History of the World's Tallest Buildings | Statistics | EMPORIS Add Building History of the World's Tallest Buildings Tall structures have always fascinated mankind. There were buildings stretching well over 100 meters into the sky even before industrialization. But how has the history of the tallest buildings in the world developed? Which structures have played a role in this history? The essential details can be found here. There are a few very early examples of architecture reaching far up into the sky. The Pyramid of Khufu for instance, from the 4th Dynasty (2620 to 2500 B.C.), at 139 meters the world's tallest pyramid, or the Pharos of Alexandria, which according to its legend was, at around 140 meters' height, the tallest lighthouse ever built up until the 20th century. And not to forget the Tower of Babel, which according to the Old Testament reached all the way up to Heaven. Since the 19th century, however, it has not just been sacred buildings that have been touching the clouds. Increasing numbers of high-rises with apartments, offices and hotel rooms have been built.

Skyscraper construction received its first significant impulse with the invention of the elevator by Elisha Grave Otis in 1852. While it would, from a technical point of view, already have been possible to build tall structures with more than six stories, one would have been unable to find many tenants for them. The invention of steel frame construction was the next important step on the road toward skyscraper architecture. The first building constructed in this way was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, built in 1885. At a height of 55 meters and ten floors it was the world's first high-rise – and revolutionary for the development of skyscraper construction. 1901 - 1908 Philadelphia City Hall From 1901 onward, Philadelphia City Hall in the American city of Philadelphia, already substantially taller at 167 meters, reached for the skies. In fact, the architecture of this skyscraper with a bell tower was not based on the recently-invented steel frame construction: to this day it is considered the tallest masonry structure in the world.

1908 - 1909 Singer Building For seven years, Philadelphia City Hall was the world's tallest building until it was superseded in 1908 by the Singer Building in New York City, which was 20 meters taller. This particular skyscraper was only able to stay in pole position a short time, however. 1913, only four years later, saw the opening of the 213-meter-tall Metropolitan Life Tower, also located in New York City. 1909 - 1913 Metropolitan Life Tower The skyscrapers that followed the Met Life Tower were also located in New York City. After just four years, the Woolworth Building, built in the borough of Manhattan and 241 meters tall, forced the Met Life Tower from the top spot. 1913 - 1930 Woolworth Building Construction of the Woolworth Building was only possible thanks to the development of reinforced foundations, technology intended to prevent the skyscraper from leaning too heavily and toppling over in the case of earth movements. Until 1930, the Woolworth Building was the world's tallest skyscraper.

1930 - 1930 The Trump Building The history of the skyscraper was increasingly concentrated in the decades that followed in the one city – New York City. 1930 saw the completion there, after less than a year's construction, of The Trump Building. At a height of 283 meters, it was briefly the world's tallest building. 1930 - 1931 Chrysler Building The Trump Building unfortunately had to cede its title after just a few weeks to the Chrysler Building, which, at 319 meters, exceeded it by far. The man who had it built, Walter Chrysler, was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris – at that time the world's tallest structure – to want to build the world's tallest skyscraper in the Chrysler Building in New York City. To win the race, Chrysler and his architect William van Alen came up with a sophisticated trick: Van Alen had an additional 56-meter-long spire built, which was then delivered secretly in pieces, put together in the elevator shaft and finally placed on the top of the building after its completion in just 90 minutes.

1931 - 1972 Empire State Building Around a year after it opened, the Chrysler Building was superseded by the 381-meter-tall Empire State Building. Built in a record time of 18 months, the tower was viewed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The weight of its presence in the media and its use as a setting for films such as "King Kong" or "Independence Day" have helped to make the Empire State Building one of the best-known skyscrapers from anywhere around the world. For 41 years it was the world's tallest building – longer than any other of the record-holders. 1972 - 1974 One World Trade Center Only in 1972 was this emblem of New York overtaken by an even-taller skyscraper in the shape of One World Trade Center, which – like so many of its predecessors as record-holder – was built in New York City. Following a construction period of seven years, the skyscraper and its 415-meter-tall twin tower became the two tallest buildings in the world.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, however, led to the World Trade Center being completely destroyed. 1974 - 1998 Willis Tower In 1974, two years on from the completion of the World Trade Center, the towers were overtaken by Sears Tower in Chicago. For over twenty years, the skyscraper was the world's tallest. In 2009, Sears Tower was renamed Willis Tower after the Willis Group Holding acquired the naming rights to the skyscraper and rented a substantial portion of the office space. 1998 - 2004 Petronas Towers In 1998, with construction of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the title of the world's tallest building passed for the first time to a skyscraper outside America. A significant feature of the twin towers is the skybridge between the towers, which is intended to serve as an escape route in the case of emergency. The completion of the Petronas Towers finally made it necessary to set up rules for measuring skyscraper heights, as the towers were only awarded the title following a legal battle.

The owner of Willis Tower in Chicago brought the action, since inclusion of the antenna would have meant Willis Tower would have exceeded the architectural height of the Petronas Towers. Since the judgment in favor of the Petronas Towers, television antennas are no longer recognized as an architectural component of buildings. 2004 - 2007 Taipei 101 Until completion of Taipei 101 in Taiwan, the towers were considered the tallest skyscrapers in the world on account of the structural height of 452 meters. Taipei 101 took on this title in 2004 and thus became the first title-holder of the 21st century. The skyscraper claimed several records at once: the greatest architectural height, the greatest roof height and the highest occupied floor. 2007 - present 7 Surprising Buildings That Were Once the World’s Tallest | Mental Floss 7 Surprising Buildings That Were Once the World’s Tallest iStock Like us on Facebook When it was completed in 1931, the Empire State Building instantly became the tallest in the world.

Standing an impressive 1250 feet tall, it was the first 100-story building in history and held the record as the world’s tallest for the next 41 years, until the completion of One World Trade Center in 1972. After that, the title moved to Chicago, and then to a number of super-tall buildings in Asia, until the current world’s tallest—Dubai’s Burj Khalifa—took the title in 2007. Precisely what constitutes the world’s tallest building is debatable, with arguments raised over whether or not uninhabitable structures (like telecommunications towers) qualify for inclusion, and whether the extra height gained by the addition of radio masts and flagpoles should be taken into account. But using a straightforward list of habitable structures measured from ground to roof as a yardstick, the back catalog of former World’s Tallest Building title-holders actually includes some quite surprising entries. 1.

THE PYRAMID OF GIZA // EGYPT When the Great Pyramid at Giza was completed after 20 years of construction in around 2500 BCE, it stood an imposing 480 feet tall—although erosion has knocked a full 25 feet from that total so that it stands 455 feet today. Precisely what held the title before then is debatable, although contenders include several more of Egypt’s pyramids, the 28-foot Tower of Jericho completed around 10,000 years ago, and Göbekli Tepe , a mysterious site in Southern Turkey that dates back to the 10th millennium BCE. 2. LINCOLN CATHEDRAL // UNITED KINGDOM iStock When construction of the immense central spire of Lincoln Cathedral in England was completed in 1311, it is believed to have stood an impressive 525 feet, easily surpassing the Great Pyramid’s height by more than 40 feet and breaking its run as the world’s tallest building after a staggering 3800 years.

Sadly, all three of Lincoln’s spires have been lost : the two smaller spires were removed in 1807, almost a century after concerns about their safety were raised by the architect James Gibbs, while the taller central tower was destroyed by a storm in 1548. Its collapse also meant that Lincoln Cathedral’s title was temporarily handed over to … 3. ST. MARY’S CHURCH // GERMANY Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.5 The 495-foot-tall Marienkircher or St. Mary’s Church in the town of Stralsund in northeast Germany was completed sometime in the 13th century. It might have unceremoniously snatched the title from Lincoln Cathedral after the disaster of 1548, but the Marienkircher has had its own share of bad luck throughout its long history: its bell tower collapsed in 1382, and its central steeple blew down in a storm in 1478 and had to be replaced. The replacement, however, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1647—handing the title of world’s tallest building over to … 4.

STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL // FRANCE Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0 After a run of bad luck for ecclesiastical buildings, Strasbourg Cathedral—at 466 feet tall—managed to hold on to the title of world’s tallest building for the next 227 years (although some in the 19th century thought it was shorter than the Great Pyramid). But in the late 19th century, improvements in building techniques and architectural engineering led to a flurry of tall buildings completed all across Europe. In 1874, a rebuilt St. Nicholas’s Church in Hamburg was completed after the previous building burned down 30 years earlier; standing 482 feet tall, it took the title from Strasbourg (but went on to be all but destroyed during the Second World War and is now in ruins). In 1876, a cast iron spire was added to Rouen Cathedral in France, which stole the title from Hamburg.

Then in 1880, work was finally completed —after a 407-year hiatus—on Cologne Cathedral in Germany: construction had originally begun in 1248, but was halted in 1473. The finished building stood 515 feet tall, enough to steal the title from Rouen and return it to Germany. But just like its predecessor, Cologne Cathedral only held the title for the next four years. 5. WASHINGTON MONUMENT // UNITED STATES iStock On its completion in 1884 , the 555-foot Washington Monument became the world’s tallest entirely stone-built structure, the tallest obelisk anywhere in the world, and the first known structure in North America to hold the title of world’s tallest building. Despite that impressive record, however, Europe reclaimed the record just five years later with … 6. THE EIFFEL TOWER // FRANCE iStock The 986-foot Eiffel Tower was the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair. Although its designer and namesake Gustave Eiffel had a permit allowing it to stand for a total of 20 years, it was originally intended to be dismantled when the fair was over.

Thankfully, aside from its popularity, part of the reason the Tower still survives is that it proved an excellent telegraph transmitter, and even proved useful in intercepting German radio signals during the First Battle of Marne in 1914. On its completion on March 31, 1889, the 984-foot Eiffel Tower instantly became the world’s tallest building (although, astonishingly, it shrinks by up to 6 inches during cold weather). It held the record for the next 41 years, until finally it was beaten by … 7. THE CHRYSLER BUILDING // NEW YORK iStock When it was opened on May 27, 1930, New York City’s Chrysler Building broke the Eiffel Tower’s record by a full 60 feet—it stands an impressive 1046 feet tall, making it the first building in history to break the 1000-foot mark (thanks largely to a 185-foot spire constructed in secret to prevent any competition from beating it).

It remains the tallest brick-built building in the world (although it does have a steel frame), despite holding the record as the world’s tallest for just 11 months: the Empire State Building was completed on April 11, 1931. 1931: The Empire State Building Opened as the Tallest Building in the World | History.info 01.05. 1931: The Empire State Building Opened as the Tallest Building in the World Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/ licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license (Author: Daniel Schwen) Story Highlights Historical event: 1 May 1931 The Empire State Building was completed during the Great Depression, and at the time the biggest problem was how to rent an office space there. Due to the excess spaces, the building was allegedly called the "Empty State Building". On this day in 1931, the Empire State Building in New York was ceremoniously opened. It is a 103-story skyscraper which has a roof height of 381 meters (with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 443.2 m high).

The Empire State Building held the title of tallest skyscraper in the world for almost 40 years (until 1970). Interestingly, the Empire State Building was built in less than 15 months, which was a shorter time than projected. It was completed during the Great Depression, and at the time the biggest problem was how to rent an office space there. Due to the excess spaces, the building was allegedly called the “Empty State Building”. When the Empire State Building was completed, the Nazis hadn`t yet come to power in Germany, and Adolf Hitler didn`t have German citizenship. Facebook Comments Empire State Building: Can the tallest be the greenest? | Environment | The Guardian Empire State Building: Can the tallest be the greenest? $20m refit aims to cut building's energy use by 40% and save emissions equal to 20,000 cars Monday 26 July 2010 16.41 EDT First published on Monday 26 July 2010 16.41 EDT Share on Messenger Close All 6,514 windows in New York’s tallest building will be replaced, and tenants will be advised on how to save electricity.

Photograph: Jean-Pierre Lescourret/Corbis When the Empire State Building was opened on 1 May 1931, having been designed in two weeks and built in an astonishing 15 months, it instantly became a symbol of human fortitude in the face of the Great Depression. Now its current owners are attempting to reinvent it for the modern era by turning it into a green building symbolising human ingenuity in the face of inertia. The owners, Malkin Holdings, today unveiled the results of a $20m refit based on environmentally friendly plans announced in April 2009 for the art deco building that stands on Manhattan's 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. A $2m exhibition was also opened to publicise the changes, intended to improve the building's energy efficiency, and with the larger aim of providing a model that could spread across America and around the world. For more than four decades, the Empire State had the distinction of being the tallest building in the world, a title it lost to the World Trade Centre in 1972.

After the twin towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, it once again became the city's tallest building, at 1,454 ft (443 metres) to the tip of its lightning rod. But by 2006, when Malkin Holdings fully took over the management function, it had fallen into disrepair, a pale reflection of its former glory. Its 102 storeys were occupied largely by small businesses paying low rents, and the overall structure had a hangdog feel. "When we took control of it, the place needed to be fixed. It was broken," Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Holdings, told the Guardian. Now the company is in the midst of a $550m renovation designed to put the building back on the map, part of which is the environmental project. "We're doing this [making the Empire State greener] not because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes business sense. If we don't reduce our energy consumption, we will lose money and be less competitive against China, India, Brazil and the other expanding economies," Malkin said.

The makeover is expected to cut the building's energy use by almost 40%, reducing bills by more than $4m and paying back the cost of the refit in three years. That's a figure that is relevant not just to the Empire State but to the whole of New York city and other large metropolises like it. Almost 80% of New York's energy consumption is through its buildings, mainly in the larger of the leaky older structures. Though politicians have tended to focus on energy consumption by individuals and tried to persuade families to cut their energy use at home, Malkin said the renovation of the Empire State Building would achieve savings in carbon emissions on a similar scale to comparable moves by 40,000 households. The Empire State's retrofit will cut its carbon footprint by more than 100,000 metric tonnes over the next 15 years, the equivalent of taking 20,000 cars off the road. If that record were replicated by just a fifth of the largest buildings in America, it would save 2.3bn metric tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to the amount of greenhouse gas pollution produced by the whole of Russia each year.

At its most simple, the retrofit involves stripping out each of the Empire State's 6,514 windows and renovating them with an insulating film and a mixture of inert gases to make them four times more efficient at retaining heat or coolness. At the high-tech end, the largest wireless network ever to be applied to a single building has been set up across the Empire State that allows valves and vents to be monitored and centrally controlled. Four central chillers have been replaced and smart air circulation systems have also been put in as a low-energy means of heating the building in winter and cooling it in summer. Paul Rode of Johnson Controls, an energy management company that is leading the project, said the greatest energy savings have involved persuading the 300 tenants to use their spaces more effectively. As the occupants of the second largest office complex in America, after the Pentagon, much of the onus for change falls on them. Each company renting space in the Empire State now has access to a website that records minute by minute how much they are spending on energy and compares it with other tenants in the building as well as to competitors in their industries externally.

Having revealed to the tenants their own consumption, the website then advises them what they can do to cut their bills by making basic changes, such as moving desks towards the centre of the building to release daylight into the space, switching lights off at night, or cutting back on air conditioning. "We're showing what's possible without even installing a single solar panel, or a wind turbine or a geothermal unit, and you don't need additional grid capacity or any new power plants," Malkin said. "This is low-hanging fruit that can be plucked easily and we should be getting on with it as quickly as possible." • This article was amended on 27 and 29 July 2010. Due to editing changes, the original suggested that plans to revamp the Empire State Building were announced this week. This has been corrected. References to the refit costing $13m, and to Malkin Holdings buying the building in 2006 have also been corrected after clarification from the company of information originally given to the reporter.

A giant's highs and lows • Constructed during the depression in 1930, the 102-storey tower was made from 60,000 tonnes of steel, and has 6,500 windows. • In 1945 an Army Air Corps B-25 twin-engine bomber crashed into the 79th floor of the building in dense fog, killing 14 people. • The building's mast (now the base of the TV tower) was originally designed as a mooring mast for airships, pictured. Because of several unsuccessful attempts and volatile wind conditions at 1,350ft, the idea was abandoned. • The Observatory on the 86th floor opened in 1931 and was immortalised in An Affair to Remember (1957) starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr and then as the meeting point for Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle (1993) • The building is struck by lightning about 100 times a year.

It acts as a lightning rod for the surrounding area Source: Empire State Building Company Ten Tallest Buildings in the World | Biggest and Largest in the World Biggest and Largest in the World Ten Tallest Buildings in the World Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan – 1671 ft (509 m) 101 Floors Taipei 101 became the world’s tallest building to be constructed in the new millennium and the first to cross the half-kilometer mark. The construction cost was $1.76 billion and it was completed in 2004. This multi-use steel-and-glass skyscraper was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and has 61 elevators. It reflects the traditional Chinese pagoda, with a soaring podium base, eight tiers of eight stories (eight is considered a number representing prosperous growth in China), narrow pinnacle tower, and a spire. The building has an 18 ft, 882-ton ball-shaped damper at the top that counteracts swaying motions during typhoons and earthquakes. Although CTBUH only takes into consideration the floors above ground level, there are 5 floors underground too.

The number “101” represents not only the number of floors, but also the mailing code of Taipei’s international business district. It was hailed as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World by Newsweek magazine in 2006 and as one of the Seven Wonders of Engineering by The Discovery Channel in 2005. Shanghai World Financial Center – 1614 ft (492 m) 101 Floors This super-tall skyscraper in Shanghai dominates the skyline over East China and is destined to become a symbolic icon, giving the city a new status and depicts the arrival of a new era in Asia. It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and officially opened its doors to the public on August 28, 2008. It is a mixed-use building with excellent urban shopping malls at the base, a 174-room luxurious five-star hotel at the top and sixty-two floors filled with offices. There are three observation decks between the 94th and the 100th levels. It has a total of 31 elevators and the construction cost was US $1.2 billion.

The most remarkable feature of this majestic building is the aperture at the top of the building. It is the 2nd tallest building in the world. Petronas Twin Towers – 1483 ft (452 m) 88 Floors The beautiful world-famous Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were constructed in 1998. The name sounds as romantic as they look together, standing side by side. These elegantly slender towers once held the title of the world’s tallest buildings before being ousted from that position by Taipei 101. Petronas Tower 1 is the 3rd tallest building in the world. Petronas Tower 2 is the 4th tallest building in the world. However, they still remain the tallest twin buildings in the world. They were designed by Argentine-American architect Cesar Pelli and were built on Kuala Lumpur’s race track. The structure is made of high-strength concrete and has a curtain wall of glass and stainless steel sun shades that help diffuse the intensity of light. The major feature of the towers is the sky-bridge between the towers on the 41st and 42nd floors, which is the highest 2-story bridge in the world.

Visitors are allowed on the Skyway. The sky-bridge is also meant to be used in case of a fire or for other emergencies. The Sears Tower – 1451 ft (452 m) 108 Floors Located in Chicago, Illinois, The Sears Tower was constructed in 1974, and held the title of the world’s tallest building when it overtook the World Trade Center in New York. Although it is no longer the tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower is the 5th tallest and still has the world’s highest occupied floors, highest elevator ride and the highest roof deck. The top of the tower is the highest point in Illinois. It is said that four states can be seen from the top of the Sears Tower. This tower was designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Khan in a “bundled tube” system with nine squares, sheathed in a dark tinted glass curtain wall. The building leans a few inches due to its asymmetrical design and this can be felt occasionally. The Sears Tower has a separate tourist entrance and attracts more than 1.5 million tourists each year.

Jin Mao Tower – 1380 ft (421 m) 88 Floors The name of the landmark super-tall skyscraper, Jin Mao, literally means “Golden Prosperity Building.” Currently ranked the 6th tallest building in the world, it was designed by the Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was constructed in 1999. It is located in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. The architecture ingeniously combines elements of traditional Chinese culture with the modern architectural styles of the time, which makes it one of the most well-constructed buildings in China. The proportions of this structure revolve around the number 8, which according to Chinese belief signifies prosperity. It houses the very luxurious Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel and several offices. The construction cost is estimated to be 530 million dollars. The tower has several exhibition halls, banquet halls, entertainment venues, and an observation deck on the 88th floor that can fit about 1000 tourists. The daily maintenance of this tower is reported to be an unbelievable US$121,000.

Two International Finance Center (IFC) – 1362 ft (415 m) 88 Floors Constructed in 2003, the IFC with its two skyscrapers overlooking the Victoria Harbor is a prominent landmark in Hong Kong, China. One International Finance Center is 38 stories high. The Two International Finance Center, which is the world’s 7th tallest building, has 88 stories and has been designed to house financial firms with advanced telecommunications, featuring raised floors for better cabling and floor plans that are almost without columns. About 15,000 people can be accommodated in this building. Although there are 88 stories, there are some floors that are considered to be taboo and which are not used, such as the 14th and 24th floors, as these numbers signify evil for the Chinese. The IFC mall has an array of famous retailers and several top jewelry retailers, health & skin care and fashion houses, restaurants, and a cinema. It is one of the few buildings in the world to be equipped with double-deck elevators.

CITIC Plaza – 1283 ft (391 m) 80 Floors The China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) Plaza, built in 1997, is located in Guangzhou, in the growing Tianhe District. It was the tallest building in the world when it was built and is currently the tallest concrete building in the world. It is ranked as the fourth tallest building in China, seventh in Asia and eighth in the world. This building is part of a complex which has two other 38-story residential buildings. CITIC Plaza has two antennas on the top like spires. This elegant building is surrounded by several other tall buildings and gives an indication of the increasing prosperity of Guangzhou. It is close to the Tianhe Sports Center where part of the Asia games 2010 will be held. Shun Hing Square – 1260 ft (382 m) 69 Floors The Shun Hing Square tower, built in 1996, is one of the world’s tallest buildings and occupies the 9th place currently.

This brilliantly constructed building is in Shenzhen, China and is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It has the distinction of being the tallest all-steel building in China and the fifth tallest building overall in China. An interesting tid bit about this building: it was built at an incredible speed of four floors in nine days. The spires on the top of the building add to the height and without them, it stands at 325 m tall. Shun Hing Square is a complex that has an office tower and another 35-story building for residential, office, and retail purposes. The 69th floor has an observation deck called the Meridian View Center. Tourists will have to pay US$12 to go up to that observation deck. Empire State Building – 1250 ft (381 m) – 102 Floors The Empire State Building of New York, in the United Stats was built in 1931, and it is one of the oldest and most famous buildings in the world. There probably aren’t many people who have not heard of it.

Now rated as the 10th tallest building, it was the world’s tallest building for forty-one years until the World Trade Center was constructed in the year 1972. After the unfortunate incident with the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in the State of New York. It has also been named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The beauty of the Empire State Building is highlighted by the beautiful lights at the top of the building. In fact, the view of the building at night is considered to be a tourist attraction all on its own. Coming Up Standing tall among all others is another marvel, the Burj Dubai Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is still under construction and will not be considered the tallest building until completion in September 2009. It already has 160 stories and overtook Taipei 101 and surpassed the KVLY-TV mast in the U.S. (which is 629 m), achieving the status of being the tallest man-made structure on the planet. The eventual height remains a secret, but speculation is that it will reach 900 meters.

There may be a magical moment in the future. The plan for the proposed Sky City 1000 by Japan shows its height at 1000 meters and 196 floors. We’ll just have to wait and see. Burj Dubai, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates (167 Stories) EDIT: The Burj Dubai had a delayed opening. It’s name has been changed to the Burj Khalifa, and it officially opened and became the world’s tallest building on January 4, 2010. It stands at 828 meters (2717 feet) tall. You can view a picture of the completed building below. source: by Hasan on October 6, 2008 Share this: The Second Tallest - The Empire State Building turns 85 - Pictures - CBS News The Empire State Building turns 85 Next Manhattan Skyline The Empire State Building towers over Manhattan, with One World Trade Center in construction in the background, on Nov. 8, 2013, in New York City. One of the city's most beloved landmarks, the Empire State Building celebrates 85 years as a timeless grace note in an ever-changing skyline.

Credit: John Moore/Getty Images A Model Proposal The building was designed by architect William Lamb, of the firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates. The construction firm was Starrett Brothers and Eken. Pictured: Financier John J. Raskob (left) and former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith are seen with a model of the proposed Empire State Building - what would be the tallest building in the world, to be built in New York City - on Jan. 7, 1930. Credit: AP Photo Construction Construction began on St. Patrick's Day, 1930, on Fifth Avenue bordered by 33rd and 34th Streets. Credit: New York Public Library Construction It was the site of the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which was purchased and razed to make way for the new building. Credit: New York Public Library Construction Construction of the Empire State Building. Credit: New York Public Library Construction Construction of the Empire State Building. Credit: New York Public Library Construction In contrast to the economic stagnation of the Great Depression, the project was a model of productivity, rising at a phenomenal rate of four-and-a-half stories per week.

Credit: New York Public Library Construction Construction of the Empire State Building. Credit: New York Public Library Construction About 3,400 laborers worked in constructing the Empire State Building. Five workers died on the project. Credit: New York Public Library Construction The building cost $24.7 million to construct (nearly $41 million when factoring in the land costs). Credit: New York Public Library Entrance The Empire State Building was officially opened on May 1, 1931. It took just 410 days to construct it. Credit: New York Public Library Lobby The art deco lobby of the Empire State Building. Credit: New York Public Library Jewel In Manhattan's Crown The Empire State Building has 103 floors and is 1,250 ft tall. With the broadcast spire added in the 1950s, the height became 1,454 ft. Credit: AP Photo Skyscraper Until the World Trade Center opened in 1972 the Empire State was the tallest building in the world.

Credit: Library of Congress Dirigible Because of wind conditions, the dirigible Columbia failed in its attempt to pick up mail from the mooring mast of the Empire State Building, Sept. 30, 1931. Tentative plans to use the uppermost floors of the building as a debarkation point for zeppelin passengers (believed to be a less-than-serious marketing ploy) fell by the wayside for good after the explosion of the Hindenburg in Lakehurst, N.J., in 1936. Credit: AP "King Kong" The Empire State Building became an indelible part of the world's pop culture consciousness with its appearance in the 1933 film, "King Kong." As the giant ape scales the world's tallest building (actually a model for the stop-motion puppet), with Fay Wray in its grasp, the potent visuals added even more drama to the movie's tragic conclusion. Credit: RKO Pictures Lightning Rod Riggers install a lightning rod atop a pole extending 60 feet above the topmost pinnacle of the Empire State Building on May 24, 1947 - part of an investigation into lightning by scientists working for General Electric.

Credit: Library of Congress Broadcast Tower The Empire State Building hosted radio broadcasts even before it was completed, and was the transmission site of a broadcast of "RKO Theatre On The Air" on the night of May 1, 1931, when the building was officially opened for business. Antennae on its upper floors and the mooring mast were used for radio and experimental TV broadcasts beginning in the 1930s. By 1950 several TV and radio stations were broadcasting from separate antennae on the Empire State Building (and from various locations around Manhattan), prompting the construction of a multiple antenna tower. In addition, more than 130 antennas provide point-to-point radio/data communications services to utility and telecommunications companies and public safety agencies. Credit: Library of Congress Fog The Empire State Building peeks out from low-lying clouds, as photographed from the 69th floor of the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, Aug. 18, 1943.

Credit: AP Disaster Smoke billows from the Empire State Building on July 28, 1945, after an Army B-25 bomber, flying through fog en route to Newark Airport, crashed into the upper floors of the structure. Fourteen people died. Betty Lou Oliver, an elevator operator on the 80th floor, was injured by the crash. After being treated with first aid, she was placed in an elevator to take her to a waiting ambulance. However, the elevator car's safety cable had been severed, and the car plunged 75 floors. Incredibly, Oliver survived, and holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Fall Survived in an Elevator. Credit: AP Photo Beacon Revolving beacon lights installed on the Empire State Building, visible for 80 miles, are tested on April 11, 1956. Credit: Library of Congress Observation Desk Visitors Since the Empire State Building's opening, more than 100 million people have visited its observation decks, including these three ballerinas in 1960.

Credit: Library of Congress The Second Tallest The Empire State Building is shown with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center nearing completion in the background, Oct. 11, 1972. Credit: AP/The New York Times The Big Apple Credit: Library of Congress Lightning Lightning hits the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center during a storm on Aug. 28, 1979. The Empire State Building is struck by lighting, on average, 23 times a year. Credit: AP Photo A view of the Empire State Building at night. Credit: Library of Congress Kong In 1983, a giant inflatable King Kong was hoisted to the Empire State Building's mooring mast to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movie. Unfortunately high winds did a number on the balloon, and its tenure on top of the world was almost as brief as Kong's. Credit: New York Public Library Observation Deck Tourists fill the observation deck of the Empire State Building Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, taking in views of the World Trade Center, far left.

On clear days visitors can see five states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts - more than 100 miles away. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew 9/11 The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center burn behind the Empire State Building in New York, Sept. 11, 2001. Credit: Marty Lederhandler/AP Photo A Kiss For Luck An iconic setting for Hollywood romances like "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle," the Empire State Building was chosen by USA Today readers as the "Best Place to Propose" in the world. (Take that, Paris!) Pictured: Newlyweds Air Force Captain John Wu and Stephanie Hull, both from Louisville, Kentucky, kiss as they pose for photographers after being wed Monday Feb. 14, 2011 on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York. They were one of 14 couples from around the country exchanging vows during the 17th annual Empire State Building and TheKnot.com Valentine's Weddings Event.

Credit: Tina Fineberg/AP Fireworks The Empire State Building is silhouetted by fireworks during Macy's 37th annual Fourth of July fireworks show, July 4, 2013, in New York City. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo "Racing Extinction" Large images of endangered species are projected on the south facade of the Empire State Building, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. The large scale projections are in conjunction with the documentary "Racing Extinction." Credit: Craig Ruttle/AP Say Cheese According to researchers from Cornell University studying uploads to the photo sharing site Flickr, the Empire State Building is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, and the most photographed in New York City. Credit: Flickr Moon The moon is seen in its waxing stage as it rises behind the Empire State Building, seen from the Hudson River waterfront in Hoboken, N.J., Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

For more info: What Happened in 1931 including Pop Culture, Significant Events, Key Technology and Inventions How Much things cost in 1931 Average Cost of new house $6,790.00 Average wages per year $1,850.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 10 cents Average Cost for house rent $18.00 per month A loaf of Bread 8 cents A LB of Hamburger Meat 11 cents Alarm Clock $3.50 New Car Average Price $640.00 Shoulder of Ohio Spring lamb 17 cents per pound Ohio 1932 Dozen Eggs 18 Cents Ohio 1932 Bananas 19 cents for 4 Pounds Ohio 1932 Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling Average House Price 600 United States -- Dust Bowl The Great Plains suffers devastating droughts, dust storms, and soil erosion during the Dust Bowl years. Farms suffer and massive ecological damage is done to the Midwestern and Southern Plains areas of the country. More Information and Timeline for the Dust Bowl 1.

The United States Congress passes the Homestead Act of 1862 and settlers move into the Great Plains and begin farming the lands. 2. Farmers plant dry wheat in the Great Plains prairies and continue to plow and plant millions of acres. This over-working of the land is one of the main reasons that the Dust Bowl became so devastating and lasted so long. 3. A drought hits the Midwestern and Plains states in 1931, dust from the overworked land begins creating dust storms. 4. The drought worsens in 1932 and more dust storms are reported. 5. The drought continues in 1933 and many farmers face foreclosures as the Great Depression also worsens. The Emergency Farm Mortgage Act and the Farm Credit Act are created to help save farms. 6. Many farmers flee from the Plains and abandon their farms in hopes of finding work in California. 7. The drought becomes the worst in US history during 1934 and a total of twenty-seven states are affected by it. 8. The Taylor Grazing Act goes into effect in 1934 and created heavily monitored grazing districts. It was used to help stem the damage caused by over-grazing the land.

9. The Drought Relief Service is created and starts buying cattle from struggling farmers in 1935. 10. The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act is created in April of 1935 and it forms the Works Progress Administration as well as providing hundreds of millions of dollars of drought relief. 11. The Black Sunday dust blizzard hits on April 14th, 1935 and is the worst dust storm of the Dust Bowl Years. It does massive amounts of damage to lands and property. 12. The Soil Conservation Service is established with the aim of developing topsoil preservation programs in 1935. 13. Recovery efforts continue in 1937 with the Shelterbelt Project. This project would utilize the Civilian Conservation Corps to plant native trees throughout the Great Plains, another program to help stop soil erosion. 14. The drought still continues in 1938, work intended to help with the problems caused by the drought and programs aimed at preventing further land issues continue as well. 15.

The drought ends in 1939 and the Plains states continue to recover and re-work the land with more soil-friendly and sustainable farming techniques and a better understanding of how to farm those lands. United States -- Empire State Building Empire State Building is completed and opens on May 1st , and becomes the tallest building in the world , it is a 102-story contemporary Art Deco style building in New York City More Information and Timeline for the Empire State Building 1. The Empire State building was designed by William F. Lamb. 2. Excavation of the building site started on January 22nd of 1930. 3. Construction began on March 17th, 1930. 4. The Empire State Building officially opened on May 1st, 1931 and it was the world's tallest building until 1970. United States -- Star Spangled Banner U.S. National Anthem becomes The Star Spangled Banner on March 3rd More Information for the U.S. National Anthem The "Star Spangled Banner" is officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States during March of 1931.

The song's lyrics were from a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812 while the music was taken from song "To Anacreon in Heaven" which was believed to have been written some time in the late 1700s by British composer John Stafford Smith. The notoriously difficult to sing anthem had previously been used by the United States Navy in the late 1800's but it did not become the official national anthem until the United States Congress passed a resolution and President Hoover signed it into law in 1931. Prior to 1931 the country did not actually have an official national anthem. Spain -- King Alfonso XIII King Alfonso XIII of Spain is forced to live in Exile in Rome following Spain Becoming a Republic More Information and Timeline for the Second Spanish Republic 1. General Miguel Primo de Rivera is overthrown as Spain's leader on January 28th, 1930. 2. Several Republican factions join together with the intention of overthrowing the Spanish monarchy and they form the Pact of San Sebastian. 3. Republicans won the April 12th, 1931 municipal elections in a landslide.

4. On April 14th, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. 5. King Alfonso XIII goes into exile after the Second Spanish Republic is created. 6. A provisional government is then formed under Niceto Alcala-Zamora. 7. A new constitution is drafted in June of 1931 and it is the law of the land by December of that year. 8. A civil war erupts in Spain, however the constitution of the Second Spanish Republic remains in effect until 1939 when the Spanish Civil War ended. United States -- Round the World Flight Wiley Post and Harold Gatty complete their around-the-world flight. More Information for Post and Gatty Flight Aviator Wiley Post and navigator Harold Gatty began their record-breaking around-the-world flight during June of 1931. Post and Gatty took off from New York in their plane, the Winnie Mae, and made several stops as they traveled around the globe. Trouble with their propeller held them up in Alaska and after they had it replaced they resumed their journey.

Post and Gatty successfully completed their trip of over 15,000 miles returning to New York in just over 8 days, eclipsing Hugo Eckner's previous record of 21 days in the Graf Zeppelin. Post would later become the first person to successfully complete a solo around-the-world flight two years later in 1933. Japan invades Manchuria in China after the Mukden Incident. More Information for the Mukden Incident The Mukden Incident and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in China take place during September of 1931. The Mukden Incident happened when Japanese troops were sent into Manchuria under the pretense of protecting a Japanese controlled railway where there had been an explosion. Japan soon took over the entirety of Manchuria. Japan had already been occupying nearby Korea and was worried that the potential unification of China could endanger their control on the region. In order to maintain a neutral zone they decided to occupy the Northeast region of China and were met with little resistance. Japan would continue to occupy Manchuria until the end of World War II in 1945 . The classic horror film "Dracula" is released.

More Information for the premiere of Dracula The classic horror film "Dracula" starring Bela Lugosi as the title character premieres during February of 1931 at the Roxy Theater in New York City. The film was directed by Tod Browning and was the first film to legally adapt Bram Stoker's Gothic vampire novel, with the film "Nosferatu" having done so in 1922 but without the rights to the story. The film also took many cues from the stage play with the same name that was created by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston in 1924. "Dracula" was a hit after its release and was praised by many critics who seemed to particularly appreciate Lugosi's performance. In 2000 the film was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress. The first Warner Bros' Merrie Melodies cartoon is created. More Information for Merrie Melodies Warner Bros. creates their first "Merrie Melodies" cartoon "Lady, Play Your Mandolin!" during August of 1931. The cartoon was about seven minutes long and featured the character of "Foxy" who looked similar to Disney's "Mickey Mouse" character.

The "Merrie Melodies" series was created by the same team that created "Looney Tunes" during 1930 and many "Merrie Melodies" cartoons would go on to feature Looney Tunes characters. Merrie Melodies was primarily created to feature Warner Bros. music and to be used as advertisements for recordings and sheet music in what could be considered an early version of a music video. Merrie Melodies shorts would continue to be produced until 1969. United States -- Classic Frankenstein Film Released The iconic pre-code horror film �Frankenstein,� starring Boris Karloff as the Monster, debuted during November of 1931. The film also starred Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and Mae Clarke as Elizabeth, his fiance. The film was an adaptation of Peggy Webling�s 1927 play, which was also based on Mary Shelley�s 1818 novel of the same name. �Frankenstein� was praised by both critics and the public as a thrilling piece of entertainment. In 1991, the black and white movie was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance.

September 17th -- The Bronx, New York, U.S. John Le Carr� October 19th -- Poole, Dorset, England Angie Dickinson September 30th -- Kulm, North Dakota, U.S. Robert Duvall January 5th -- San Diego, California, U.S. Larry Hagman September 21st -- Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Rupert Murdoch March 11th -- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Leonard Nimoy March 26th -- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Willie Shoemaker August 19th -- Fabens, Texas, United States Desmond Tutu October 7th -- Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa Technology More Television is broadcast and RCA places a transmitter at the top of The Empire State Building Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use ) Electric Razor USA by Jacob Schick Nylon USA by Wallace Corothers - artificial silk Aerosol Can Norway by Erik Rotheim Australia -- Prime Minister -- James Scullin -- Brazil -- President -- Military Joint Tri -- Till 3 November Brazil -- President -- Get�lio Vargas -- From 3 November Canada -- Prime Minister -- Richard Bedford Bennett -- Italy -- Prime Minister -- Benito Mussolini -- Japan -- Prime Minister -- Osachi Hamaguchi -- Till 14 April Japan -- Prime Minister -- Reijiro Wakatsuki -- From 14 April Japan -- Prime Minister -- Reijiro Wakatsuki -- Till 13 December Japan -- Prime Minister -- Tsuyoshi Inukai -- From 13 December Mexico -- President -- Pascual Ortiz Rubio -- Russia / Soviet Union -- General Secretary of the Central Committee -- Joseph Stalin -- South Africa -- Prime Minister -- James Barry Munnik Hertz

og -- United States -- President -- Herbert Hoover United Kingdom -- Prime Minister -- Ramsay MacDonald -- Political Elections British General Election 1931 Stanley Baldwin ( Conservative ) defeats Arthur Henderson ( Labour ) and Sir Herbert Samuel ( Liberal ) Due to the effects of the great depression although Conservative won a large majority Ramsay MacDonald stays on as The British Prime Minister in a (National Government) 5 facts about the Empire State Building | History Revealed Contact Us 5 facts about the Empire State Building In May 1931, New York City’s Empire State became the tallest building in the world, a position it would hold for over four decades.

This article was first published in the May 2016 issue of History Revealed Wednesday 4th May 2016 The Empire State Building, built in 1931. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) Here are 5 facts about New York’s most famous skyscraper… 1) OPEN DOORS By the time President Herbert Hoover officially opened the building in 1931 – switching on its lights by pressing a button in Washington 200 miles away – construction of the 102-storey, 381-metre building had lasted just 410 days. As well as being 12 days ahead of schedule, the project came in at $40,948,900, almost 20 per cent below the earmarked budget of $50 million. 2) AIRSHIP OF FOOLS The 60-metre mast that secured the building’s position as the tallest was originally intended as a mooring for airships. This fanciful notion was deemed too dangerous for passengers, however, so was never tested.

3) AVAILABLE SPACE In its first year, the Empire State took as much revenue from visitors to its observation deck – in the region of $2 million – as it did from rent-paying commercial tenants. Only 23 per cent of the Empire State’s available office space was rented out. The slow take-up led to it being dubbed the ‘Empty State Building’. 4) WHO’S THE DADDY? The skyscraper’s design was based on that of the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Every year, the Empire State’s staff sends a Father’s Day card to those working in the older building. 5) SURVIVAL SKILLS When a plane crashed into the building in 1945, the ensuing devastation caused elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver to drop 75 floors inside her elevator. Remarkably, she survived.

Question: What became the tallest building in the world when it opened in 1931?
Answer: The Empire State Building