The Empire State Building帝国大厦

The Empire State Building帝国大厦

Leonard Cottrell伦纳德科 特雷尔

New York is a city of skyscrapers. How is it possible to build one of these

giant buildings in the heart of the large, busy city? This selection describes the

construction of one such building -----the Empire State Building in New York

City.

纽约是一个有许多摩天大楼的城市。那如何可能在这样一个车水马龙的国际大都市的中心地区建一座摩天大厦呢？本文要讲述的就是这样一座建筑—纽约的帝国大厦。

It was the achievement of a new society, now equipped with materials and

technology never before known to man. We have progressed so far that it is

difficult to realize that, until the development of steel and concrete, less than a

century ago, the architect's basic materials and techniques were hardly

different from those of the Romans. Then, within twenty years, all this was

changed .The width of a room and the height of a building could be almost

what one pleased.

帝国大厦是现代社会的成就，它的建造所用的材料和技术在此之前是不为人们所知晓的。我们发展到如今的程度很难意识到的是，直到不满一个世纪之前，我们钢筋和混泥土的发展，建筑的基本材料和技术都与罗马时代差异不大。然而就是在20年的时间里，一切都不一样了。一个房间可以建设出一个人所满意的任何宽度和高度。

In 1885, in Chicago, the first skyscraper was constructed, the first building

in the world to use a metal framework of Bessemer steel. The Chicago building

was different in that each of its stories was complete in itself: the steel

framework provided the necessary strength for the interior walls. This meant

that the building could, if necessary, be easily remodeled outside and inside.

1885年，世界上的第一座摩天大楼在芝加哥落成，这是世界上第一座使用酸性钢的金属结构的建筑。芝加哥大楼的与众不同之处在于它的每个房间都是独立完成的整体，因为这种钢框架为内墙提供了必要的支撑力。这就意味着，如果必要的话，这个建筑可以轻易的改造外观和内部。

An extraordinary organization was involved in its construction. For years

before the operation, every detail had been worked out to avoid waste of time,

money, and energy. Materials were ordered and delivery dates carefully timed.

Since part of the steel framework, plumbing, air cooling and heating systems

were made ready away from the site, the contractor had to communicate with

many mills and factories all over the country. Meanwhile, in New York, the

foundation for the building was being prepared.

一个杰出的团队参与了整个大楼的建设。在大楼准备建设之前已经计划了很多年，每一个细节都已经制定好了，以避免浪费时间，金钱和精力。建筑材料已经预定好了，大厦交付完工的时间也精心的安排好了。因为钢架结构的建设，管道的铺设，空调系统作为大厦建设一部分，他们是随时准备离开的，所以总承包商必须与全国的许多公司和工厂沟通。与此同时，为纽约为大厦的建设所创建的基金会也已经成立起来了

Then construction began. Exactly to the minute the material needed -----

steel, concrete, bricks, etc. ----began to move into the construction site. The

first piece of steel was put into place on April 7, nine months later

the steel framework had been completed, 1,250 feet above street level. At the

end of 1930, construction had been carried to the full height of 102 floors.

建设开始了，精确到每分钟所需要的材料—钢筋，混泥土，砖 等等—开始进入施工现场。放入第一根钢筋的时间是1930年4月7日。仅仅九个月的时间整个的钢结构就都已经完成了，整栋大厦有1250英尺高。在1930年末的时候，整个大厦的102层就全部建成了。

At the same time, plumbers were installing plumbing and heating systems;

the electricians were laying hundreds of miles of cable; carpenters,

stoneworkers, bricklayers were clothing the framework with stone, concrete,

brick, and timber. Four and a half stores were completed every week.

与此同时，水管工在安装管道和供暖系统； 电工已经铺设了数百英里的电缆线；木工，石匠，砖匠在用石头，混泥土，砖瓦，木材装饰着大楼的框架。每一周就有四个半的商铺完工。

Such an accomplishment called for not only the most skillful planning, but

also for the complete cooperation of the laborers who actually built the

skyscraper. The work had to be continued under all weather conditions and

was often highly dangerous .On April 15, 1931, about 19 months after

preparation of the foundation, the Empire State Building stood, glorious and

complete----the whole twelve hundred and fifty feet of it.

像这样去建设一座摩天大楼不仅仅需要精密的计划，同时还需要有真正亲身参与建设的劳动者们之间完美紧密的合作。这项工作在任何的天气情况下都需要继续，并且还伴随着高度的风险。1931年4月15日，在历时19个月的筹备和建设后，帝国大厦竣工了，整个大厦足足有250英尺高。

(From Scenes of America) 摘自美国风光