In May of 1930, construction workers began building the Empire State Building in New York City. The project took just over a year to complete, and the building was officially opened on May 1, 1931. More than 3,000 workers were employed during the construction process, working around the clock to get the job done as quickly as possible.
The Empire State Building was designed by William F. Lamb of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates. It is 102 stories tall and was the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion. The building has a distinctive Art Deco style and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in New York City.
Construction of the Empire State Building began in March 1930 and was completed in just one year and 45 days. That’s an incredible feat, especially considering that the building is 1,454 feet tall! Over 3,400 workers were employed to build the Empire State Building and they worked around the clock in shifts.
The Empire State Building was originally designed to be the world’s tallest building. But when construction on the Chrysler Building began just a few months after work started on the Empire State Building, it became clear that the Chrysler Building would be taller. Still, the Empire State Building is an iconic structure and one of New York City’s most popular tourist attractions.

Credit: en.wikipedia.org
How Long Did It Take to Build the Empire State Building in Months?
The construction of the Empire State Building began on March 17, 1930. The building was completed in just over one year and officially opened on May 1, 1931. At the time, it was the tallest building in the world, a title it held for nearly 40 years.
The design of the Empire State Building was inspired by a competition held to build the world’s tallest building. The winning design, by architect William F. Lamb from the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates, incorporated several innovative features that helped make its construction possible in such a short timeframe.
One of these features was its use of prefabricated steel parts that could be easily assembled on site.
This method had been used before on smaller scale projects but never on something as large as the Empire State Building. Another key element of its design was its triangular footprint which allowed for a more efficient use of space and made the structure stronger against high winds.
Despite its innovative design, constructing the Empire State Building was no easy feat and required around 3,400 workers working around-the-clock to get it done in time.
In total, over 10 million man-hours went into building this iconic skyscraper.
How Did the Empire State Building Get Built So Quickly?
The Empire State Building was built in just over a year, from 1930 to 1931. This was an incredible feat of engineering and construction, made possible by a number of factors. First, the building was designed using a new method called “structural steel frame construction.”
This allowed for the quick assembly of the building’s skeleton. Second, there were 3,600 workers on site at the peak of construction, working around the clock in three shifts. Finally, many prefabricated materials were used, including 8 million bricks and 60,000 tons of steel.
How Many Workers Did the Empire State Building Build?
When the Empire State Building was completed in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world. Construction on the building began in March of 1930 and was completed in just over a year. During construction, 3,400 workers were employed to build the Empire State Building.
These workers worked around the clock in shifts to get the job done as quickly as possible.
The workers who built the Empire State Building came from all over the United States and from many different backgrounds. Some of them had experience working on tall buildings, while others had never worked on a construction site before.
Many of the workers were immigrants who had come to America looking for a better life.
Building the Empire State Building was a monumental undertaking. The workers who did it were skilled and hardworking, and they helped to create one of the most iconic buildings in America.
Stunning footage of the construction of New York's Empire State Building in color (opened in 1931)
How Many People Died Building the Empire State Building
When construction on the Empire State Building began in 1930, no one could have predicted the toll it would take on the workers. Over the course of its construction, 14 people died – 12 men and 2 women. The most common cause of death was falling from great heights, but several workers were also killed by elevator shafts, electrocution, and even being struck by a plane!
While these deaths may seem like a high price to pay for such an iconic building, they were actually quite common for the time period. In fact, over 3,000 people died during the construction of New York City’s skyscrapers between 1885 and 1930! So while the Empire State Building may have had more than its fair share of fatalities, it’s important to remember that this was just a part of life in early 20th century NYC.
Conclusion
In May of 1930, construction workers put the finishing touches on the Empire State Building in New York City. The building had been constructed at a breakneck pace over the course of just over a year and a half. Some 3,400 workers toiled around the clock to complete the project, which cost an estimated $24 million (equivalent to nearly $400 million today).
The Empire State Building was not only the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion, but also the tallest man-made structure ever built. It held that distinction for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by the World Trade Center’s North Tower in 1970.