Changes

[[Image:480px-Manhattan at Dusk by slonecker.jpg|right|thumb|The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building from 1931 to 1972.]]

[[Image:480px-Manhattan at Dusk by slonecker.jpg|right|thumb|The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building from 1931 to 1972.]]

The '''Empire State Building''' is a privately owned office building completed in 1931 during the [[Great Depression]] as the tallest building in the world, a distinction it enjoyed for decades until it was surpassed by the [[World Trade Center]] in 1972. To this day the Empire State Building is considered by a random poll of Americans to be their favorite piece of American architecture.<ref>http://www.aia.org/press2_template.cfm?pagename=release_020707_150Buildings</ref>  It is also considered the most fire-proof building in America.<ref>http://vincentdunn.com/wtc.html</ref>  

The '''Empire State Building''' is a privately owned office building completed in 1931 during the [[Great Depression]] as the tallest building in the world, a distinction it enjoyed for decades until it was surpassed by the [[World Trade Center]] in 1972. It is the tallest building in New York City. To this day the Empire State Building is considered by a random poll of Americans to be their favorite piece of American architecture.<ref>http://www.aia.org/press2_template.cfm?pagename=release_020707_150Buildings</ref>  It is also considered the most fire-proof building in America.<ref>http://vincentdunn.com/wtc.html</ref>  

The Empire State Building contains steel reinforced by concrete, making it extremely fire-proof.  Deputy Chief Fire Department of New York (F.D.N.Y.) Vincent Dunn (ret.) wrote:<ref>''Id.''</ref>

The Empire State Building contains steel reinforced by concrete, making it extremely fire-proof.  Deputy Chief Fire Department of New York (F.D.N.Y.) Vincent Dunn (ret.) wrote:<ref>''Id.''</ref>