The Empire State Building is primarily used as a commercial office building, housing numerous office tenants including major companies like LinkedIn and Shutterstock[1]. Its lower floors offer retail options and restaurants such as STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks[1].
It also functions as a major tourist attraction with observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors, offering 360-degree open-air views of Midtown Manhattan and beyond, as well as a museum with interactive exhibits exploring its history and cultural significance[5].
The building frequently hosts events, most notably the annual Empire State Building Run-Up, which is a vertical race where participants ascend its stairs to the 86th floor[7].
The Empire State Building serves as a central location for various public light displays and ceremonies, illuminating the New York City skyline with colors for holidays, events, and causes—such as Independence Day, Pride Month, and EMS Week[4][6]. The tower’s lighting system is regularly changed for these occasions.
The spire at the top of the building is used as a broadcasting antenna and sometimes features inflatable promotional objects, but it is not open to the public[3].
The Empire State Building stands out for its sustainability, having undergone extensive energy retrofits, earning ENERGY STAR certification, and being powered by renewable wind electricity[2][1].
References
- [1] The 2025 Empire State Building Run-Up Returns Oct. 8
- [2] Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
- [3] Empire State Building – Wikipedia
- [4] Empire State Building glows yellow, white and blue to kick off EMS Week 2025
- [5] Empire State Building (2025) – Tripadvisor
- [6] The Empire State Building Will Spark Red, White And Blue For The 4th Of July 2025
- [7] The 2025 Empire State Building Run-Up