The Empire State Building (on the right) and the Chrysler Building (left) have been competing stepsisters ever since they were conceived in the late 1920s during a period construction boom in New York City.The Chrysler Building designed by architect, William Van Alen broke ground on September 19, 1928 and was expected to be the tallest skyscraper in the world, surpassing the then record holder, 40 Wall Street, which was under construction at the time. Not to be outdone, architect H. Craig Severence secretly added an additional 2 feet (0.6 meter) onto the 40 Wall Street structure but William Van Alen also secretly constructed a 125-foot (58.4 meters) spire from inside the Chrysler Building. In the mist of all this competition, the developers for the Empire State Building jumped into the fray by announcing the construction of an even taller skyscaper.
40 Wall Street (927 feet/283 meters/72 floors) was finally completed in 1930 and claimed the record for the tallest skyscaper in the world from the Woolworth Building (792 feet/241 meters/55 floors) for only a couple of months before the Chrysler Building (1,046 feet/319 meters/77 floors) opened in May 1930. The Empire State Building (1,250 feet/381 meters/102 floors) took over the record a year later in May 1931.
Which of the two buildings do you prefer?
11 comments:
I prefer the one on the right. It just looks nicer!
The Chrisler has always been my favorite...
Wow, what an interesting story! Great!
I think Chrisler is more beautiful, but to be honest, I should be there and see them to give an aproppiate answer ;)
I mean Chrysler! :)
Like the cars no?
Empire State Building. I just like the architecture but it also symbolises New York because it occurs in films, on the TV more often.
Interesting facts.
Angela
Nice shot! I like the Chrysler building. All the hood orniments and hubcap designs are really cool. You ever catch "Secrets of New York" on ch. 25?
Phil
http://nycblogspot.blogspot.com/
What a great blog:) I'm dreaming of living in N.Y. someday, like so many others, and your pictures really do show the city from an intresting angle.
waouuh. une des plus belles vues de manhattan. la photo est superbe. vivement mon prochain voyage dans la big city.
waouuh. one of the most beautiful sights of Manhattan. the photograph is superb. highly my next voyage in the big city.
In this night photo I think the Empire State looks better, but in general I prefer the Chrysler. Great night shot!
This photo was possible because I got a tripod from my brother for Christmas. :-) Thanks, J.
Empire state pour moi! But I actually like the Chrysler buidling in the day.
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