Explanation Writing

The piece

Learning Intentions:

• To research a topic of my choice, take brief notes and write an explanation detailing who, where, what, why, when and how, and explaining to the reader why this is considered a ‘wonder’ of the world.
• To write in paragraphs, using topic sentences to introduce each paragraph (NOT paragraph headings)

Why The Empire State Building is a Wonder of the Modern World

From 1931 to 1973, the Empire State Building has been the tallest skyscraper, towering over New York.  This tower though had competition, with the Chrysler Building being the biggest beforehand.  This piece of writing will convey why I think the Empire State Building is one of the Wonders of the World!

At the time, the whole idea of building big in New York was to show power or honour to have the tallest building. Many buildings were conquered by the next attempt to build the biggest tower.  The idea/planning for the building came from John J, Raskob and the person most associated in the project was Raskop’s friend Al Smith.  Al Smith had political links, so they took advantage of that, as so thats why it is called the Empire State Building.

The Empire State Building’s construction started on March 17, 1930.  With 210 steel columns, with 12 of them running up to the top. So it had to be done on a tight schedule, and that was what Starrett Bros. & Eken did.  The quicker the building was finished, the profit would start coming in quicker.  So they came up with genius ways to to speed up production.  One of the ideas involves them putting the bricks in a chute, storing the bricks in the basement, to hoist them up to where they needed them, so they could avoid having them on the streets.  It took 7 million labouring hours to finish the construction, and was completed after a year and 44 days.  There was 3,400 trades people, with sixty different trades in the construction.  It had cost $40,948,900, it was expected to be another 10 million dollars worth, but there was the depressed labour costs driven by the great depression.

Unfortunately, the Empire State Building record for the tallest free standing man made structure was surpassed by the Griffin Television Tower in 1953. Now the tallest building in the world is the Shanghai Tower which is 632 m or (2074 ft) and with the Empire State Building 443 m (1454 ft), there is a difference of 189 m (620 ft).  The tallest building in New York at the current time of 2017 is the One World Trade Centre that is 541 m (1774 ft) with a difference of 99m (324 ft) compared between the Empire State Building and the One World Trade Centre.

The Empire State Building has had it’s fair share of fame.  Not just with the 1933 scene in the movie ‘King Kong’ in the climax, with ‘King Kong’ fighting of the Mooring Mast, off the Empire State Building.  The Empire State Building has starred in may other movies.  It is one of New York’s most iconic building for it’s era.

In 1945 the Empire State Building took its biggest test.  When on July 28, it was struck by a B-25 Mitchell Bomber.  The plane hit the Empire Building between the 78th floor and the 80th floor, there was 14 people killed.  The plane tore a 5.5m (18ft) hole in the structure.  The flame was put out in 40 minutes, during the fire Betty Lou Oliver was injured and the rescuers try to use the elevator to get to the bottom on the building, but the elevator cables snapped, she survived and sets the world record for the longest elevator drop that was survived.

The Empire State Building is a global icon, it is well known and it still has fame, even though it has dramatically aged over 78 years (2017) it still is a well used building.  Of the 21st century, it holds barely any records in height but in the 20th century it was obviously the wonder of the modern world.  In my personal opinion of researching and writing this, it has persuaded me that the Empire State Building is a wonder of the modern world!