Empire State Building - Full podcast

What if one of the greatest construction achievements in history wasn’t built in a time of prosperity… but in the middle of the Great Depression? In this episode of Historical Projects, we dive into the story of the Empire State Building — a skyscraper that rose at four and a half floors per week, a pace so unbelievable you have to hear it to believe it. And joining me is Associate Professor Tillmann Bohme, who brings sharp insight, supply chain expertise, and a surprising personal connection to this iconic project. We start in late 1920s New York — a city locked in a skyscraper race. The Chrysler Building had just claimed the crown. 40 Wall Street was close behind. And then… the Empire State project appeared. Right as the economy collapsed. Most companies were retreating. But this team pushed forward, believing that building something extraordinary could itself be a message of hope. In Tillmann’s own words: “The purpose wasn’t just height. It was hope… a declaration that even in the hardest times, people could still build something that reached for the sky.” From there, the story becomes almost unbelievable. Construction began in March 1930. 102 stories were completed in 1 year and 45 days. At its peak, more than 3,000 workers were on site every day — immigrants, Indigenous ironworkers, tradespeople moving in perfectly choreographed sequences. Steel beams arriving daily. Riveters sealing joints. Electricians and plumbers just a few floors behind. Fast-track construction… before the term even existed. And Tillmann brings a modern lens — including the time a PhD student once pulled him deep into the building’s supply chain brilliance. In Tillmann's own words: “I was fascinated by the construction management approach… how the lean philosophy was translated into construction way ahead of its time.” We also explore the building’s second life — from cultural icon to sustainability case study — and the fun details that make it human: And yes — Tillmann even shares what he’d do on his first trip to New York. If you love history, engineering, leadership, or stories that prove humans can build extraordinary things even in the hardest times… You won’t want to miss this episode. The Empire State Building: Built Against All Odds. This is just the beginning.