Empire State Building Observatories, Grand Entrance, and Ticketing Office
Project Stats
- Location
New York City, New York
- Size
Second floor exhibits: 9,100 SF
Ticketing office: 2,100 SF
80th floor: 16,500 SF
86th floor observatory: 4,800 SF
102nd floor observatory: 822 SF
- Market
- Expertise
On top of the world
Corgan was selected as executive architect for the redesign of the Empire State Building’s observatory floors and other guest entry points. Opened in 1931 on Fifth Avenue, the building is one of New York City’s most defining landmarks – a work of Art Deco architecture that draws more than three million visitors to its observatories each year.
The redesign encompassed four floors, transforming each into a sequence of spaces that use historical references, graphics, and interactive multimedia to tell the story of the building and its place in the city’s history. Corgan worked alongside design partner Thinc to design the exhibit environments, while also configuring the ticketing office and creating a new grand entrance and elevator lobby along 34th Street. The project carries particular meaning for Corgan as the firm’s Midtown studio occupies space within the building.
Observatories and exhibit galleries
The 86th floor observatory is among the most celebrated vantage points in the world, offering sweeping 360-degree views over New York City from a setting that has appeared in cinema and popular culture for decades. The redesign of the adjacent exhibit galleries created a sequence of spaces where visitors move through the building’s history before stepping onto the observation deck.
The exhibit environments integrate graphic elements, LED screens, and interactive touchpoints. The building’s original Art Deco character is carried throughout the floor and ceiling designs and elevator lobby. A large-scale model of the Empire State Building on the ground floor anchors the central exhibit area, paired with a dynamic screen in the background that shifts in color in response to the building’s iconic illuminated spire.
The 102nd floor is the highest point of public visitor access in the building and the primary objective for renovations was to remove obstructions and open the space to unimpeded views. Twenty-four eight-foot windows define the entrance and galleries, framing the city skyline from every angle. The enclosed, climate-controlled deck provides year-round access to 360-degree views; the exhibit galleries continue the narrative from the floors below, connecting visitors to the architectural and cultural significance of the building at its uppermost public level.
34th Street entry experience and ticketing office
Corgan designed a new grand entrance and elevator lobby along 34th Street, created to establish a sense of arrival befitting the landmark and orient visitors to the experience ahead. The space is a celebration of the building’s Art Deco heritage, featuring shimmering metallic finishes, starburst detailing, and refined materials that reference the original interiors while accommodating the volume and flow of a major public destination.
Corgan transformed the Empire State Building’s nearly 2,000-square-foot ticketing office from a transactional waypoint into a considered part of the visitor experience. Multiple self-serve kiosks support efficient entry, and a staffed information desk ensures personalized assistance remains available, balancing operational efficiency with the quality of welcome the landmark requires.
The interiors engage directly with the building’s architecture: three-dimensional elements reference the setback, spire, and ornamentation that define the Empire State Building’s form. Large LED screens display imagery of the landmark across seasons and times of day, offering visitors a first glimpse of the views above and forming a connection to a legacy that spans nearly a century.
Corgan’s work at the Empire State Building is a continued investment in one of the world’s great landmarks. Each space is a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to design that honors historical significance while serving the needs of those who experience it today.
