Empire State Building
New York, USA

HEIGHT: 381 meters/1,250 feet
FLOORS: 102 floors
COMPLETION: 1932
ARCHITECT: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon

Tallest building in the world when it was completed in April 1931, the Empire State Building broke every record in the book. At 1250 feet, it topped the Chrysler Building by 200 feet and the third tallest, the Manhattan Company Building at 40 Wall Street, by more than 300 feet. Gargantuan in scale, its five-story base covered two acres and its eighty-five floors of offices boasted more rentable space -- 2.1 million square feet -- than the Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street combined.

The most astounding statistic of the Empire State, though, was the extraordinary speed with which it was planned and constructed. Within just twenty months from the first signed contracts with the architects in September 1929, the Empire State was designed, engineered, erected, and ready for tenants. Six months after the first structural columns were set in April 1930, the steel frame topped out on the eighty-sixth floor. The fully enclosed building, including the mooring mast that raised its height to the equivalent of 102 stories, was finished within eleven months, in March 1931. At peak activity, 3,500 workers were employed on site, and the tower raised a story a day.

During these twenty months, architectural and engineering drawings were prepared, the massive Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was demolished, the foundations and grillages were dug and set, and 57,000 tons of structural steel were fabricated and milled to precise specifications. Ten million common bricks were laid, 62,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured, 6400 windows were set, and 67 elevators were installed in 7 miles of shafts. Interiors were equipped with 6,700 radiators, 2,500 toilets and sinks, and 51 miles of plumbing pipe, and were finished with 10,000 tons of plaster and 328,000 square feet of marble.

http://home.sandiego.edu/~jdooley/empire%20state.JPG

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esb02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esb03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esb03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esb05.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esb06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esbnight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/skyscraperrot/esbbase.jpg

Oh man, how do you rate a structure like this. Personally, I give it a 9, but it's so much more than meets the eye.

9/10

No other building defines skyscraper as much as this. Just for being as massive as it is..it easily gets a 9.
The lighting at night is a nice accessory.

You just can't say enough... This building revolutionized the way in which highrises were built, and was the WTB for almost 50 years...

9.5/10

The spire
http://www.nyctourist.com/images/empire%20state/es_antenna.jpg

The 102nd floor observatory
http://www.nyctourist.com/images/empire%20state/es_view_102floor.jpg

http://romaine.home.pipeline.com/pics/nyc/jpgs/ESB-fog-20010118-Img_0783.jpg

Possibly the best in New York. Yeah Baby! 9/10

8.5/10

i love art-deco buildings.. ESB look great.. i give 9/10..

10/10 . . this thing has dominated since my grandma was a baby!! thats a LONG time .. . looks like ill be throwing around alot of 10s in the 100 tallest forum here;) im such a sucker for height . .

10/10

I like art-deco buildings.

This building helped me join my skyscraper hobby! This is a true legend!

9/10!

ESB is legendary. Nice shape, nice colour, nice facade.

10/10, very perfect.

One of the most famous buildings in the world.

8.5/10

Who gave this a 4? What's wrong with you???? :bleep:

cant go past an art-decor beauty ;)

9

tays

9! a true CLASSIC!:D

10/10 need i say more?? i'm so glad i've actually been inside this building..

10/10

love the art - deco style. and i mean really it still holds up extremely well even by todays standards. Imagine in 1931 having a 381 meter tall building in your city. Back then most cities worldwide bearly had anything over 10 stories.

I like it! 8/10

10/10 really great building. great views. beautiful architecture

Total classic, although not quite as beautiful as the Chrysler. Who gave it less than 3?

10/10

Here is another picture! :)

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~setreal/Pics/ny/empire%20state%20building.jpg

Image from: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~setreal/Pics/ny/

Jealousy gave it a three...

10/10 best in the world

Classic - I love the vertical lines, the robust way the setbacks fall away at the top, with the art deco ornaments, and the silver scalloped mooring mast. 9.5/10

TEN. Of course.

Empire State Building is a true classic.

10/10 all day long.

10/10 - She's one of my favorites - elegant massing, a proud and soaring tower with those mullions that can really dance with the light, and the mooring mast is a perfect crown, just the right splash of extra razz-a-ma-tazz. Art Deco rules!:okay:
And as a Hoosier, please allow me to be happy that her facade is Indiana limestone.

9/10

This building stands as a becon for hard times because it was built during the great depression. It also is a cool building.

I gave it a 10

To Boresville McYawn - Actually, I wonder if some cranky modernist critic didn't give the ESB a three because it isn't a Mies/Corbusier glass box?

Ask them why they voted that way yourselves...

Booyashako
Darius
SE Lad



I bet the impression that they did so probably because they like modernism muchbetter. They probably gave the BOC a 10.

This one was built for the sole purpose of being big and beautifull which to me are the two best reasons to built skyscrapers. A 10/10 it is.

You probably have a point, Jasonhoue ...Well, though the ESB is one of my all-time favorite skyscrapers, I still gave the BOC a 9/10 myself - In spite of all of my growlings about boring boxes and flat tops - and I STILL think flat tops are one of the banes of modernism, even though they are based on economics - I try to look for and appreciate the best examples of different styles.
BTW, I really like some of the buildings that take a page out of the Art Deco style book and combine that with modern features like glass curtain walls, such as One and Two Liberty Place in Philadelphia.

The big daddy of all skyscrapers!! :master:

Hm...isn't it sort of an abuse of power to tell people who voted what? If they chose not to say anything, maybe they just didn't want to deal with the inevitable onslaught of "What the fuck is wrong with you!" and "You have NO taste!" posts slamming them into the ground.

Oh yeah - I love the ESB. 10/10

Good point, CG5, which is why I'm restraining my librarianly relentless curiosity.....

truly a classic skyscraper...having visited this building was a memorable expierence...although it looks massive on the outside it didn't feel that way once inside...the lobby is timeless in appearance & I even got to visit the 102nd. floor observatory!
even though the Chrysler is my favorite, ESB deserves a 10/10!!!

The Empire State Building is an original and beautiful building, it looks like a giant trophey in the middle of Manhatten. I have to give it a 10.

This building is "Le grand Dame" of New York, I"ll give it a 10

This is one of the best buildings in the world. Its mass and height, and how gracefully they are handled, warrant an 8 from the start. The lighting at night provides a distinctive, classic, timeless feel. Nothing says "New York" more than this building: massive, brilliant, solid, with just enough grit and problematic elements to keep it from being perfect.

10/10 - this building puts the universe to shame!:D

8.5/10

just like it!!;)

This is a legend.The best skyscraper in the world.I couldn't give it any less than a 10.

10/10

Here's a pic I took last summer.
http://home.planet.nl/~west3142/EmpireStateBuildeigen.jpg

Also with the Crysler Building (left).

Awesome building, but pales in comparison to the splendor of the Chrysler.

It is huge, stands for a lot, but until the very top it is rather balh. But I still love it.

8/10

10/10

The world's most famous skyscraper, amazing presence, proportions, details - truly outstanding not only visually but its construction story is equally amazing - it defines NYC.

To me, the Empire State Builiding is extremley overrated. I like the Art-Deco at Rockafellar a whole lot more. Therefore, 5/10

10/10

The greatest skyscraper every built. Plus, it is made out of Indiana Limestone, which is always a plus!

It's really disappointing seeing that some people are not "honest"!! How can you mark the Empire State Building less then 3!! Maybe are you trying to push up "your" building? Try to be honest, and mark an UNIQUE building the right mark!! I give a 10/10, being the first proper skyscraper in the world, the tallest for 70 years and to have inspired many more scyscrapers to be built! Nevertheless its shape is still very fascinating!! .... and what about the view!! GREAT!!!

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by MZBELLO </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>It's really disappointing seeing that some people are not "honest"!! How can you mark the Empire State Building less then 3!! Maybe are you trying to push up "your" building? Try to be honest, and mark an UNIQUE building the right mark!! I give a 10/10, being the first proper skyscraper in the world, the tallest for 70 years and to have inspired many more scyscrapers to be built! Nevertheless its shape is still very fascinating!! .... and what about the view!! GREAT!!!</td></tr>
</table>

I share your sentiments regarding dishonesty in polls.
However to be fair, I do encourage you to rate the other buildings, and not just to rate your favourite buildings.:)

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by RafflesCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by MZBELLO </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>It's really disappointing seeing that some people are not "honest"!! How can you mark the Empire State Building less then 3!! Maybe are you trying to push up "your" building? Try to be honest, and mark an UNIQUE building the right mark!! I give a 10/10, being the first proper skyscraper in the world, the tallest for 70 years and to have inspired many more scyscrapers to be built! Nevertheless its shape is still very fascinating!! .... and what about the view!! GREAT!!!</td></tr>
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I share your sentiments regarding dishonesty in polls.
However to be fair, I do encourage you to rate the other buildings, and not just to rate your favourite buildings.:)</td></tr>
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There's definetely something going on here. The Empire State Building, Bank of China Tower, and the Chrsyler Building all have 10 or more "3 or less" votes when the vast majority have voted considerably higher. :?

Beautifull!! (ofcourse) I give it a 9.

One great building!!!

I have always wonderd how they built it soo fast!

9.5!(nothing is perfect)

9.5/10, I don't think any skyscraper can possibly be perfect and get a 10. ESB looks great in the day, and personally I think looks the best out of any skyscraper in the world at night. The ESB looks great from far and up close. My only complaint is that you can't see the top from the base, and the pizza place underneath it that charges $3.50 a slice!

What can i say about this one.You can't give this a low mark,you just can't!
I love it! 9.5/10

I think it is an ugly building. The spire really takes it down in my book by a lot. So it was the first massive scraper. So what? It looks heavy and stocky, and has little grace. Compared to the really beautiful building of today, this building looks aged and clumsy. 2/10

is an old buildling, but awesome!!
Size = 9
Height = 9
Design = 8
Overall = 8.5
:D

i think this building is too boxy and old.
but is still one of the top 20 building in my list.
8/10 ;)

The first real super tall skyscraper in the world....
It's still hangs on the top 10 ( i think)..after over 70 yrs..wow now that's an accomplishment.
ohh by the way i think you all could see i give it a 10/10.

Well...

9

One of the earliest towers I noe...and its still a 10/10. :)

The definitive skyscraper 10/10

King Kong liked it and so do I.

:banana::banana:The best one of all the times...:banana::banana:

Seventy and two years and one sees as if they had done it does two...

Best... the Father of the Skyscrapers...


Of course that is 10...

One of the pioneers of skyscraper construction! :)

9.5/10

72 years old and still one of the tallest in the world, it's incredible.
And it was only TWENTY months between the contract and the finish of the building!!!!

I will always love it....

10/10

9.5/10 There is no comparison. A classic for the ages.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Who gave this a 4? What's wrong with you???? :bleep:</td></tr>
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Don't worry about someone giving it a 4, I just gave it a 3.

3/10.

I don't like artdeco, the color's bad, the shape is okay, but the way the windows are done, well...it's a shame the best they could do was take an average window you can find in any american home and tile it up and down the building.

On the contrary, it's height is a plus and that's why I give it a 3 instead of less then 3.

edit: wording.

I think some people here need to stop criticising people who rate this poorly. They have a right to dislike this building, and at least Lechita7 and Duke Togo are honest enough to give valid reasons, we usually just get cowardly silent voters.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I think it is an ugly building. The spire really takes it down in my book by a lot. So it was the first massive scraper. So what? It looks heavy and stocky, and has little grace. Compared to the really beautiful building of today, this building looks aged and clumsy. 2/10</td></tr>
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I'm sorry but I think you're insane......10/10

8

Classic.:D

I give it a 15 out of 10. It's Empire State Building for christ's sake!

Oh most definitely a 10.This is the SKYSCRAPER.

10/10 When you look for skyscraper in a dictionary it says Empire State Building !!

10/10
The first thing most people think of when they here 'New York' or 'skyscraper' - world famous and world renowned! :)

The most famous building in the world.

Only New York could show us, already in 1931, a skyscraper so high and wonderful.

Very spectacular at night

10/10

it's f***ing beautiful. leaves spectators breathless. a symbol of newyork, america and probably scrapers! it's been the wtb for a long time (?) i dunno much history. spectacular esp at night. there are a bunch of other scrapers as beautiful as or more beautiful than the ESB but considering the fact that this has been built way ahead of them makes it even more unique!. 9/10

one million of ten!!!!!!!!!!
the best Skyscraper of all time
I love you ´Empty´ State Building!!!!!4ever!!!!!!!!!!!

10

Best art deco skyscraper 10/10

Its a classic...so...9/10

10/10

Flat out amazing. Especially in person. The lighting scheme is probably one of the greatest. The spire is amazing. This is what makes New York City.
http://home.earthlink.net/~ahaight/empirelit.jpg

great work, nevertheless the chrysler shows, how far art deco can go 9/10

The best skyscraper in the world :cheers:
10/10 or even more ;)

One of the best classics...10/10

10/10

10/10

Classic !!

10/10 i really like this Building very much:) wish Seoul would make some replica of this building cause i really like the design..

A great building, full of history. However, not the best looking skyscraper. So I give it (drum roll) 7/10.

I don't like it, 5/10

Great Building, 9/10

THE definitive skyscraper. Not the best art deco (the Chrysler gets this IMO) but this is THE definition of a skyscraper and an absolute legend.
10/10

easy 10/10

The mother of all skyscrapers!

the design is really old today...

but I give 9.5/10 to it's history and classic:)

http://home.earthlink.net/~ahaight/empirelit.jpg
Another 10.

EMPIRE - 10 of 10

wonderful.
10/10

10/10

9/10



truly classic

9.5/10
A famous landmark and a true classic!
One of the best skyscraper.

10/10

THE KING OF SKYSCRAPERS!!!


http://desktop.wz.cz/mista/empire_state_building.jpg

http://www.sigl.ch/events/usa/2001/nycmarathon/empire/empire01b.jpg

Looks perfect, base isn't oversized like on the Chrysler.

10/10 .My SECOND favorite building in the world.Truly amazing and sooooooo beautiful.Takes your breath away.Still standing strong after 70 years.What more can I say?Words have no meaning compared to The Empire State.

I fell in love with this building when I was a little boy.My father gave me a postcard of New York and the Empire State...smack in the middle.

:colgate: :colgate: :colgate: :colgate: :colgate: :colgate: :colgate:

THE KING OF SKYSCRAPERS!!!

Yup i agree. Hail to the king baby!

In 1930, 10/10, the holy skyscraper!!!, but i'l today give it 9/10

for a long time he has not been the king, needs a new neighbor 8,5/10 ;)

10/10. Magnificent, glorious and dominating like the Chrysler.

The Chrysler is better, more graceful 8/10

the building's very visually balanced. the perfect representation of what a skyscraper should be. this is the definition of skyscraper!!!

still, the view from it is even better than the view of it.

10/10...may it live as long as the world lasts.

10/10 I love it

10/10
The King of ALL Skyscrapers!!!! The best in the 30s and the best for ever!
:master::master::master::master::master::master:

A sign of New York!~So long time ago but can build this building, shows the high architecture of US

How do you rate this thing? It is the yard stick I use to rate everything else. Maybe not my favorite in any category, but always near the top. Like the height, the setbacks. The facade is (obviously) dated, I do not think its a great example of art deco "style" but somehow one of the great art deco "buildings". The setabacks are beautiful and the symmetry adds something to this guy. Every skyscraper ever built afterwards pays homage, in some way or another to the ESB, it forever influenced the way we think about tall buildings, so we can never be fair in judging it. Ooops, I couldnt resist voting...9.5/10 (my avg mark is a 5, for comparison)

impressive, 8.5

10/10

My favorite ever, 10.
I wonder if any building will ever break more records and become more well known.

I like this one, but the spire is herendous up close. 9.0.

i am one of those weird people who dislike this building

i love this building! it was built in 1931 and is still the world's 8th tallest building!!!!!

btw: it looks beautiful!!!!!

i dont like it too old

to old ! never !

10/10

9.5/10 ("I don't give 10's")

A superb building ... as far as city towers go, it was the inspiration for most of my childhood, and is probably the reason why I stumbled into skyscrapercity.com. There are very few towers put up subsequently that I'd rate as high. A gem.

esta decente le pondre un 8 :)

9 just because it is a classic and once worlds tallest

It's a very nice tall archetectural building that's perfect for me and it's my favorite skyscraper in NYC. 10/10

Legendary sky-scraper but continually beautiful 9/10

10/10 of course. Arguably the most iconic building in the world.

10

Best in the world and always will be as far as skyscrapers are concerned.

Classic 10/10 nothing less

probably the most popular skyscraper in the world 11/10 :)

True classic!!!
100000/10

10/10. True icon for NYC. First to go past 1000 feet to 1250, inspired future 1000 footers after it to the same -- even breaking Empire State Buildings' record. ESB is timeless, art-deco, and never aging. It's a heartbreaker to be the tallest in New York City again ever since that tragic day.:(

My all-time favorite 10/10

Pure class probaly the worlds best known building. 10/10

Pure class probaly the worlds best known building. 10/10

+1, Although I give it a 9/10

well its architecture isnt that special...
but the building is simple and beautiful..
and it is giving you a special feeling of force and stability
10/10

Realy the best skyscraper. Because of his age en structure. It looks even better then most of the skyscrapers that are build in the 90's and millenium years, so a 10 for shure.

Best building ever seen and it will always stay the best no metter what happens.

it was built in 1931 and is still the world's 8th tallest building!!!!!

Sixth. ;)

WOW. This thing is still one of the world's 10 tallest and it was built in freakin' 1931! How mind-blowing it must have been back then. And built in 20 months? What the hell happened? These days just the litigation process against the zoning board and the goddamn NIMBY's and concerned citizens would take twice as long, before any construction even begins. Progress, my ass!
P. S. how cool would it be if blimps actually docked with the mooring mast?

To anyone from anywhere..............how could you not respect the Empire State Building as the greatest of Skyscrapers ever.........! OK taller is happenning but taking all into account....history will never go beyond this ICON of skyscrapers

I know it says 10 (I gave it a 10) but I would give it an a 11!

theutiman, the contractors (Starrett Bros.) pioneered a number of the "just-in-time" construction methods still used today - they had everything planned out, down to when each truck would show up at the site; if a trucker missed his place in line one day, he'd have to wait a day. In fact, I've heard it said that they got the steel beams from the mills so fast that some of then were still a bit warm from the forge...

As to blimps docking with the mooring mast, well, there's a movie that came out this year - Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, I think it is - that starts out, as I understand it, with a blimp actually docking and letting passengers off, and I would be sorely tempted to get the DVD when it comes out for that sequence alone...Does anyone out there know if that actually made it into the film from the book?

I do wonder, though, if the docking machinery would have made enough racket to distract people working in the upper reaches?

9.5/10 true classic

A classic 8 - Still, I prefer the Crysler Building as it has more detail.

Best skyscraper in the world in my book.
infinity points. :D 10/10

legend....9/10

This is my favourite building

a true classic.
10/10

america: the land of freedom and electric lights...

symbol of america, 70 years still proudly stands.. and still going strong..

i quote someone from here: no modern building built from machine can compete to a building made from man´s hands.

10.0
The mother of all scrapers.

10.
Classic. My favourite NY skyscarper.

I rated it lower than Chrysler based on photographs only. After seeing it in person-wow. Hands down the best in New York City if not the world

Beautiful.... 10 points..!

:cheers:

This is how a skyscraper used to be: tall, massive... beatiful! :colgate:

10/10

9.5/10 Perhaps the most famous building in the world, even when other buildings will be twice as tall as it, or more modern.

9/10

Check out Empire State Building's twin tower: Bank Ekspres Tower (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=159744)

This building is the reason why I love skyscrapers. It´s so beautiful, could be others 10 times higher, but empire state building will continue being the best. There is a photograph in my wall, and in my heart, and of course, a big 3d puzzle reaching for the top of my room, xD. I can´t vote this buildings because there isn´t enough rating for this, ten points isn´t enough.


Murcia for president!!!

5... for building..
8 for the view of ny...

when i went to ny the first time.. one of my must things priority to do was to go inside the empire state and go to the observatory deck..

long queue... it took hours to even reach the elevators.. was able to observe the interior of the building.. it was a dissapointment and way too hot...

then the elevators aint working well.. we had to take the stairs from 80th floor i think to the 86th floor.. twas scary... everyones sweating.. it felt like when people used the stairs in 9/11...

after 3 hours.. we reached the observatory deck at last.. the view was great but was way too tired and pissed off... and didnt take more than 10 minutes and decided to go down.. this time.. a bit shorter..

subway was the worst transport i had to take.. even it was just from times square to empire state..

the experience is cool.. but i wont be going up there again.. if i want to see the view of ny... il take a helicopter or seaplane...

whenever im in ny.. i still like looking at the building.. outside.. its great.. inside.. not worth much of penny..

I love the Art Deco Style
absolutely amazing. 10/10

10/10! This building laid the blueprint for skyscrapers worldwide,whether art deco or post modern. Been inside twice and the views from the 86th floor obs. deck are the best in NYC, especially when looking out at the rest of the Midtown skyline.
The 102nd floor obs. deck was even better when I was there
16 years ago, but it's closed now. As a matter of fact, anyone know why they closed it?

i was told by a worker on the 86th last month that 'there was an accident up there a few years back, so it had to be closed because it's very narrow and too dangerous!'

the same worker also told me that 102 is still used now and again, and that tom cruise was shooting up there for a new movie of his just late last year.

^Oh, so Tom Cruise gets to go up there to shoot a scene
for his movie 'War of the Worlds' but I can't go up there
to cop some pics?! That's some modern-day Hollywood B.S.! Well, thanx for the input, DSB. :)

A classic building, but it isn't the most beautiful.

8

^ Look who's juiced up on Haterade and powerpills!

Dubbed *by me* The best 'scraper in the WORLD!

absolutely stunning !

... 10/10

My favourite building. 10 just because I can't rate higher!;)

What sort of c*nt can give this building less than three. It's the godfather of scrapers. The only 10/10 I've given , I think.

My all thime favourite American tower after Jonh Hancock Centre in Chicago, 10/10

It's great but there are much better skyscrapers 8.5/10

9.5/10

Timeless classic. 10.

10/10 for a true classic

The one that set the bar. 9/10

sure a 10!

10/10 because this building was done in the 1930's and still standing

Possibly the best building in the world. I give it a 10/10. Keep it up New York. :okay:

not my design, 8/10 for the age

a classic and alright looking building, but not the most beautiful one
9/10

Original worlds tallest. Classic, great setbacks, spire, best building in nyc period, but especially at night.

10

10/10 fantastic lights at night

WTF!!!!! More than 50 people have givin this 3 or less

EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!

Haters

Sorry but I'm not a big fan of the ESB design.
The cladding doesn't look very beautiful and didn't age as well as Chrysler's. The setbacks are nicely done, but again not as well as Chrysler's. The mast is ugly and out of place, and finally the new lighting at the top belongs more to Shanghai than NYC. Out of place IMO. I'll still give it a good grade for the amazing feat of building it so fast and tall in the 30s.
So that's a 7.

Classic...

How could you not rate it a 10?
It's a fantastic design, and such great hieght! The history is amazing too!
CLASSIC! One of the best and always will be:)

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/nyc/040911-01/02.jpg

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/nyc/041106/24.jpg

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/nyc/040911-01/05.jpg

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/nyc/040911-01/08.jpg

http://www.skyscrapersunset.com/skyscrapercity/nyc/041106/30.jpg

The world's nr 1 skyscraper ,stunning!!,10/10 no doubt :okay:

I went up the building and into it last year when I went to NYC, and the views are breathtaking, not to mention it may be one of the world's most famous buildings ever since KING KONG was filmed! 10/10. It's nice inside and out!

It's not a masterpiece as Chrysler is,but it is the building that symbolizes the skyscraper and the eternal capital of skyscrapers!
9/10

http://tinypic.com/4v0dfs

10/10

I actually like this building better than the Chrysler. It's a bit more balanced; I think the Chrysler's pyramid top screams too much compared to the rest of the building. This building obviously holds great value in architectural and structure-technological history.
9/10.

10

A real classic. 9.5/10.

10/10 Perfect! Enough said.

10/10 I love it :) :) :) :)

One of my favourite buildings. Number 8 on the list despite being 74 years old, pretty impressive.

Living legend, 9/10

10/10

It's a classic..

8.5

Legendary, but it could be improved. 9/10 for icon value.

"Legendary, but it could be improved."

How, precisely? Stick English Victorian kitch all over it, I suppose?

IT IS A CLASSIC, ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN THE WORLD!!!

8.5/10

8/10

8/10

9.5/10 a classic.

10/10 for its historicness and techie prowess (come on they did the whole thing in a a span of less than two years using tech from the 1930s!)

10!

PERFECTION!

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/9326/dscf00575hc.jpg

10/10 for holding the WTB for sooo long

10/10

great building- 9/10

a true legend!
9/10

10/10 for sure!

Absolutely unique
9/10

Not even coming from America, I know this building to be the definative original tallest skyscaper in the world. It will always be Iconic. Okay as the years have gone by, bigger and more creatively designed skyscrapers have been built, but Empire was quite revalutionary for it's time. Not even a colossal giant gorilla could get down safely from it :lol:

9.5/10 for it's Iconic status, if for nothing else. ;)

How can you not love this building? Its still one of the tallest after what 60 years? Gotta go with a 10

Very nice. The fact that it was built before 1940 makes it special. Not many skyscrapers over 1000 ft. were built before 1940. 10/10

9.5 truly iconic

Great building.
9.5

Well objectively it doesn't deserve my note however it ment very much to me when I was in NY and still reminds great moments.
10/10 for symbolics and memories...

THE skyscraper...
9/10

In my top 10. 9/10

8.5/10. I've got to be honest - the facade of ESB isn't really that attractive IMO. But I just can't give it a bad mark. I mean it's the Empire State Building - there wont ever be another building like it. Seventy four years on it's still, and will always be the most famous skyscraper on Earth.

I've always had a soft spot for this one. 10/10

10/10 absolutely one of the best symbol of USA

the most beuty, popular and nice clasical skyscraper in the world 9/10

Massive. Grand. Beautiful. Powerful. 100%.

This is the world's greatest skyscraper :) 10/10

It inspired thousands of skyscrapers especially these

Banespa Building (Sao Paulo)
http://members.aol.com/pochetti5/anhang_1.jpg

Central Plaza (Hong Kong)
http://dinus.w.interia.pl/central_plaza(6).jpg

a classic like this can only get a 10.

just great

10/10 no need to explain anything.

10/10

The ESB is a classic...an icon...a legend. WTB for 50 years; the first Supertall. It took the rest of the skyscrapers decades to catch up to it. There will never again be such a groundbreaking skyscraper, IMHO.

Still, aesthetically, I believe it's overrated. It's attractive but not spectacular; if it was built today, it would not gain nearly as much notoriety.

I'll give it an 8/10 primarily for its legendary status. If I was rating the building without its historical context, I'd give it only a 6/10.

9.5/10

A rainy night in gotham!! November 9, 2005

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/uno/DSC00892.jpg

^ great pic carlos!
magnificent skyscraper
timeless
the one that got me intrested in skyscrapers when i was 10.
10/10

its art deco mast is awesome
http://www.wirednewyork.com/landmarks/esb/images/esb_observe_top.jpg

http://members.aol.com/nycskyscrp/mid/3505th2.jpg

clopter- i think BurjDubai is doing what ESB did in the 1930's. its definatley a cut above the rest atm!

http://www.vivercidades.org.br/publique/media/soberba_BurjDubai.jpg

10/10...wish it were in Chicago!

one of the best. 9.5/10

9.5/10 - How could you not love it...

An icon of skyscrapers. Will be around long after many modern scrapers are no more. 9.5

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/uno/DSC00947.jpg

10/10 ;)

Who ever it was that said there's no need to explain anything when grading this one wonder was exactly right. However, I can't help but speak just a little bit on the Legend.

Hate it or Love it, the ESB in NYC is and will always be the ultimate skyscraper on earth no matter how high the new thin, spiffy-looking, glass towers of the 2000s decide to raise the bar. I would call it the "mother of all skyscrapers", but that would be the Chrysler Building. There is nothing that can be built that will become as legendary nor reign as the world's tallest for nearly as long as the Empire State did for over 40 years. Nearly three-quarters of a century have passed since it was finished and the ESB is still standing tall as the Icon and original Universal Skyscraper the world has come to know and respect.

It may not be the prettiest structure out there, but the limestone color is more than presentable, the art deco design pure classic and height still breathtaking even by today's ever-growing standards. So go ahead and build you a 3,000 ft. glass box, the ESB will always be on top. IT'S BEEN OVER.

10/10