ARCHITECTS’ RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 895, 12 February 1930, Page 6

ARCHITECTS’ RACE

WORLD’S HIGHEST BUILDING RIVALRY IN NEW YORK What is claimed to be tlie''world’s tallest skyscraper, the Chrysler building in Forty-Second Street/stands triumphant in New York after a most amusing contest in architectural history with another American structure, the Bank of Manhattan, in Wall Street. The contest between the two architects who designed these skyscrapers was for the world’s tallest building, and the matter is still undecided. The Chrysler building is 1,030 ft high from the pavement to the tip of its lantern tower, 46ft higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, while the Wall Street structure is 925 ft high, including a 50ft flagpole. But although the Chrysler skyscraper Is claimed to be the tallest in the world, it has only 68 storeys, compared with 71 carried by the Bank of Manhattan, which offers living accommodation at a height fjbout that of any office which may be rented in its Forty-Second Street rival. The contest came about, writes the New York correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” when two American architects, Mr. William van Alen and Mr. H. Craig Severance, former partners, separated and each received a contract to design the world’s' tallest building. Mr. van Alen designed the Chrysler building. The bank’s foundations were started before the old building on the site had been pulled down. The Chrysler building was begun in October, 1927, and when it halted at the 68th storey Mr. Severance thought the victory was his. But Mr. van Alen had a mystery up his_ sleeve, but nothing was said about it until the American flag was one day floating 185 ft above the Chrysler skyscraper’s topmost storey. This Teat was accomplished by means of a slender lantern tower, far greater than but similar to the delicate tower that graces Amiens Cathedral in France.

This Chrysler pinnacle was constructed in a lift-shaft and raised slowly by a derrick tackle and block. The architect believes that any elevation over I,oooft is a mountain, and the opinion of the National Geographical Society is being sought as to whether the Chrysler building may be termed a mountain. It is reported that some thousands of dollars have been wagered by those interested in the rise of New York’s latest .skyscrapers. y

For the moment, however, a Daniel is wanted who shall solve the knottv point arising out of Mr. van Alen’s claim that the Chrysler building rises ronn?eri tha - I Jn tl iT Bank of Manhattan, coupled with his failure to provide living accommodation at a height offer! that Which the baak can