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Energy and Buildings in the 20th Century 

 

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1900 to 1910 timeline
1910 to 1919
1920 to 1929
1930 to 1939
1940 to 1949
1950 to 1959
1960 to 1969
1970 to 1979
1980 to 1989
1990 to 1999

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Milestone Buildings of the 20th Century

1930-1939

1931
Empire State Building
New York, NY

Architect: Shreve, Lamb and Harmon

The ultimate skyscraper reaching for the clouds, this 102-story building stood 1250 feet high, the world's tallest building for four decades. This building remains a monument to teamwork and coordination in construction. It was built in the bustling center of the country's largest metropolis in less than 18 months, under budget and ahead of schedule!

1931 Empire State Building, New York, NY

Technologies, Innovations, and Quality of Life
1932   Electric refrigerator popularized
1934   Television
1937   Factory sealed double glass units, "thermopane" by Libby Owens Ford
1938   Fluorescent lighting invented
1939   Jet airplane


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