The Empire State Building

Empire State Building The Empire State Building Outline THESIS STATEMENT: The Empire State Building did not cause much trouble for New York; instead, its construction had many positive effects. Reasons for the Building I. Raskob wanted to make money by renting offices to tenants. A. He wanted to construct a building that offered him the largest number of offices at the lowest price. B. He didn’t care for innovation and style , but he wanted a building that sticks with his budget. II.

In addition, constructing the Empire State Building was a part of an intense rivalry to win the “World’s Tallest building” title. A. This dream appealed to John Raskob. B. He made sure that his design’s height would exceed the competing buildings. Constructing the Empire State Building I. To design the building, Raskob hired William F. Lamb. Lamb knew that it was a special chance to create something historical, so, although the mission was almost impossible, he decided to accept the project. A. He was able to finish the first design in four weeks

B. His design fascinated John Raskob. II. Lamb found many problems with designing such a huge building. A. Designing an elevator was a trouble for William lamb B. Maintaining a fire system capable of reaching the higher floors was a challenge. C. Storing Materials was impossible. III. Just when everything seemed on track, Raskob and his partners received a striking new. A. Chrysler changed his plans in an attempt to beat Raskob B. Raskob decided to add a mooring mast to the building. C. He bet Chrysler plans by his idea Effects of the building

I. In 1931, the Empire State Building became the highest building in the world. A. It raised the Americans’ spirits. B. It was opened during the Great Depression. II. Soon after the building’s completion, it became a major tourist attraction site. A. It attracted famous visitors like Albert Einstein. B. It has attracted over 117 million visitors. III. At least 32 people committed suicide by jumping of the building. A. Unidentified man jumps of the building’s roof B. Evelyn McHale jumped from the 86th floor after she left her fiance. Conclusion

The Empire State building is no longer the tallest building in the world; however, it remains an important historical figure. The Empire State Building still attracts millions of tourists yearly, and it remains a sign for America’s powers since it is was an innovation in the world of construction. Towers and skyscrapers have become an icon for development; countries now compete to build towers to attract visitors and activate tourism. Some towers are built for telecommunications and broadcasting; however, towers and skyscrapers remain an evidence for the country’s wealth and well-being.

Recently, a new trend is prevailing: countries and businesspersons are competing to build the tallest building in the world. Many attempts for achieving this goal succeeded for a while, but nothing is permanent; newer and taller buildings are always built! John R. Raskob financed the Empire State building’s construction to enter the intense competition of constructing the highest building in New York (Construction: Building The Impossible 117). The Empire State Building didn’t cause much trouble for New York; instead its building had many positive effects.

Reasons for the Building Raskob wanted to make money by renting offices to tenants, and he wanted a tall skyscraper that would offer him the largest number of offices for the lowest amount of money. He did not want a stylish or innovative building; he just wanted profit, but he wanted a building that sticks to his budget and deadline (117). In addition, constructing the Empire State Building was a part of an intense rivalry to win the “World’s Tallest building” title. This dream appealed to John Raskob, but this meant that he his building had to exceed 295 meters.

He had to compete with Chrysler building and the bank of Manhattan (118). Raskob’s building had to be roughly 305 meters high, and this height had to fit on the 122 by 61-meters area he had purchased on fifth avenue. Constructing the Empire State Building To design the building, Raskob hired William F. Lamb. Lamb knew that it was a special chance to create something historical, so, although the mission was almost impossible, he decided to accept the project. After fifteen trials, Lamb was able to reach a design that met the city’s zoning restrictions and Raskob’s requirements.

The basic design was finished in four weeks; the project turned out to be more fascinating in appearance that Raskob has thought (119). Lamb found many problems with designing such a huge building. He faced the challenge of installing a safe elevator that is capable of transporting people such great distances. He split the elevator systems into sections. “The section serving the lower levels ended at mid-level where the building had to be set back; the upper elevators were placed in the central core (120). ” How would water reach the upper stores in case of fire?

Lamb designed a unique fire-safety system using giant steel water tanks at different levels. He included 400 hose connection and an alarm connected to the city’s fire station. Also, he ordered that bricks and limestone, fireproof materials, should be used in construction (120). Since construction was happening in one of the busiest cities in the world, the huge amount of materials-for example, tons of marbles from France and Italy, 6500 windows, and 10 million bricks- could not be stored; everything had to be used directly after its delivery.

William Lamb completed the detailed project in six month, and the R. H. Shreve arranged the actual construction. (120-121). Just when everything seemed on track, Raskob and his partners received a striking new. Walter Chrysler, the owner of the Chrysler building, revealed his true plans that he was hiding; he was determined to have the world’s tallest building. He added a dome to his building that raised its height to 319 meter, just a few meters higher that Lamb’s design. Raskob could not afford to redesign his building to beat Chrysler, but Raskob found a solution. A hat! ” he cried. “That’s what this building needs-a hat”. At Raskob suggestion, Lamb added a 61-meter top called a mooring mast. It allowed blimps to dock and discharge their passengers. It was not practical and was used only once; however, it gave the Empire State building the title of the world’s tallest building (120-122). The labors completed the steel frame in sixth month, and one year after laying the first piece of steel the construction was completed with a height of 443. 2 meters, easily within the dead line (125). Effects of the Building

In 1931, the Empire State Building became the highest building in the world. The building opened in the midst of the Great Depression; it lifted the spirits of many Americans in one of the nation’s hardest times. Celebrating what they named the eighth wonder of the world, people were psychologically lifted by the building’s construction (The Empire State Building: Skyscraper Symbol of America’s Power). Soon after the building’s completion, it became a major tourist attraction site. It attracted many famous people from all over the world including Albert Einstein, the French prime minister, and Queen Elizabeth.

The building became an international icon, and it has attracted over 117 million visitors (Empire State Building-Facts). At least 32 people committed suicide by jumping of the building (Empire State building-Facts). For example, An unidentified man got past a guard on the staircase leading from the 102d-floor observatory of the Empire State Building to the top floor yesterday, and leaped to his death (Leaps To His Death Off Empire Tower). Another woman, Evelyn McHale, jumped of the 86 floor of the Empire State building after leaving her fiance. She left a note saying “he is much better without me….

I wouldn’t make a good wife for anybody” and jumped to her death (Life 42). Conclusion The Empire State building is no longer the tallest building in the world; however, it remains an important historical figure. Today Burj Khalifa, found in UAE, is the tallest building in the world (828 meters) (Empire State Building), but as the competition continues who knows where the next tallest building is going to be? The Empire State Building still attracts millions of tourists yearly, and it remains a sign for America’s powers since it is was an innovation in the world of construction.

Works Cited Book: Nathan Aaseng. Construction:Building The Impossible. The oliver press. Mineapolis. 2000. http://books. google. com. sa/books? id=nVd8CCmafP0C;printsec=frontcover;hl=ar;source=gbs_ge_summary_r;cad=0#v=onepage;q;f=true Magazine : No author mentioned. Picture of The Week. Life. 12 May 1947. 152 pages http://books. google. com. sa/books? id=ZEgEAAAAMBAJ;source=gbs_navlinks_s Internet: Thomson Gale. The Empire State Building: Skyscraper Symbol of America’s Power. BookRags. Copyright @2005-2006.

Science and its times. Visited April 9, 2012. http://www. bookrags. com/research/the-empire-state-building-skyscrape-scit-06123456/#bro_copy No author. Empire State Building. Emporis. Copyright @2000-2012. visited April 9, 2012. http://www. emporis. com/building/empirestatebuilding-newyorkcity-ny-usa No author. LEAPS TO HIS DEATH OFF EMPIRE TOWER. The New York Times. November 4, 1932. Retrieved October 4, 2011. Visited April 10, 2012. http://select. nytimes. com/gst/abstract. html? res=FB0610FF355516738DDDAD0894D9415B828FF1D3