Chrysler Building

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{{Infobox World's Tallest Building |building_name= Chrysler Building |image= Image:Chrysbldg solitaire.jpg |previous_building= 40 Wall Street |year_built= 1930 |surpassed_by_building= Empire State Building |year_end= 1931 |location= New York City, USA |height_meters= 282 (roof) |height_feet= 925 (roof) |height_stories= 77 | construction_period= 1928-1930 |destroyed= |emporis_id=114867}} {{Infobox Skyscraper/Tallest |roof= 282.0 m |top_floor= 274.0 m |antenna_spire= 318.9 m |floor_area= 111,201 m² |elevator_count= 32 |architect= William Van Alen|}} Completed in 1930, the Chrysler Building is a distinctive symbol of New York City, standing 1,048 feet (319 m) high on the east side of Manhattan at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Originally built for the Chrysler Corporation, the building is presently co-owned by TMW Real Estate (75%) and Tishman Speyer Properties (25%). The Chrysler Building was the first structure in the world to surpass the 1,000 foot (305 m) threshold. Despite being overtaken by the Empire State Building as the tallest building in the world during the 1930s, the Chrysler Building is still the tallest brick building in the world.

1 History
2 Architecture
3 Images
4 The building in popular culture
5 See also
6 External links

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History

The Chrysler building was designed by William van Alen for a contractor, William H. Reynolds, the same man who dreamed up Dreamland, a by-gone amusement park of Coney Island's heyday. The design was subsequently sold to Walter P. Chrysler as a home for his company's headquarters.

Groundbreaking was on September 19, 1928. At the time the building was erected, the builders of New York were in the throes of a stiff competition to build the world's tallest skyscraper. The Chrysler building was constructed at an average rate of 4 floors per week, and no workers were killed during construction. Just prior to completion, the building stood even with H. Craig Severance's 40 Wall Street. Mr. Severance subsequently added two feet to his building, and claimed the title of the world's tallest building (this distinction excluded "structures", such as the Eiffel Tower.)

Not one to be outdone, Mr. van Alen had already secretly obtained permission to build a 185 foot (58.4 m) spire, which was being constructed inside of the building. The spire, composed of 'Nirosta' stainless steel, was hoisted to the top of the building on October 23, 1929, making the Chrysler Building not only the world's tallest building, but also the world's tallest structure. The steel chosen to cap the building was Krupp KA2 "Enduro" Steel. Van Alen and Chrysler enjoyed this distinction for less than a year, before it was surrendered to the Empire State Building. Unfortunately, Mr. van Alen's satisfaction was muted by Walter Chrysler's refusal to pay his fee. The Chrysler Building opened to the public on May 27, 1930 with an opening ceremony.

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Architecture

The Chrysler Building is an example of Art Deco architecture, and the distinctive ornamentation of the tower is based on features that were then being used on Chrysler automobiles. The corners of the 61st floors are graced with eagles, replicas of the 1929 Chrysler hood ornaments[1]. On the 31st floors the corner ornamentation are replicas of the 1929 Chrysler radiator caps[2]. The building is also arguably the best example of the Art Deco period of New York architecture, which was noted as perhaps the most beautiful period of development of buildings in the city.

The lobby is similarly elegant. When the building first opened it contained a public viewing gallery near the top, which a few years later was changed into a restaurant, but neither of these enterprises was able to be financially self sustaining during the Great Depression and the former observation floor became a private club. The very top stories of the building are narrow with low sloped ceilings, designed mostly for exterior appearance with interiors useful only to hold radio broadcasting and other mechanical and electrical equipment.

In more recent years the Chrysler Building has continued to be a favorite among New Yorkers. In the summer of 2005, New York's own Skyscraper Museum asked one hundred architects, builders, critics, engineers, historians, and scholars, among others, to choose their 10 favorites among 25 New York towers. The Chrysler Building came in first place as 90% of them placed the building in their top 10 favorite buildings. [3]

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Images

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The building in popular culture

In the movie Armageddon, a chunk of the asteroid hits the Chrysler Building, severing its upper quarter and causing it to crash down on the streets.
Larry Cohen's low budget classic movie Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) has the titular dragon-beast nesting just below the spire of the Chrysler Building, from where it launches its campaign of terror on New York City, staying invisible to the citizens by "flying against the sun".
In the animated series Spider-Man, one of the main villains, Kingpin, runs his crime syndicate from the Chrysler Building. The upper floors had launch and landing facilities for VTOL-capable aircraft.
In the music video for "This is a Song for the Lonely" by Cher, the Chrysler Building is shown, being built, though mainly just the upper quarter.
In the movie Godzilla two Apache helicopters accidently blow up the building while chasing the gigantic beast through Midtown.
In the video game Parasite Eve, the building is a site of a thorough hostile creature infestation. The secret "true" boss is on the top floor.
Artist Matthew Barney narrates the construction of the Chrysler Building (which is itself a character) in the art film Cremaster 3.
In Annie, during the "Hard-Knock Life" number, Molly says, imitating Miss Hannigan, "You'll stay up till this dump shines like the top of the Chrysler Building!"