. In comparison, the congressional report stated that the former Twin Towers had very few buildings of comparable height nearby thus signals suffered little interference.{{sfn|Guerrero et al.|2002|p=37}} In 2003, a few FM stations were relocated to the nearby [[Condé Nast Building]] to reduce the number of broadcast stations using the Empire State Building.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cianci |first=P.J. |title=High Definition Television: The Creation, Development and Implementation of HDTV Technology |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-7864-8797-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0mbsfr38GTgC&pg=PA254 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |page=254 }}</ref> Eleven [[Television broadcasting|television]] stations and twenty-two [[FM broadcasting|FM]] stations had signed 15-year leases in the building by May 2003. It was expected that a taller broadcast tower in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], or [[Governors Island]], would be built in the meantime with the Empire State Building being used as a "backup" since signal transmissions from the building were generally of poorer quality.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |title=Broadcasters Put Antennas in Midtown |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=May 12, 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/12/nyregion/broadcasters-put-antennas-in-midtown.html |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229141305/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/12/nyregion/broadcasters-put-antennas-in-midtown.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the construction of [[One World Trade Center]] in the late 2000s and early 2010s, some TV stations began moving their transmitting facilities there.<ref>{{cite web |title=One World Trade Center Readies for Broadcasters |website=Radio & Television Business Report |date=October 1, 2013 |url=https://www.rbr.com/one-world-trade-center-readies-for-broadcasters/ |access-date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024082352/https://www.rbr.com/one-world-trade-center-readies-for-broadcasters/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{As of|2021}}, the Empire State Building is home to the following stations:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiomap.us/us-ny/new-york |title=Radio Stations in New York, NY |publisher=World Radio Map |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027025152/http://www.radiomap.us/us-ny/new-york |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Television: [[WABC-TV|WABC-7]], [[WPIX|WPIX-11]], [[WXTV-DT|WXTV-41 Paterson]], and [[WFUT-DT|WFUT-68 Newark]]
* FM: [[WINS-FM|WINS-92.3]], [[WPAT-FM|WPAT-93.1 Paterson]], [[WNYC-FM|WNYC-93.9]], [[WPLJ|WPLJ-95.5]], [[WXNY-FM|WXNY-96.3]], [[WQHT|WQHT-97.1]], [[WSKQ-FM|WSKQ-97.9]], [[WEPN-FM|WEPN-98.7]], [[WHTZ|WHTZ-100.3 Newark]], [[WCBS-FM|WCBS-101.1]], [[WFAN-FM|WFAN-101.9]], [[WNEW-FM|WNEW-FM-102.7]], [[WKTU|WKTU-103.5 Lake Success]], [[WAXQ|WAXQ-104.3]], [[WWPR-FM|WWPR-105.1]], [[WQXR-FM|WQXR-105.9 Newark]], [[WLTW|WLTW-106.7]], and [[WBLS|WBLS-107.5]]
* [[NOAA Weather Radio]] station KWO35 broadcasts at a frequency of 162.550&nbsp;MHz from the [[National Weather Service]] in [[Upton, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=NWR Transmitter Propagation |url=https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=KWO35 |access-date=March 21, 2023 |website=weather.gov |language=EN-US |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321032942/https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=KWO35 |url-status=live }}</ref>