Comparative Analysis of Empire State Building and the World Trade Center

Michael Carloci

Dr. Johnson

Comparative Analysis of Empire State Building and the World Trade Center

The Empire State Building and the World Trade Center are well known buildings known throughout the world. They are both landmarks in New York and have been for many years. Even though the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed in 2001 it is still a symbol of New York City and will never be forgotten. As the Empire State Building stands as the largest building in New York now, the World Trade Center is still remembered as the tallest building New York has ever had. Both buildings were built with their own unique traits and had their own identities. The only thing wrong with this is that the World Trade Center unique build could not stand up to the attack it faced on September 11th, 2001.

The groundbreaking for the construction of the World Trade Center was August 5th 1966. It consisted of seven buildings and the first building was completed in 1970. The completion of the entire World Trade Center was 1973 and the complex was officially opened on April 4, 1973. The site was designed to be modern, economical and tall. Leslie Robertson was the engineer of the buildings and he used a different approach in designing this historic site. To solve the problem of wind sway or vibration in the construction of the towers, chief engineer Leslie Robertson took a then unusual approach. Instead of bracing the buildings corner-to-corner or using internal walls, the towers were essentially hollow steel tubes surrounding a strong central core. The inner walls were enforced with steel around the inner core. All steel trusses were fire proofed with fireproof foam. It was also equipped with fire resistant sheet rock which was not strong enough when it was heated at a certain temperature. It was designed to withstand Boeing 747 which at the time was the longest plane of its time. The North Tower of the World Trade Center also known as tower one was completed at a height of 417 m (1368 feet). The South Tower of the World Trade Center also known as tower two was completed at a height of 415 m (1362 feet). When the towers were attacked on September 11, 2001 they completely collapsed. When the planes hit the towers jet fuel engulfed the damaged era. The drywall was blown off leaving the staircases destroyed or completely in flames. Emergency exits were destroyed as was the fire proofing. It left the steel exposed which softened from the heat. The fire reached 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This ultimately was the main reason why the towers collapsed.

The Empire State Building was constructed from 1929 to 1931. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931 in dramatic fashion, when United States President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from Washington, D.C. The Empire State Building was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. The Empire State Building rises to 381 m (1,250 feet) at the 102nd floor, and including the 203ft pinnacle its full