Empire State Plaza

Welcome to the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza - one of the most spectacular capital centers in the country. The Plaza is the seat of government operations for New York State - it occupies 98 acres of land, with 11,000 employees in 10 buildings. The Plaza exists because of the vision and determination of one man, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, who wanted to create "the most electrifying capital in the world." To fulfill his purpose, Rockefeller commissioned Wallace K. Harrison, a personal friend and chief architect for Rockefeller Center, to be the principal architect for the Plaza. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1978.