It’s the beating heart of New York City, the light in the sky, the place where it all begins—the Empire State Building. Much like everything in New York, this tourist destination sees thousands of visitors a day, looking to step into the architectural wonder to gain a vantage point offering a perspective like no other. A glimpse at the building’s Art Deco design is enough to inspire designers from around the world, but its true crown lays on the 102nd floor—a glass-encased sphere boasting 360-degree views of the city. Up here, you feel untouchable— just for a moment, the city is yours. While the Empire State Building wasn’t the first historical landmark to grace the concrete jungle, it certainly was the most ambitious of its time. Construction began in 1930 and was complete one year and 45 days later. It was the world’s tallest building until the World Trade Center came along in 1972. Since then, the towering skyscraper has been a beacon of light, illuminating the city in its traditional bright white light. In 2012, the building went through upgrades, including a state-of-the-art LED lighting system, capable of displaying more than 16 million colours. During holidays and important occasions the lights change colour. Recently, the building reached the final phase of its four-year, 165 Million dollars (USD) project with the completion of the 80th-floor observation experience. Visitors will find five interactive video blades that allow users to design itineraries for their visit using an extensive inventory of destinations in all five boroughs. The itineraries automatically download to a smartphone with the use of a QR Code reader or via email. There are also short films explaining how the Empire State Building’s famous music-to-light shows are created as well as augmented reality scenes housed inside the classic binoculars found on the upper deck. Artworks adorn almost every wall and tell the story of its birth, of New York life and an incredible drawing of the skyline by famed British artist, Stephen Wiltshire. A visit to the Empire State Building is not complete without stepping out onto the open-air observation deck that wraps around the spire of the building on the 86th floor. Here, on a clear day, the view spans six states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware. Visitors have the ultimate vantage point to view the buzzing city life below. The free, high-powered binoculars are a great way to zoom in on the buzzing city life below. What most visitors don’t know is that the Empire State Building has many secrets. One of those being the all-access tour—an experience celebrities choose. The red-carpet tour includes a private entrance into the private celebrity green room, a private guided tour of the observation decks and the chance to lounge in style with a bottle of champagne. If you want to live like New York City royalty, this how they do it. That and a standing reservation at Per Se—another quintessential New York experience. Visit The Empire State building here.
credits: Sam Turrell and Natasha Bazika