Get ready for the best views in NYC, both in real life and augmented reality, as the Empire State Building Observatory has announced the completion of the redevelopment of its 80th floor.
The final component of the four-year, $165 million-dollar project to reimagine the ESBO is now open.
The 80th floor adds engaging and informative exhibits to orient visitors on their visit to New York City and showcases the building’s unique place at the centre of the city that never sleeps.
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“What began with the new Observatory entrance opening in August 2018 is now as we intended – a fully educational and immersive journey which connects visitors from around the world to their emotional connections to the World’s Most Famous Building”
Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust
NYC: Above and Beyond
New on the 80th floor is an exclusive, interactive partnership with NYC & Company, the official marketing, tourism and partnership bureau for New York City, with five interactive video blades which allow visitors to utilise NYC & Company’s expertise to design itineraries for their visit using a massive inventory of destinations in all five boroughs.
The itineraries automatically download to a visitor’s phone with the use of a QR Code reader or can be sent via e-mail. Designed in response to research that showed ESBO is many visitors’ first destination, this service is a boon to all tourists and New York City residents.
Interactive, augmented reality scenes from New York City, housed inside classic binoculars, bring visitors directly to the sights and sounds of popular destinations.
Other 80th Floor Exhibits
Artistry in Light: Ever wonder how the Empire State Building’s music-to-light shows are created? The Artistry in Light exhibit features a short film narrated by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman, a master of light creation.
Stephen Wiltshire’s Drawing: In 2017, famed British artist Stephen Wiltshire took a 45-minute helicopter ride above Manhattan. He then drew an incredibly detailed landscape drawing of New York City, while in residence on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building, completely from memory. A three-minute film documents his process.
Scenes of NYC: Through Empire State Building’s classic viewfinders, visitors can check out panoramic views of nine different famed New York locations from the 80th floor.
Showtime Pictures: Excited to see the photos taken in front of the green screen on the 2nd floor? The pictures are captured from 25 different angles utilizing 25 different HD cameras to create an immersive experience to tell a visual narrative.
Share Your Experience: As visitors enter the exit queue, they are encouraged to share their pictures on their social media platforms by four screens that create mosaic shadows of each visitor with images shared by other guests that use the hashtag #empirestatebuilding.
“At 88 years young, the Empire State Building remains the icon of innovation, aspirations, and dreams, and the vibrant ancestor of all tall buildings around the world.”
Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust
Visit now!
Tickets to the 86th-floor Observatory start at $38 USD with tickets to the 102nd-floor Observatory available for an additional $20 USD.
Tickets can be pre-purchased online at or in real-time on-site at kiosks located on the second and 86th floor.
Stay connected on social via #ESBReimagined.