As a primary icon of New York recognized around the world, the Empire State Building serves as a powerful tool for teaching in our Building Technology sequence. As a case study, it offers a depth of investigation, a vehicle for engagement, and a clarity of tectonics.
Field observation and documentation through photography but more importantly the sketchbook activate the student engagement with the structure and the process of research. The sketchbook links the eye, mind, and hand, fostering discovery.
The students use historic photos, the architect’s drawings, and their own documentation to develop tectonic studies of the building’s structure, skin, and core.
