Empire State Building

The Empire State Building

Designed by William F. Lamb from the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, the art deco styling of the Empire State Building is as an icon of New York City.

• Construction Started: 1929.
• Construction Completed: 1931.
• Cost of Empire State Building: $40,948,900.
• Empire State Building Height: 1,250 ft. to roof / 1,454 ft. to top of antenna spire (added 1951).
• Number of Stories in Empire State Building: 102.

The model is made from 1040 LEGO pieces and stands 46 cm tall. This model is significantly larger than the previous versions offered in the Architecture range, but not so big that it could not be an official set. Of the 1040 pieces 464 are the small 1x2 radiator grilles which make up the vertical line features on the exterior of the building.

Empire State Building Fact: The Empire State Building was the tallest building in New York City for 40 consecutive years, from 1931 until 1972.

As it can sometimes be difficult to judge the overall size of a model I have included a image of my Empire State Building next to the latest LEGO version - from the New York City set (21028) and the Eiffel Tower (21019). (King Kong minifigure being buzzed by biplanes is just for fun.)

Empire State Building Fact: The 200 foot mast was added during the build as a mooring post to allow airships to dock in the city - although none ever did. (but this did make the building taller than the Chrysler building).

I have always felt that the Empire State Building deserved a larger scale model, but it was making the New York City set and seeing the strong vertical lines that the radiator grille pieces created in it that really got the project rolling. There were several challenges in making all the various rectangular exterior blocks join together seemlessly and the observation deck proved quite difficult to to create the small steps and still have studs on the sides to hold all the exterior cladding in place.

I think this would make a great set which would appeal to fans of the Architecture range, fans of the building and anyone looking for a souvenir of New York City.

If you like my design and would like to see it made into an offical LEGO set then please ask your friends to support it too - perhaps even ask people you don't consider to be your friends and complete strangers via social media ;)

Thank you for your time.

Eiffleman