More than 10,000 people visit the Empire State Building’s 102nd-floor observatory every day, making this fabled building one of New York City’s largest tourist attractions. Another 5,000 people a day visit the building’s office tenants.
That’s a lot of opportunities to make a first impression.
Which is a big reason the building’s owners recently launched a $500 million facelift to help recapture the glory of this landmark, which was built in 1930 and is by far the oldest structure to appear in Top 10 lists of the world’s tallest buildings.
And in the true spirit of first impressions, the Empire State Building’s huge renovation project includes an equally massive makeover for its staff uniforms. Gone is the “casual look” – polo shirts and cardigan sweaters – and in its place is a complete tailored uniform, featuring jackets and pants, shirts, custom-designed ties, hats, shoes and belts.
“We wanted to bring back a uniform that harkened back to the Art Deco design and elegance of the building,” says Jim Connors, the building’s general manager. “We wanted the staff to stand out, with a professional look that kept to the true aesthetic of the building.”
Custom-designed neckwear “ties” together the Art Deco theme that I. Buss relied on to inspire the Empire State Building’s new uniform program. “We hope we can develop these in additional colorways, and we plan to sell them in our gift shop,” says General Manager Jim Connors.
Evidence that the new design met that criteria is abundant, from the deep burgundy colorway that is central to the new uniform program – custom-dyed to match the burgundy veining in the marble in the building’s new lobby – to the custom-designed, trademarked ties that feature a stylized version of the building against a starburst pattern.
Connors is proud of the fact that the uniforms were designed and cut by another New York City icon – I. Buss-Allan Uniforms®, the oldest continuously operating uniform shop in the city. Jennifer Busch, vice president and the lead designer for the fourth-generation company, says the new uniforms feature lots of other classic uniform touches…
