MAMMOTH SKYSCRAPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20759, 30 December 1930, Page 8

MAMMOTH SKYSCRAPER.

HUNDRED-STOREY BUILDING. EXPENDITURE OF £ I 1,000,000. [from oub own correspondent.] NEW YORK, Nov. 20. A city population of 30,000 people will spend most of their waking hours inside the Empire State Building of 102 storeys which, now approaching completion at a corner of Fifth Avenue, is said by architects to reflect tho New York of tho future. Hero are some of the facts of tho newest skyscraper:—Height, 1250 ft.; 67 elevators, 11 sidewalks and underground streets. A commuter from Long Islaryl arrives at the Empire Stale underground station and takes an elevator direct to his office. After his day's work he can purchase anything he needs, have a swim, go to doctor and dentist and return home by the underground without walking in a street or seeing one, except from his office window.

The great steel mast for airships will withstand a pull of 50 tons. The building will be complete 15 months after it was begun, at which architects and builders throughout the world marvel. Such a structure in London, Paris or Berlin, it is claimed, would take from five to seven years to erect. Tho building time of 15 months includes the timo occupied in demolishing tho Hotel Waldorf Astoria, on whoso site tho new giant is being built.

The work is all synchronised. While workers on the 85th floor are riveting mighty girders into shape others far below them are putting the marble in place, finishing the plastering, floors and interior decorations Nearly 7000 men, comprising 30 trades, are now at work. Forty trucks unload at once. Narrowgauge railroads lead everywhere. Restaurants on different floors make it unnecessary for men to leave their work to go to the ground floor. Tho marvel of it all is that though the building is 1250 ft. above the street it only extends 33ft. below it. One would think that a good windstorm would blow it all over, but tho dead weight downwards is so great in such a hugo structure that any horizontal push is negligible. Solid rock is only two floors below the street

The building is austerely simple. Window glass is flush with tho outside wall. No indentations mar its symmetry. No heaters or radiators will bo visible inside. Fresh air will enter tho radiators through a vent near the floor and come out heated through another vent level with tho win-dow-sill. Tikis will provide extra space and clearer light. As years go on it is probable that buildings inconceivable to present minds will be constructed, but architects say they believe the Empire State Building will bo the tallest in New York for many years to come. It is possible to build with safety higher than 1200 ft., but tho gain hi rentable area above the 60th floor in New York is so slight that to go much above 1000 ft. becomes rather an expensive and foolish gesture." The building represents an investment of £11,000,000.