But perhaps the most interesting of rooms is an immersive exhibit demonstrating the construction process. LED screens line the walls and part of the ceiling, displaying life-size videos—a mix of historical images and recreations—of workmen assembling steel beams that form the structure of the tower. Surround sound construction noise accompanies the video footage, creating an experience akin to what New Yorkers would have experienced at the site nearly 90 years ago. Glimpses of LED sky peek through openings in the wood-paneled ceiling meant to recall the scaffolding of construction zones past. At points during construction, as many as two floors were built each day, totaling only 14 months of construction time for the 102-story building.

Michael Benveille, chief creative officer of New York–based Beneville Studios says his firm wanted to bring a sense of “childlike wonder” to the observatory and museum, while still honoring the legacy and integrity of the building, “without making it too much like a theme park.”

The museum also contains models of the original Otis elevator cars, information on the building’s energy efficiency, and an exhibit on the Empire State Building’s place in pop culture, complete with historical artifacts, photos, and film clips. The project represents the second phase of an extensive, $165-million renovation plan, which began with a new observatory entrance, which opened on 34th Street last summer. The final pieces of the observatory’s face-lift will be completed next year.