Official height of the Chrysler Building?

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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In my research, I keep coming across different heights. I have 1046 ft. from a couple of sources (probably the right height), 1048 ft., 1030 ft., and so on. Keep in mind that these heights are from reputable sources such as Fortune Magazine and the New York Times (1930's both of them).

Damn building as it was constructed kept proposing new heights because of the sky scraper war between it and the Bank of Manhattan Tower... damn top was added almost at the last minute, so if anyone knows of the official height and have a very reputable source from where you got this height, hook me up? Thanks...
 
Feb 24, 2001
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the general concensus on the top of a building includes any dishes or antennas on top. see if you can find a source that has that included. may explain the different heights, dunno. just a pointer.
 

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Rahvin, thanks for the help. I actually have that site/page printed out in my folder of resources. Although it looks fairly recent compared to my newspaper and magazine clippings from 1930, I'm not sure which one to trust. This particular page lists its resources, and they look pretty good, but I can't believe that Fortune magazine or the NY Times could be off by 2 feet. Perhaps the owners of the building added something fairly recently for the extra two feet?
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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they don't use measuring tape to measure which would be a more accurate way to do it... they use distance machines, elevation stuffs, so there is no "exact" height...

of course they could use trigs (with shadows) but that's not "exact" either...
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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<< I figured they would just use the height off the blueprints... >>



riiiiiiiiight... lmao
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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btw, the building obviously settled after construction, so it's technically &quot;lower&quot; than it was when it was built.
 

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Well, having to use all the elevation, distance/height measuring machines seems like a pain. Why wouldn't they just use the heights off the blueprints as the &quot;official&quot; height?

edit: Well, I'm not going to be making renovations or changes to the building, so there's no need for me to know the exact height. I'm more interested in the reported &quot;official&quot; height so when my arch history professor asks why I chose this height over the other reported heights, I wouldn't have to say because I felt that this one source was more credible than the other.
 

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Official height will be the measured height which will be surveyed in, and should be the height listed on that webpage. Reason they wouldn't use the blueprints is because things aren't always built the way they are on the blueprints. The difference could be as simple as an adjustment in the height of the radio tower after the 30's. Accept the modern height listing as the accurate one.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Keep in mind that the building's actual height will vary with the temperature.
 

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Thanks Rahvin, what everyone is saying makes sense.

I guess I'll use the 1046 feet height (since the sources for that height seems to be the most credible) and mention the 1048 feet reported that could be as a result of antennas and what not.

I went over to the tishmanspeyer.com website (the current owners) and I guess it was expected, they don't even have much information listed except the square footage of some floors and the going rates. I emailed them but don't really expect a reply.

Thanks for the help people.