Even
though no longer owned by Chrysler (now DaimlerChrysler)
the building that bears its name remains hugely important
as the poster child for art deco skyscrapers. It's
most impressive feature is its steeple, formed in
overlapping scales of gleaming steel with triangular
windows inset. This most magnificent of the building's
attributes was actually a second thought. The tower
was supposed to be 925 feet, but then it was announced
that the Bank of Manhattan building (40 Wall Street)
would be 927 feet. This infuriated William P. Chrysler
who wanted his building to be, "a bold structure,
declaring the glories of the modern age" and didn't
think being in second place was a way to get that
done. A secret plan was hatched and the elements of
the tower's spire were constructed inside the upper
floors. Then when it was too late for the Bank of
Manhattan to catch up, the key pieces of the spire
were hoisted into place and in just 90 minutes, the
building's height was raised to 1,048 feet. Just as
its name outlived its seven owners, the Chrysler Building's
magnificence has transcended the record books. It
was only the world's tallest building for a year,
but still remains an historic and cultural landmark.
- Each
of the 32 elevators are inlaid with a different
kind of wood from a different part of the world.
Other buildings have followed this model, including
the Williams Tower in Houston, Texas which has different
marble from different parts of the world in each
elevator.
- The
building's original brochure boasted it had, "every
contribution to efficiency, sanitation, comfort,
and even inspiration that human ingenuity can conceive
or money can buy."
-
The gargoyles on the 61st floor were created by
Cesley Bonestell and modeled after the hood ornaments
from the 1929 Chrysler Plymouth.
- "Art
Deco" is an abbreviation for "Exposition Internationale
des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes."
- The
Chrysler building was the first to use Nirosta metal
on its exterior -- a mixture of chrome, nickel and
steel.
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