William Van Alen designed the art deco Chrysler Building in New York City, completed in 1930. At 77 floors and 1,048ft it was the tallest building from the start of the Great Depression until being surpassed by the Empire State Building. The spire was secretly erected inside the tower to win the contest of tallest building. In total it cost $20 million.
Automobile giant Walter Chrysler envisioned a monument to American ingenuity and included details from modern automobiles alongside touches from ancient Gothic buildings. Gargoyles were derived from the hood ornaments of the Plymouth. The seven terraced arches is a cruciform groin vault form pyarmided up into a point. The silvery Enduro KA-2 stainless steel pushes the automobile theme. The showrooms at the based were triple height, and the corners were glazed to lighten the impression of the structure.
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