The Empire State Building, a symbol of hope and endurance, celebrates its 90th birthday. "Whether it's the Eiffel Tower, the London "Big Ben" clock tower, or the Hollywood sign, every significant city in the globe has its unique emblem," Tuttle said. "New York City is no different - the Empire State Building is the icon of America's capital city. It is a monument to human ingenuity and innovation, a testament to our capacity to build great buildings." When the building was first proposed in 1929 by architect William F. Lamb, one of the requirements was that it had to be able to display a large number, such as on a billboard. The architects settled on 90 as the maximum height allow by law at the time. In addition, it was thought that if the top floor were any higher, people would have a hard time getting inside with all their luggage. Lamb also designed the Statue of Liberty, which was completed eight years before the Empire State Building.