Empire State Building Unveils 102nd Floor Observatory

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NEW YORK CITY – The Empire State Building has unveiled its newly-renovated 102nd floor Observatory. The completed third phase of the building’s four-phase, $165 million Observatory Experience project was revealed to the public this past Saturday, October 12th.

Guests visiting the world-famous building now have the ability to venture up to the structure’s 102nd floor for an additional $20 ticket. Traveling 16 stories from the 86th floor Observatory, in a renovated glass elevator shaft, visitors gain a never-before-seen look at the inside of the tower’s mast and a glimpse at the tower’s lights.

Visitors are able to access 360-degree, panoramic views through 24 floor-to-ceiling windows in the enclosed, climate controlled observation deck. Guests are able to step to the edge of the building in the new space and look down for unobstructed views from 1250 feet, with the ability to glance onto the outdoor, 86th floor observatory.

In creating the new observation deck, Empire State Realty Trust removed all obstructions and walls in the space, and specifically painted the interior for minimum glare; ensuring un-impaired, optimum views of the city from Midtown Manhattan.

Construction of the 102nd floor commenced in January 2019, utilizing a state-of-the-art, fully-enclosed, circular scaffolding structure, which allowed for the ability to pursue work while the 86th floor Observatory remained open to the public.

“The 102nd floor’s reopening is a major moment in our progress to complete the new Empire State Building Observatory Experience,” said Anthony E. Malkin, CEO and chairman of Empire State Realty Trust.

The design and structural work of the 102nd floor Observatory was constructed to highlight both the building’s external views, as well as its historic features. The space was executed by a team of experts consisting of Beneville Studios, Corgan, Diversified, IDEO, JLL, Kubik Maltbie, Otis, Skanska, Squint/Opera, Syska Hennessy, The Lighting Practice, Thinc and Thornton Tomassetti.

The opening of the new Observatory completed phase three of the building’s Observatory Experience. Phase one consisted of relocating the Observatory entrance from Fifth Avenue to 20 West 34th Street, effective August 2018, and phase two of the experience launched immersive second-floor galleries in July 2019.

The repositioned entrance leads visitors directly into the interactive museum, highlighting the Empire State Building in 10,000 square feet of gallery space. The second-floor space takes visitors on a journey from the building’s construction to current day, as they make their way to the 86th and 102nd floor Observatories, simultaneously solving the issue of congestion and long lines.

The museum’s first exhibit features “The Site in the 1920s,” offering a panoramic image depicting the building’s construction, with survey markers presenting live street scenes of New York City at that time. The “Construction” exhibit, inspired by Lewis Hine photographs, allows visitors to sit with sculptures of construction workers on their lunch breaks, and watch as steel beams and rivets fly overhead. The “Opening Day” gallery outlines the building’s sustainability and energy efficiency efforts with interactive screens. Next, guests visit the “Otis Elevator” exhibit, which showcases the original elevator’s operations, the latest technology installed, and an elevator shaft simulation for visitors to experience the energy created by the cars’ movements. The “Urban Campus” gallery provides an inside glimpse of the building’s nearly 100 floors of office spaces and amenities. In the “World’s Most Famous Building” exhibit, seventy screens simultaneously highlight the building’s role in pop culture from every decade since the 1930’s; displaying hundreds of movies, television shows, commercials, cartoons, comics and video games, set to an original score commissioned for the exhibit. Visitors then walk through the “King Kong” exhibit in a 1930’s office space, where guests are encouraged to climb into the ape’s giant hands for a simulation affect, as he dangles from the building and office lights flicker. Lastly, the “Celebrity” gallery portrays the building as a popular destination; highlighting signed memorabilia and famous faces that have visited the 86th floor Observatory.

“Now our new galleries on the second floor give our visitors the chance to learn and engage with the iconic authenticity that one the Empire State Building, uniquely not just in New York City, but in the world, can provide.” Malkin stated.

The second-floor space serves as the only museum in New York City that is open seven days a week, from 8AM to 2AM. All content and messaging within the exhibits has been translated into nine languages for visitors to learn and enjoy.

Upon the interactive museum, visitors are transported up to the 86th floor Observatory, in 55 second elevator ride, before optionally visiting the new 102nd floor Observatory.

The Empire State Building spans 1,454 feet from base to antenna top in Midtown Manhattan. The building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust Inc., hosts various tenants from diverse industries.

Empire State Realty Trust Inc. is a REIT that owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties. The company has assembled a portfolio consisting of 10.1 million rentable square feet within Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area.

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