What was the first building to exceed 100 stories in height?

The Empire State Building was the first building to exceed 100 stories in height.

The Art Deco skyscraper reached 102 stories and opened in Manhattan on May 1, 1931. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, it was built during New York’s intense skyscraper race and became the world’s tallest building at the time. Its stepped massing, limestone exterior, streamlined ornament and towering spire made it a defining example of Art Deco architecture.

Construction began on March 17, 1930, and was completed in roughly thirteen and a half months. The speed was remarkable, especially because the project unfolded during the early Great Depression. Although the building attracted attention immediately, its owners did not make a profit until the early 1950s.

The 100-story milestone is sometimes confused with later supertall records. Chicago’s Sears Tower, now Willis Tower, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa surpassed it much later. The Chrysler Building was completed just before the Empire State Building, but it did not exceed 100 stories.