為什麼這棟建築這麼賺錢：英語精讀講義

This is the Empire State Building.

這是帝國大廈。

When it was built almost 100 years ago,

當它在大約100年前建成時，

it became the tallest building in the world by far. 片語搭配

它一舉成為了當時世界上最高的建築。

It was its own vertical city housing thousands of workers, 慣用語

它就像是一座垂直的城市，容納了成千上萬的工人，

a cafe,

擁有一家咖啡廳、

its own postal system,

獨立的郵政系統，

and thanks to its counterintuitive design,

而且由於其反直覺的設計，

it became a money-making machine. 慣用語

它成了一台賺錢機器。

Today, almost 100 years later,

如今，將近100年過去了，

this single building still pulls in more than $500 million every year, 片語動詞

這棟單體建築每年仍能帶來超過5億美元的收入，

beating every modern skyscraper around today.

擊敗了當今所有的現代摩天大樓。

This is all thanks to the incredible long-term thinking by its designers

這都要歸功於設計師們令人驚嘆的遠見卓識，

who figured out how to overcome strict building rules

他們想出了如何克服嚴格的建築規定，

and assemble this engineering giant in record-breaking time.

並在創紀錄的時間內組裝起這個工程巨獸。

But how did they pull it off? 片語動詞

但他們是如何做到的呢？

And why is it still so profitable?

為什麼它今天依然如此賺錢？

In the 1920s,

在1920年代，

cities around the world were changing.

世界各地的城市都在發生變化。

The economy was booming,

經濟繁榮發展，

and with new steel-frame construction methods,

加上全新的鋼結構建築方法，

it became easier to build taller and stronger buildings.

建造更高、更堅固的建築變得更加容易。

Nowhere was this more important than in New York City. 文法

沒有什麼地方比紐約市更迫切需要這項技術了。

With limited space and an ever-growing population,

隨著空間受限和人口不斷增長，

the only way to build was up. 文法

唯一的方法就是向上建造。

This started what became known as the race into the sky. 慣用語

這拉開了所謂的「天空競賽」的序幕。

And by the end of the '20s,

到了20年代末，

developers began constructing several skyscrapers around Manhattan,

開發商們開始在曼哈頓周圍建造多座摩天大樓，

all aiming to be the tallest in the world.

大家都想爭奪「世界第一高」的頭銜。

Most of this was driven by ego,

這在很大程度上是出於虛榮心，

but building upwards also presented an enormous financial opportunity.

但向上建造也帶來了巨大的經濟機遇。

By purchasing some land and filling it with floor after floor of rentable office space,

透過買下一塊地，並建滿一層層的可出租辦公空間，

a huge amount of money could be made.

就能賺取巨額利潤。

The building itself could become a business.

建築本身可以成為一門生意。

No one understood this more than New York businessmen John Raskob and Al Smith.

紐約商人約翰·拉斯科布和艾爾·史密斯比任何人都更明白這一點。

And in 1929,

於是在1929年，

they announced the Empire State Building.

他們宣布了帝國大廈的建設計畫。

Not only was this to be the tallest building in the world, 文法

它不僅要成為世界上最高的建築，

but its clever design and ultra-efficient engineering was meant to make it the most economically successful building ever made.

其巧妙的設計和極其高效的工程也旨在讓它成為有史以來經濟上最成功的建築。

The designers had big ideas,

設計師們有一個宏大的構想，

exclusive viewing platforms,

專屬觀景台、

giant radio antennas,

巨大的無線電天線、

docking stations for airships,

飛船停靠站，

and floor after floor of premium office space.

以及一層又一層的高級辦公空間。

The Empire State Building had joined the battle to build into the sky.

帝國大廈也加入了這場「天空爭霸戰」。

If you'd like to have your own battle in the sky,

如果你也想擁有一場自己的天空之戰，

try out War Thunder,

不妨試試《War Thunder》（戰爭雷霆），

today's sponsor.

也就是本期影片的贊助商。

War Thunder is a free-to-play large-scale multiplayer action game

《War Thunder》是一款免費的大型多人動作遊戲，

where you can fight in dynamic battles

在遊戲中，你可以在充滿變數的戰場上，

using ground, sea, and air vehicles in locations all over the world.

駕駛海陸空載具，在世界各地作戰。

With a range of vehicles spanning an entire century,

遊戲裡的載具跨越了整整一個世紀，

you can choose exactly how you want to play,

你可以自由選擇喜歡的玩法，

breaking through the front line in a tank

既可以開著坦克突破前線，

or fighting epic battles in the sky.

也可以在天空中進行史詩般的空戰。

War Thunder also has advanced technologies

《War Thunder》還擁有眾多先進技術，

like night vision, smoke screens, and guided missiles.

比如夜視鏡、煙幕彈和導引飛彈。

And the top-tier graphics, physics, and sound

而頂級的畫面、物理引擎和音效，

make you feel truly immersed in the battle.

會讓你真正體驗到身歷其境的戰鬥快感。

The new Leviathans update adds the famous Comanche stealth helicopter to the game,

最新的「巨獸」更新在遊戲中加入了著名的卡曼契匿蹤直升機、

the Soviet T-72B3 tank equipped with the Arena active protection system,

配備了「競技場」主動防禦系統的蘇聯T-72B3坦克，

and the legendary Yamato battleship.

以及傳奇的「大和號」戰艦。

Download War Thunder for free on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox

可以在PC、PlayStation和Xbox上免費下載《War Thunder》，

by using the link in the description.

連結就在影片資訊欄裡。

All new players and those that haven't played for half a year will get special bonuses.

所有新玩家和半年沒上線的老玩家都將獲得專屬獎勵。

You can also play War Thunder mobile.

你也可以在手機上玩《War Thunder》。

Download it for free on iOS or Android

在iOS或安卓系統上免費下載，

using the link in the description.

連結同樣在影片資訊欄中。

In order for the Empire State Building to become a money-making machine,

想要讓帝國大廈成為一台賺錢機器，

it wasn't as simple as building tall and maximizing rental space. 文法

僅僅建得高、把出租空間最大化是不夠的。

Each level that gets added onto a building

建築每增加一層，

gets more and more expensive. 文法

成本就會越來越高。

The building itself needs to be made stronger,

大樓本身需要變得更堅固，

using more material,

使用更多的材料，

and leaving each floor with less usable space.

這使得每一層的可用空間越來越少。

Less space means less income.

空間減少意味著收入減少。

And so, after a certain height,

因此，超過一定高度後，

a building stops making financial sense.

建築在財務上就不再划算了。

On top of that, 表達脈絡

此外，

New York had strict building rules that stopped large skyscrapers from blocking out too much light. 片語動詞

紐約市有嚴格的建築規定，防止大型摩天大樓遮擋過多光線。

These rules drew a sloped line up from the center of the street

這些規定從街道中心劃出了一條傾斜向上的線，

at around 25°.

角度約為25度。

Buildings weren't allowed to occupy the area outside the line.

建築不得佔據這條線以外的空間。

And so the designers had to add in setbacks 用詞

因此，設計師必須引入退台設計，

to reduce the building's width and keep it within the line.

也就是縮減建築寬度，讓它保持在這條界線之內。

With these rules,

在這些規定下，

it may seem like the best way to maximize floor space and therefore income

想要最大化樓層面積和租金收入，

would be to build right up to the line,

最好的辦法似乎是直接貼著界線建造，

creating a pyramid-shaped building.

從而造出一個金字塔形狀的建築。

While many buildings followed this design,

儘管當時許多建築都採用了這種設計，

it really wasn't a practical shape for a skyscraper.

但它對於摩天大樓來說真的不太實用。

With more people at the bottom of the building

樓下的人多，

and very few at the top,

樓上的人很少，

the demand on the elevator would be uneven.

這會導致對電梯的需求極不平衡。

At the bottom, there would be severe delays,

在底層，等電梯會極其耗時，

and at the top, it would be completely underused.

而在頂層，電梯則會完全閒置。

More elevators could be added to even out the demand, 片語動詞

雖然可以增加更多電梯來平衡需求，

but this would simply take up too much space, 片語動詞

但這會占用過多空間，

reducing the profitability of each floor,

從而降低每一層的獲利能力，

particularly at the top

尤其是頂層，

where the most expensive offices were located.

因為最昂貴的辦公室都設在那裡。

The ideal office space was bright and quiet,

理想的辦公空間要求明亮且安靜，

so areas close to the window

因此，靠近窗戶、

and high above the noisy streets were most desirable.

遠離喧鬧街道的高層區域最為搶手。

These premium areas fit for executives and CEOs

這些適合高管和CEO的高級區域，

could fetch up to $3 per square foot in yearly rent. 用詞

年租金高達每平方英尺3美元。

But as you got further from the window

但當你離窗戶越來越遠、

and closer to the ground,

離地面越來越近時，

this would drop to just over $1 per square foot.

租金就會降到每平方英尺只有1美元多一點。

The pyramid design simply maximized the cheaper offices at the bottom

金字塔形設計僅僅最大化了底部較便宜的辦公室，

while sacrificing the premium offices at the top.

卻犧牲了頂部的高級辦公室。

What the designers really wanted was to keep the building as tall and as straight as possible. 文法

設計師們真正想要的是讓大樓盡可能地又高又直。

But this didn't fit into New York's building rules.

這並不符合紐約的建築規定。

However, the rules had one specific term that the designers of the Empire State Building really understood.

然而，這些規定中有一個特定條款，卻被帝國大廈的設計師們吃透了。

Although a building couldn't cross the sloped line,

儘管建築不能越過這條斜線，

if part of the building was reduced to just 25% of the total plot area,

但如果把建築的某一部分縮小到僅佔總佔地面積的25%，

it could cross the line.

它就可以越過這條線。

And it could keep going.

並且可以一直往上建。

This was a very important detail.

這是一個極其重要的細節。

And so the designers of the Empire State Building

於是，帝國大廈的設計師們

decided to set back their building much earlier,

決定在更低的位置就開始做退台設計，

well within the sloped line

遠低於斜線的限制，

at around the 5th, 20th, and 30th floor.

大約在第5、20和30層。

From here, the building would rise up completely uninterrupted for more than 40 floors

從這裡開始，大樓就可以完全不受限制地拔高40多層，

until a few minor setbacks carried it to the 86th floor.

直到經過幾次小幅退台後達到第86層。

The result was an enormously tall and straight building

結果就是造出了一座極其高聳挺拔的建築，

that had almost 3 million square feet of office space.

擁有近300萬平方英尺的辦公空間。

Although it didn't maximize all of the space under the slope,

儘管它並沒有充分利用斜線下的所有空間，

it sacrificed the cheaper office space at the bottom

犧牲了底部較便宜的辦公面積，

to have much more premium office space at the top.

卻在頂部換取了大量高級辦公空間。

With the population spread out more evenly,

由於人群分布更加均勻，

they were able to place fewer elevators into a central core of the building,

他們能夠在建築核心區放置較少的電梯，

leaving a 28-foot ring of premium office space around the whole building.

從而在整個建築外圍留出一圈寬28英尺的高級辦公空間。

But building a skyscraper this big would only be possible on a huge plot of land.

但是，建造這麼龐大的摩天大樓，只能在一塊巨大的土地上進行。

At the time, most skyscrapers were being built in Lower Manhattan,

當時，大多數摩天大樓都建在曼哈頓下城，

which had become the financial center of the world.

那裡已成為世界的金融中心。

This made sense because it had the demand and money to fill 80 floors of a building.

這很合情理，因為那裡有足夠的需求和資金來填滿一棟80層的大樓。

But the developers of the Empire State Building thought differently.

但帝國大廈的開發商們卻有不同想法。

They saw that the business center of New York was slowly creeping northwards. 慣用語

他們看到，紐約的商業中心正在緩慢地向北蔓延。

And so they took a gamble 慣用語

於是他們決定冒一次險，

and bought a plot of land in Midtown for $16 million,

花1600萬美元在曼哈頓中城買下了一塊地，

hoping that one day it would be the new thriving business center of New York.

希望有一天它能成為紐約新的繁華商業中心。

The plot still contained the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

當時這塊地上還坐落著舊的華爾道夫酒店。

But after demolishing it,

但將它拆除後，

the developers ended up with a plot 片語動詞

開發商得到了一塊地，

more than 400 ft long and 200 ft wide.

長逾400英尺，寬約200英尺。

A plot this wide was extremely rare in New York

這麼寬的空地在紐約極為罕見，

and provided the perfect base for the world's tallest building.

為世界最高建築提供了完美的基座。

The next step was to actually build the thing. 表達脈絡

下一步就是真正把它建起來了。

And it had to be done in record time 片語搭配

並且必須以創紀錄的時間，

and on a tight budget of just $35 million. 片語搭配

在僅有3500萬美元的緊湊預算下完成。

In New York, there were two lease dates throughout the year, 用詞

在紐約，每年有兩個租賃日，

May 1st and October 1st.

5月1日和10月1日。

If a building wasn't finished in time for either of those dates,

如果一棟大樓未能在其中任意一個日期前完工，

it would have to sit empty until the next lease day,

它就不得不閒置到下一個租賃日，

losing an incredible amount of money.

從而損失巨額資金。

And so the target was set.

於是目標確立了。

The Empire State Building had to be finished by May 1st, 1931,

帝國大廈必須在1931年5月1日前完工，

just a little over a year away.

距離當時只有一年多一點的時間。

What followed was one of the most incredible displays of efficiency 文法

隨後發生的事情，展示了所有工程專案中

and planning any engineering project has ever seen.

前所未見的絕佳效率與規劃能力。

The main structure of the building was made from prefabricated steel columns and beams.

大樓的主體結構由預製鋼柱和鋼樑構成。

Almost all of them were identical,

它們幾乎全都一模一樣，

and so they could be manufactured, shipped out to the work site,

因此能夠以最快速度製造出來、運到工地，

and put together in record time.

並以創紀錄的速度組裝完畢。

With hundreds of deliveries each day and over 3,000 workers on the site,

每天有數百次運輸，工地上有3000多名工人，

the building rose by more than four floors each week.

大樓每週能長高四層以上。

Railway carts on each floor were built to move material around quickly,

每層都鋪設了鐵路推車以便快速運送材料，

and small cranes placed throughout the building

整個大樓內安置的小型起重機

would lift the steel beams up to the highest floors.

負責將鋼樑吊到最高層。

There were even multiple restaurants placed throughout the building,

大樓內甚至還設置了多家餐廳，

saving the workers time by not having to leave the work site.

讓工人們不用離開工地，從而節省時間。

In just 6 months,

僅僅6個月內，

the entire steel structure had been put together.

整個鋼結構就組裝完畢了。

And another 6 months later,

又過了6個月，

the entire building was complete,

整座大廈全部竣工，

coming in under budget at just $25 million. 片語動詞

花費甚至低於預算，僅用了2500萬美元。

It was now ready to be rented out.

接下來它就可以對外出租了。

But just as it opened for business, 片語搭配

但就在它開門營業之時，

the worst financial crash in history hit America.

美國遭遇了史上最嚴重的金融危機。

12 million people lost their jobs,

1200萬人失業，

and wages across the country fell by 45%.

全國薪資水準下降了45%。

It was a complete disaster for the Empire State Building,

這對帝國大廈來說簡直是一場徹底的災難，

which struggled to fill even a quarter of its office space,

它的辦公空間連四分之一都難以填滿，

earning it a rather unfortunate nickname.

甚至給它帶來了一個相當不幸的綽號。

Thankfully, the building was much more than just a giant office.

幸運的是，這座大樓絕不僅僅是一個巨大的辦公室。

On the 86th and 102nd floor were two observatories,

在第86層和102層設有兩座觀景台，

giving tourists a view of New York

讓遊客能夠俯瞰紐約，

that towered above every other building.

視線遠超其他所有建築。

Tickets cost $1,

門票只要1美元，

and it became a hit right away. 用詞

且立刻大受歡迎。

In its first year,

在第一年，

it sold over 1 million tickets.

它的門票銷量就突破了100萬張。

And throughout the '30s,

在整個30年代，

it became the main revenue stream for the building until its offices finally recovered from the crash. 用詞

它成為了大樓的主要收入來源，直到辦公室的出租終於從崩盤中恢復。

But the Empire State's money-making ability didn't end there. 表達脈絡

但帝國大廈的賺錢能力還遠不止於此。

Above all this was a giant mast,

在這上面還有一座巨大的桅杆，

originally designed as a docking station for airships,

最初設計為飛船停靠站，

where passengers could disembark and make their way down to the ground 片語搭配

乘客可以在那裡下船，並在幾分鐘內

in just a few minutes.

抵達地面。

This idea ultimately never took off, 慣用語

這個想法最終沒能實現，

but the mast ended up serving a much more lucrative purpose.

但桅杆最終卻發揮了更賺錢的作用。

Television was coming along, 片語動詞

當時電視技術正嶄露頭角，

and the Empire State Building became the perfect place to develop the technology.

帝國大廈成為了研發這項技術的絕佳地點。

NBC took over the 85th floor,

NBC租下了第85層，

installed a 50,000-watt transmitter,

安裝了一台5萬瓦的發射器，

and performed the world's first high-powered transmission.

並進行了世界上第一次大功率發射。

This provided signal to the whole city

這不僅為整個城市提供了訊號，

and formed the basis of how TV ended up working across America.

也為日後電視在全美的運作奠定了基礎。

It was so tall that its signal could reach as far as Rhode Island or Massachusetts, 文法

它太高了，訊號甚至可以到達遠在100英里之外的

well over 100 mi away.

羅德島州或麻薩諸塞州。

Television exploded. 慣用語

電視產業迎來了爆炸式增長。

The Empire State Building's antenna started broadcasting nine different TV stations across four different states,

帝國大廈的天線開始為橫跨四個州的九個不同電視台發射訊號，

earning it more than $600,000 a year,

每年為它賺取超過60萬美元，

$7 million in today's money. 片語搭配

相當於今天的700萬美元。

The Empire State Building remained the tallest building in the world for 40 years

帝國大廈保持著「世界最高建築」的稱號長達40年，

until the World Trade Center finally took over. 片語動詞

直到最後被世界貿易中心所取代。

Although there are many larger skyscrapers around today,

儘管如今有許多比它更龐大的摩天大樓，

thanks to its design, the Empire State Building still blows them all away. 慣用語

但由於其出色的設計，帝國大廈依然把它們全都比了下去。

From office rentals alone,

僅靠辦公室租金，

it pulls in $350 million each year

它每年就能吸金3.5億美元，

and houses some of the world's biggest brands.

並進駐了一些世界頂級品牌。

Its TV and radio antennas generate around $30 million annually,

它的電視和無線電天線每年能帶來約3000萬美元的收入，

and the viewing platforms generate an incredible $130 million every year.

而觀景台每年更能創造令人難以置信的1.3億美元收入。

The gamble on its location paid off, 片語動詞

關於選址的豪賭得到了回報，

and the building now sits right at the heart of New York's busiest area, 慣用語

如今這棟大樓坐落於紐約最繁華區域的中心，

giving the building an overall value of over $2 billion.

使得大樓的總估值超過了20億美元。

No matter how you look at it, 文法

無論從哪個角度來看，

the Empire State Building was an engineering masterpiece.

帝國大廈都是一件工程傑作。

Thanks for watching,

感謝觀看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我們下期影片再見。