What would it cost to build the Empire State Building today?

What would it cost to build the Empire State Building today?

The Cost of Construction In today’s dollars, that’s more than $673 million. Because of the Great Depression, construction costs ended up being much lower than initially planned. The Depression also made it hard for the building to find tenants, so it would be two decades before the building was profitable.

How does water get to the top of the Empire State Building?

A: The humble water tank, a wooden cylinder perched on stilts on city rooftops, is as much a part of the skyline as the Empire State Building. Water travels to New York City from reservoirs north of the city, traveling down from an elevation roughly the equivalent to a six-story building.

Are water towers still used in NYC?

Water towers in New York are everywhere. As buildings grew taller than 6 stories, the main water infrastructure couldn’t handle the water pressure. Water towers were needed to move water safely to the 7th floor and above. Although they looks like remnants of the past, they are still very much in use today.

Why are there water tanks on top of buildings in New York?

Tanks were placed on rooftops because the local water pressure was too weak to raise water to upper levels. When construction started to grow taller, the city required that buildings with six or more stories be equipped with a rooftop tank with a pump. About 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water can be stored in the tanks.

What are water towers on top of old buildings?

A water tower is an elevated building supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a distribution system for potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection.

Are water towers still used?

Water towers were traditionally constructed from cedar planks bound together by circular steel bands. These days, some new tanks are made of steel but surprisingly, bloated cedar is an incredibly water-tight (not to mention much lighter and cheaper) barrier and thus frequently still in use today.

What is the biggest water tower in the world?

Union Watersphere