History and architecture
The Empire State Building opened on May 1, 1931, after a construction campaign that began in March 1930. Shreve, Lamb & Harmon designed the 102-story tower on the site of the original Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Its rapid construction and record-breaking height made it a defining project of New York's skyscraper era.
The design continues at a much smaller scale in the Fifth Avenue lobby. Metallic ornament and a celestial ceiling combine stars, sunbursts, and gears. The ceiling was concealed during later alterations, then recreated as part of the building's restoration in the 2000s.
What to look for
- The tower's stepped outline as it narrows toward the top.
- The contrast between the broad lower floors and the slender upper tower.
- Stars and gears in the restored Fifth Avenue lobby ceiling, when visiting the interior.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed September 5, 2026.