2021 Undergraduate Research Showcase
 

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-23-2021

Faculty Sponsor

Kirsten Davis

Abstract

Located in Manhattan, New York City, the Empire State Building stands at 1,454 ft tall and took thirteen and a half months to construct between 1930-1931. Plans for the final design changed numerous times before being approved. It was originally planned for only fifty stories, then increased to sixty then eighty, and finally ended up being 102 stories tall. When completed, it was the tallest building in the world until 1970. The skyscraper was built in the location of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Prefabricated structural steel columns and concrete footings were some of the materials used at the start of construction. During the height of its construction, there were a total of 3,500 workers at the site, most of which were Irish and Italian immigrants. On average the workers would build about 4.5 floors per week, which is much quicker than we typically build today. Upon opening, it remained empty for some years because of the Great Depression. It stood as a symbol of hope and immigrant achievement. Now, the Empire State Building serves as one of the largest tourist attractions in the city.

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