Will the Empire State Building last forever? Nothing manmade does. The Prudential Insurance Company is gambling that it will still be a useful property nearly 100 years from now, when it finally takes over as owner.
But times change. After all, the [G 06 / dirigible] mooring mast was only used for a few months before it became the 102nd floor observatory. And in the 1970s an [L3 421 / architect for the firm] that originally designed the building suggested adding some extra floors on top to reclaim its glory. The plans were quietly abandoned, however.
Even if the building does undergo a facelift or a change at the top, or even if it is demolished to make way for a yet grander and higher structure, the Empire State will always stand in the hearts of the millions as the tallest building in the world.