How to build Empire State Building in Minecraft

New York's Art Deco icon at about one block per floor: a five-storey base, stepped setbacks up to the long main shaft with its projecting centre wings, vertical strips of grey windows between limestone piers, the 86th-floor observation deck with its railing, the glowing crown tiers, and the mooring mast and antenna reaching 120 blocks into the sky.

Open the interactive 3D plan above to build it one layer at a time: every layer has a numbered top-down plan, a block list and full-screen step-by-step instructions you can tick off as you go. You can also download it for Litematica, WorldEdit or Minecraft Bedrock, or view it in your room in AR.

Materials list

BlockAmountStacks
Light Gray Concrete3,95961 stacks + 55
Smooth Sandstone3,53255 stacks + 12
Black Concrete2,66741 stacks + 43
Smooth Stone2,15033 stacks + 38
Gray Stained Glass Pane2,09232 stacks + 44
White Terracotta1,54524 stacks + 9
Polished Andesite5929 stacks + 16
Glass Pane2283 stacks + 36
Gray Concrete1522 stacks + 24
Sea Lantern881 stack + 24
Iron Bars741 stack + 10
Glowstone701 stack + 6
Block of Iron24
Glass24
White Concrete20
Polished Blackstone18
Oak Leaves15
Block of Gold9
Oak Log8
Lantern6
Chiseled Sandstone2
Dark Oak Door2
End Rod1
Redstone Lamp (lit)1

Building tips

  1. Build it as a stack of hollow boxes, one per setback. Finish each roof before starting the next box so you always have somewhere to stand.
  2. Every face follows the same rhythm: a limestone pier, then a window strip. Count it out once on the base and keep the strips lined up all the way up, so they read as unbroken vertical lines.
  3. Put a dark block behind each glass pane. Without it you see straight through the hollow tower and the windows look washed out.
  4. The shaft has a stepped notch at each corner and a wing sticking out one block in the middle of each face. Those shadows are what make it look like the real thing.
  5. Use glowing blocks in the crown and sea lanterns along each tier edge: the top of the Empire State Building is lit every night.
  6. Scaffold the mast and antenna with a pillar of dirt, then remove it. The antenna is iron bars with an end rod on top.

Step-by-step: all 121 layers

  1. Layer 1 Smooth Stone ×2150, Gray Concrete ×152, White Concrete ×20
  2. Layer 2 Black Concrete ×135, Glass Pane ×104, Smooth Sandstone ×30, White Terracotta ×9, Iron Bars ×6, Glowstone ×5, Polished Blackstone ×3, Dark Oak Door ×2, Oak Log ×2
  3. Layer 3 Black Concrete ×135, Glass Pane ×104, Smooth Sandstone ×26, White Terracotta ×11, Iron Bars ×6, Glowstone ×5, Polished Blackstone ×3, Light Gray Concrete ×2, Oak Log ×2
  4. Layer 4 White Terracotta ×141, Black Concrete ×75, Iron Bars ×6, Glass Pane ×5, Glowstone ×5, Oak Log ×2, Polished Blackstone ×2
  5. Layer 5 Black Concrete ×70, Polished Andesite ×68, Smooth Sandstone ×64, Oak Leaves ×12, White Terracotta ×9, Block of Gold ×7, Iron Bars ×6, Glass Pane ×5, Glowstone ×5, Oak Log ×2, Polished Blackstone ×2
  6. Layer 6 Black Concrete ×70, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×68, Smooth Sandstone ×51, White Terracotta ×21, Lantern ×6, Glass Pane ×5, Glowstone ×5, Oak Leaves ×2, Polished Blackstone ×2, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  7. Layer 7 Black Concrete ×70, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×68, Smooth Sandstone ×62, White Terracotta ×11, Glass Pane ×5, Glowstone ×5, Polished Blackstone ×2, Oak Leaves ×1
  8. Layer 8 Light Gray Concrete ×1271, White Terracotta ×141, Polished Blackstone ×4, Chiseled Sandstone ×2, Block of Gold ×1
  9. Layer 9 Smooth Sandstone ×57, Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, White Terracotta ×10, Block of Gold ×1, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  10. Layer 10 Smooth Sandstone ×57, Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×5
  11. Layer 11 Smooth Sandstone ×58, Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  12. Layer 12 Black Concrete ×56, Polished Andesite ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×54, White Terracotta ×14
  13. Layer 13 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×51, White Terracotta ×16, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  14. Layer 14 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×55, White Terracotta ×12, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  15. Layer 15 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×54, White Terracotta ×12, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  16. Layer 16 Black Concrete ×56, Polished Andesite ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×54, White Terracotta ×13, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  17. Layer 17 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×51, White Terracotta ×16, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  18. Layer 18 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×55, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×4
  19. Layer 19 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×53, White Terracotta ×13, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  20. Layer 20 Smooth Sandstone ×60, Black Concrete ×56, Polished Andesite ×56, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  21. Layer 21 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×51, White Terracotta ×12, Light Gray Concrete ×5
  22. Layer 22 Black Concrete ×56, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×56, Smooth Sandstone ×56, White Terracotta ×10, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  23. Layer 23 Light Gray Concrete ×871, White Terracotta ×124
  24. Layer 24 Black Concrete ×48, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×48, Smooth Sandstone ×45, White Terracotta ×11
  25. Layer 25 Black Concrete ×48, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×48, Smooth Sandstone ×48, White Terracotta ×8
  26. Layer 26 Black Concrete ×48, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×48, Smooth Sandstone ×40, White Terracotta ×14, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  27. Layer 27 Light Gray Concrete ×605, White Terracotta ×104
  28. Layer 28 Smooth Sandstone ×42, Black Concrete ×40, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×40, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  29. Layer 29 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Black Concrete ×40, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×40, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  30. Layer 30 Black Concrete ×40, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×40, Smooth Sandstone ×37, White Terracotta ×14, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  31. Layer 31 Black Concrete ×40, Polished Andesite ×40, Smooth Sandstone ×39, White Terracotta ×12, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  32. Layer 32 Light Gray Concrete ×459, White Terracotta ×92
  33. Layer 33 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  34. Layer 34 Smooth Sandstone ×47, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×5
  35. Layer 35 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9
  36. Layer 36 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  37. Layer 37 Smooth Sandstone ×42, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  38. Layer 38 Smooth Sandstone ×47, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×3, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  39. Layer 39 Smooth Sandstone ×42, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×10
  40. Layer 40 Smooth Sandstone ×38, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×13, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  41. Layer 41 Smooth Sandstone ×45, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7
  42. Layer 42 Smooth Sandstone ×35, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×13, Light Gray Concrete ×4
  43. Layer 43 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9
  44. Layer 44 Smooth Sandstone ×39, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×13
  45. Layer 45 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×4
  46. Layer 46 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  47. Layer 47 Smooth Sandstone ×40, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×12
  48. Layer 48 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×11
  49. Layer 49 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  50. Layer 50 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  51. Layer 51 Smooth Sandstone ×39, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×11, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  52. Layer 52 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  53. Layer 53 Smooth Sandstone ×42, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  54. Layer 54 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×11
  55. Layer 55 Smooth Sandstone ×39, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×13
  56. Layer 56 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  57. Layer 57 Smooth Sandstone ×44, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, Light Gray Concrete ×4, White Terracotta ×4
  58. Layer 58 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9
  59. Layer 59 Smooth Sandstone ×46, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×5, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  60. Layer 60 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×4
  61. Layer 61 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9
  62. Layer 62 Smooth Sandstone ×39, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×13
  63. Layer 63 Smooth Sandstone ×40, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  64. Layer 64 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  65. Layer 65 Smooth Sandstone ×39, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×10, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  66. Layer 66 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  67. Layer 67 Smooth Sandstone ×45, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×7
  68. Layer 68 Smooth Sandstone ×41, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×11
  69. Layer 69 Smooth Sandstone ×44, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  70. Layer 70 Smooth Sandstone ×44, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  71. Layer 71 Smooth Sandstone ×43, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  72. Layer 72 Smooth Sandstone ×40, Polished Andesite ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×9, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  73. Layer 73 Smooth Sandstone ×45, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×28, Black Concrete ×20, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  74. Layer 74 Light Gray Concrete ×289, White Terracotta ×80
  75. Layer 75 Smooth Sandstone ×33, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×5, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  76. Layer 76 Smooth Sandstone ×29, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×10, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  77. Layer 77 Smooth Sandstone ×34, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×6
  78. Layer 78 Smooth Sandstone ×34, Black Concrete ×20, Polished Andesite ×20, White Terracotta ×4, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  79. Layer 79 Smooth Sandstone ×26, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×11, Light Gray Concrete ×3
  80. Layer 80 Smooth Sandstone ×34, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×6
  81. Layer 81 Smooth Sandstone ×28, Black Concrete ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, White Terracotta ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×4
  82. Layer 82 Light Gray Concrete ×151, White Terracotta ×60
  83. Layer 83 Smooth Sandstone ×20, Black Concrete ×16, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×16, White Terracotta ×7, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  84. Layer 84 Smooth Sandstone ×22, Black Concrete ×16, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×16, White Terracotta ×6
  85. Layer 85 Smooth Sandstone ×21, Black Concrete ×16, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×16, White Terracotta ×6, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  86. Layer 86 Smooth Sandstone ×17, Black Concrete ×16, Polished Andesite ×16, White Terracotta ×11
  87. Layer 87 Light Gray Concrete ×95, White Terracotta ×44
  88. Layer 88 Iron Bars ×44, Smooth Sandstone ×23, Glowstone ×8, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8, White Terracotta ×1
  89. Layer 89 Smooth Sandstone ×19, Glowstone ×8, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8, White Terracotta ×4, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  90. Layer 90 Smooth Sandstone ×21, Glowstone ×8, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8, White Terracotta ×3
  91. Layer 91 Smooth Sandstone ×20, Glowstone ×8, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8, White Terracotta ×3, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  92. Layer 92 Smooth Sandstone ×20, Glowstone ×8, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8, Light Gray Concrete ×3, White Terracotta ×1
  93. Layer 93 Light Gray Concrete ×37, Sea Lantern ×32
  94. Layer 94 Smooth Sandstone ×21, White Terracotta ×3
  95. Layer 95 Smooth Sandstone ×19, White Terracotta ×5
  96. Layer 96 Smooth Sandstone ×19, White Terracotta ×3, Light Gray Concrete ×2
  97. Layer 97 Smooth Sandstone ×17, White Terracotta ×7
  98. Layer 98 Sea Lantern ×24, Light Gray Concrete ×13
  99. Layer 99 Smooth Sandstone ×14, White Terracotta ×2
  100. Layer 100 Smooth Sandstone ×12, White Terracotta ×3, Light Gray Concrete ×1
  101. Layer 101 Smooth Sandstone ×14, White Terracotta ×2
  102. Layer 102 Sea Lantern ×16, Light Gray Concrete ×5
  103. Layer 103 Light Gray Concrete ×8, Sea Lantern ×4
  104. Layer 104 Light Gray Concrete ×8, Sea Lantern ×4
  105. Layer 105 Light Gray Concrete ×8, Sea Lantern ×4
  106. Layer 106 Light Gray Concrete ×8, Sea Lantern ×4
  107. Layer 107 Glass ×12
  108. Layer 108 Glass ×12
  109. Layer 109 Block of Iron ×21
  110. Layer 110 Light Gray Concrete ×9
  111. Layer 111 Block of Iron ×1
  112. Layer 112 Block of Iron ×1
  113. Layer 113 Block of Iron ×1
  114. Layer 114 Iron Bars ×1
  115. Layer 115 Iron Bars ×1
  116. Layer 116 Iron Bars ×1
  117. Layer 117 Redstone Lamp (lit) ×1
  118. Layer 118 Iron Bars ×1
  119. Layer 119 Iron Bars ×1
  120. Layer 120 Iron Bars ×1
  121. Layer 121 End Rod ×1

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