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Empire State Building Architecture

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Elevator details in the Empire State Building

An Art Deco Icon

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The Image of NYC

The Empire State Building, with its towering height and iconic design, shapes the New York City skyline. As the world's finest Art Deco skyscraper, it's a living symbol of New York's history and culture.

At 102 stories and 1,454 feet tall from base to antenna, it was the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years after completion. Today, it remains a remarkable architectural marvel and the “World’s Most Famous Building.” At night, the iconic spire shines with changing colors to highlight major milestones, anniversaries, and causes.

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Truly Timeless

Opened in 1931 on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building sits in NYC's heart. A symbol of American industry, it was the first building with more than 100 floors, and its steel frame was a modern marvel.

The building's Art Deco design has inspired visitors from around the world. Although the steel frame does the structural work, what you see is a facade of Indiana limestone and granite trimmed in aluminum and stainless steel. The ESB facts page carries the full tally of stone, brick, and metal.

The Image of NYC

The Empire State Building, with its towering height and iconic design, shapes the New York City skyline. As the world's finest Art Deco skyscraper, it's a living symbol of New York's history and culture.

At 102 stories and 1,454 feet tall from base to antenna, it was the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years after completion. Today, it remains a remarkable architectural marvel and the “World’s Most Famous Building.” At night, the iconic spire shines with changing colors to highlight major milestones, anniversaries, and causes.

Truly Timeless

Opened in 1931 on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building sits in NYC's heart. A symbol of American industry, it was the first building with more than 100 floors, and its steel frame was a modern marvel.

The building's Art Deco design has inspired visitors from around the world. Although the steel frame does the structural work, what you see is a facade of Indiana limestone and granite trimmed in aluminum and stainless steel. The ESB facts page carries the full tally of stone, brick, and metal.

Empire State Building Architecture, by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon

The Empire State Building was designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon. Partner William F. Lamb led the design and Starrett Bros. & Eken built it. You can follow the whole story – from the 1928 sale of the Waldorf Astoria on –in our history of the building's construction.

An Artistic Marvel

Millions of visitors every year travel through our Fifth Avenue lobby at the end of their Observation Deck visit. The restored lobby showcases the pure magic of the Art Deco style. Shimmering starbursts and metallic touches gild the halls, elevators, and ceiling, which make it a true piece of New York history and designated landmark by the Landmark Preservation Commission.

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Revitalized for Today

The Empire State ReBuilding initiative aims to restore the building to its original glory for future generations and honor its designers' vision.

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Turning Back Time

After nearly a century, many of the building's key design elements, from the lighting and glasswork to the marble interiors, had weathered. As a result, some of these defining pieces were in danger of being lost.

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Historic Restoration

Today, more than 12,000 feet of historic glassware has been recreated with meticulous attention to detail by a team of artisans and historians. Damaged marble has been removed and replaced with new stone. The result is an ESB experience that's faithful to the history of the building.

Architecture at the Empire State Building

Dazzling Artistry

Among the building's most striking design artifacts is the vast mural along the ceiling of the lobby. It depicts a celestial sky in classic Art Deco style, adorned with 23-karat gold stars, sunbursts, and gears. For decades, it welcomed visitors to the building – however, in the 1960s, it was painted over and covered with a dropped ceiling.

ReBuilding Ceiling Art at the Empire State Building

Recreated Masterpiece

In 2007, artists and historians began to recreate this mural in all its original brilliance. Two years, 20,000 working hours, and several thousand square feet of gold and aluminum leaf later, the lobby ceiling captivates visitors as it did on the building's opening day.

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sustainability: Evolving Every Day

Our efforts for a more sustainable Empire State Building have introduced new energy-efficient technology into the building without the need to compromise its beauty and design. This will ensure the Empire State Building remains a global icon for generations to come.

FAQ: Empire State Building Architecture

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The Empire State Building was designed by the firm of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, led by William F. Lamb and built by Starrett Bros. & Eken. Lamb's tower went up between March 17, 1930 and May 1, 1931, a build of one year and 45 days that still stands as a record for a tower this tall.

The Empire State Building Art Deco design question has a clear answer: it is Art Deco, not Art Nouveau. You can read the style in the building's architectural features: stepped setbacks, a strong vertical line, and flat geometric patterns in metal and stone rather than the curved, floral ornament for which Art Nouveau is known. Empire State Building interior design carries the same style indoors.

The Empire State Building lobby on Fifth Avenue is an Art Deco interior built around a ceiling mural of a celestial sky, worked in 23-karat gold stars, sunbursts, and gears. Marble walls, metal detailing, and gilded elevator doors carry the same style through the rest of the interior spaces.

Artisans and historians recreated more than 12,000 feet of the Empire State Building's historic glasswork and replaced damaged marble with new stone under the ReBuilding program. The lobby ceiling alone took two years and 20,000 working hours before it was unveiled in 2009. 

Yes, the Empire State Building is a protected landmark three times over. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it in 1981, the National Park Service named it a National Historic Landmark in 1986, and the Fifth Avenue lobby carries a separate interior designation. The American Institute of Architects also ranked it first on its list of America's Favorite Architecture in 2007.

See it Yourself

The Empire State Building's Observation Decks provide panoramic views of New York City and attract millions of visitors annually.

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86th Floor Observation Deck

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Named the #1 Attraction in the World by Tripadvisor's 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards.

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#1 Top Attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do.

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More than 60,000 five-star reviews from visitors around the world.

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