Once again New York’s tallest building, this Art Deco structure rises 1,252 feet (381metre) from the ground, with 102 floors and was built in 16 months. It was made from Indiana limestone and granite with aluminium-plated mullions. The Empire State Building's 6,500 windows are supported aesthetically by sandblasting the spandrels, blending their tone and creating the vertical striping effect.

Not only was this splendid building constructed during the Depression, but it was built so fast that it changed the way skyscrapers were thought about by architects. All four façades are visible from the street, which is rare, and the 700-foot spire was originally intended as a docking bay for zepplins.

Written by  George Monkhouse.

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