that old steel spire, she ain't what she used to be.

Yeah, could use some polishing, but still very cool and retro-futuristic. It, and some buildings from Shanghai remind me of each other.

The entire building is getting a makeover, so maybe they will do something with the spire. I wish they could remove some of the broadcasting equipment, but with the broadcasters' decision no to move to the Freedom Tower, that seems unlikely.

I was not expecting that first picture. It's amazing! I want a poster like that!

http://www.costar.com/News/Article.a...DB86D89D007F71

At Empire State Building, Green Future Merging with Past
Sustainability and Business Will Coexist Profitably as the Building Becomes 40% More Energy Efficient, Officials Say

http://gateway.costar.com/imageviewe...pirestate1.jpg

By Andrew C. Burr
April 8, 2009

One of the most enduring symbols of the 20th century, the Empire State Building, is being revamped for the energy-conscious 21st century.

Under a plan announced this week, energy consumption at the 102-story tower would be reduced by nearly 40 percent over the next four years, saving $4.4 million annually in energy costs and earning the building two prestigious environmental markers: the government’s Energy Star label and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for sustainability, project officials said.

If those goals are achieved, few high-rises in the country -- new or old -- would come close to matching the energy efficiency or energy cost savings at the pre-war tower.

...Kept secret for nearly two years, details of the retrofit were revealed Monday at a news conference hosted by Anthony E. Malkin, president of Wien & Malkin, which oversees the building for the Malkin family and the Helmsley estate, the building’s co-owners.

With New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Clinton seated to his right, Malkin used his first few words to set the stakes.

“I’m Anthony Malkin, and on behalf of the Empire State Building Company, welcome to the world’s most famous office building,” he said.

The retrofit is significant not only for the tower’s celebrity, which is already drawing international attention to the project, but also for its ambition. Retrofits of older buildings can be intrusive and costly, and the size of the Empire State Building -- 1,250 feet tall and roughly 2.6 million square feet -- presented other challenges.

When the project completes in 2013, the building will be in the 90th percentile of energy efficient properties in the United States, Jones Lang LaSalle said. Work has already started, and the building’s energy use is expected to decrease by almost 20 percent during the next two years, when most of the measures will be implemented. Carbon dioxide emissions from the building are being slashed by 105,000 metric tons over a period of 15 years.

I just wish they'd get all that antenna crap off the Deco mast.

StevieB44

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/...00ee976d_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/...aff5974c_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/...1f75ef53_b.jpg

That "antenna crap" adds extra height to the building and that is what New York needs. Sure it may not count towards the official height but I tend to like the antenna.

New York needs extra height? Please.

It's there because it is an easy way for the owner to increase NOI with basically no operating expenses. As such, it probably won't be going anywhere any time soon.

Didn't they test out LED lights like 2 years ago? I thought they were replacing the floodlights at the top with LED's this year. Any news on that or did that fall through?

I would suspect they would change them now with the rest of the building being fixed up. Also, maybe they should clean the facade and get it back to a more vibrant color like they did with the Chrysler.

i was in the Vicinity of this EL track last summer

I didn't say the purpose of the antenna was to add height that's obviously not the case. Sure it adds height but that isn't what it is there for. Anyway the building looks good with the antenna than without it.

the ESB looked retarded without the antenna

Umm... I agree on part of that. I think much of that crap should be removed from the spire. It makes it look like crap!

But the antenna above the spire should stay because it makes the building look sleek, sexy and just looks awesome.

Wasn't a reference to the antenna on top

From some of the latest photos I've posted over in the ESB thread, I agree that some of that broadcasting crap needs to come off. But as I've said, with the Freedom Tower becoming a non-option, that doesn't seem likely.

Posted in the ESB thread...

I remember when the stairway from the 86th to the 80th (that's about as much as I saw) was filled with graffiti. I think they've since removed it. But it dawns on me that the ESB has the highest graffiti in the city.

droptheneedlenplay

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/...0730f2fc_b.jpg

Heh, never realized what a mess it is up there. Good thing you can't really make it out 1,250 feet below on the street. Hopefully something can be done, but I'm sure the ESB will be broadcasting for some time to come, as well as Conde.

There is way too much shit up there. That ruins a lot of images. It looks like a tower in some dystopian sci-fi future.

I also agree that it needs a scrub down. When I went on top back in 2001 I was amazed at the condition of the mooring mast; they really let it go.

And one more thing, I hope they even out the mechanical vents. Random window vents just don't look right.

Just want what's best for one of my favorite buildings.

I hope they won't ignore that during the makeover. It's likely it'll get the treatment the Chrysler got some years back. When this "rebuilding" is complete, this icon and American classic will be among the most modern in the world.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/st...6/daily32.html

Empire State plan seen as Boston blueprint

by Michelle Hillman
April 9, 2009


http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/06/news...ney_topstories

Empire State Building: New energy role model

By Steve Hargreaves
April 6, 2009