Empire State Building - Planning and Control Permit Erection of 85 Stories of Steel in Six Months

Oct 24, 2026

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Narrative and technical overview of the Empire State Building’s planning, schedule control, and steel erection during record-fast construction. Covers key external pressures such as timing tied to leasing windows and costs from interest and taxes, and places the project against the October 29, 1929 market crash context. Details dimensions, floor and height figures, and describes steel supply division, delivery logistics, and the methods for erecting and placing massive structural steel volumes over roughly six months with careful coordination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages69

Reading Time2 h 54 min

AccessFree to download

The tallest building in the world 1931-1971

Planning and Control Permit Erection of 85 Stories of Steel in Six Months

Steel Supply

The People with the Plan

Skyscraper Setbacks

Empire State Buildingprocess design for speed October 29,1929Stock Market Crash ·Dow drops from 381 to 228-40%decline-Attributed to leveraged stock purchases ·Didn't recover until outbreak of WWIl in1939. ·Widespread unemployment meant goodbidding climate # The tallest building in theworld 1931-1971 ·2,768,591 square feet ·102 floors ·1,250 ft.to roof ·1,472 ft.to spire ·Demolition of Waldorf Astoria started Sept. 22,1929 ·Construction of Empire State building startedMarch 17,1930 ·Construction had to be complete by May 1,1931. # Planning and Control Permit Erection of85 Stories of Steel in Six Months Empire State Building in New York City Involving 57,000 Tons Goes Up in Record Time—NineDericks Starting Work on 425×198-Ft.Site Reduced to Five Above Twentieth Floor—RelayPlatforms Necessary in Hoisting Steel—All Hoists Inside of Building 个THE PLACING of more than 57,000 tons of structural steel Iinan85-story buildingbe-tween the months of April andOctober is the task which has con-fronted the steel erector on theEmpire State Building in New YorkCity.Eighty per cent of this,totaltonnage was in place on Aug.1,when the building had reached toabout the 50th story.During July22 stories of steel were placed in 22working days,involving regularhours and no night work.As prog-ress has averaged about 10.000 tons FIG.1—EMPIREof steel per month(working five8TATE BUILD.days a week).it seems probable thatINO,NEW YORKthe difficult schedule will be met.CITYThis article is devoted to an ac-count of the steel erector's methodsand equipment which are of interest and value bothbecause of the magnitude of the project and the care-ful planning and control which has been exercised.The steel tonnage in the Empire State Buildingexceeds by a large margin that used in any comparablestructure.The Chrysler Building utilized 21,000 tonsand the 70-story Manhattan Company Building,both inNew York City,required 18,500.tons.The Merchan-dise Mart in Chieago,recently characterized as theworld's largest building,required only 38.000 tons.Theprincipal roof of the Empire State Building is 1.043 ft.above the curh,and latest plans contemplate the additionof a combination airship mooring mast and observationtower approximately 200 ft.tall above this point.Thebuilding's completed height will exceed that of theChrysler Building,now the tallest stfucture,by some-thing over 200 feet. In preparing a plan of procedure for the steel erection,it was necessary to consider four major problems:(1)steel supply,which had to take into account the fabrica-tion schedule and methods of delivery;(2)plant layout,includling ntmber,size and location of derricks andhoisting engines;(3)steel-handling methods at the job,which necessarily had to be considered as complementaryto plant layout in the planning;and(4)actual erectionprocedure,including methods of setting,fitting up andriveting. Steel Supply The large tonnage in the building and the urgencyfor completion made it advisable to divide the fabricatingcontract between two firms,the American Bridge Co.and the MeClintic-Marshall Co.Alternate sections fromthe basement to the roof,comprising from two to cightfloors each,were assigned to cach fabricator.All steelis shipped to a joint waterfront supply yard nearBayonne,N.J..and stee for erection is ordered from August 21,1930 this supply yard one lift(two floors)at a time,as needed.Because of possible delays in loading and shipment it isnecessary for the steelerectortoordersteeltwodaysin advance of the time it is to be used.Since there is nostorage space at the building site,it is absolutely neces-sary that everything be in readiness to erect the steelwhen it arrives. Steel is delivered from the supply yard to docks onthe East River waterfront by derrick-equipped lighters.Columns and heavy members are transferred to trucks at23d St.while the smaller material comes ashore at 19thSt.Since the Empire State Building isbetween 331 and34th St.on Fifth Av

FAQs

What were the main planning and control problems for steel erection?

The text lists four major problems: steel supply and its fabrication/delivery timing, plant layout (derrick and hoisting engine number/size/location), steel-handling methods integrated with the layout, and the actual erection procedure including setting, fitting up, and riveting.

How was steel supply organized to meet the urgent completion schedule?

Fabrication was divided between two firms, American Bridge Co. and MeClintic-Marshall Co., with assigned building sections by ranges of floors. Steel was shipped to a joint waterfront supply yard near Bayonne, N.J., and steel for erection was ordered lift-by-lift as needed, with ordering about two days in advance.

How did setbacks relate to skyscraper construction and street-level conditions?

The text explains that growing skyscraper height and bulk raised concerns about street-level quality of life. It notes the NY zoning ordinance of 1916, which required skyscrapers to “step back” to allow more sunlight to reach the street.

Oct 24, 2026

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