Which skyscraper became the world's tallest building when it opened in New York City in 1931?

The Empire State Building became the world's tallest building when it opened in New York City in 1931.

Construction began in 1930 at the former site of the Waldorf–Astoria Hotel. The project advanced exceptionally quickly, with the steel frame rising at a rate often described as about four and a half stories per week. The building officially opened on May 1, 1931, during the Great Depression.

Its 102 occupied stories and Art Deco design made it an immediate New York landmark. It surpassed the Chrysler Building in height, although the Chrysler Building had briefly held the title after its completion in 1930. The Empire State Building retained the world's-tallest-building record until 1970, when New York's North Tower of the World Trade Center surpassed it.

The structure is often confused with the Chrysler Building because both are celebrated examples of Manhattan Art Deco architecture. The Empire State Building remains one of the world's best-known observation-deck skyscrapers.