Empire State Realty Trust Selects Grand Prize Winner Of Annual "Capture the Heart of New York City" Photo Contest

NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) today announced the Grand Prize Winner of the Empire State Building's (ESB) third annual photo contest, "Capture the Heart of New York City."  Justin Dring of The Woodlands, TX, will receive $5,000, and his photo will be featured as ESB's Facebook and Twitter profile pictures, starting today through December 31, 2014.  Dring's image, along with 40 other finalist images, will also be highlighted in an exhibit in the landmark's highly-trafficked Fifth Avenue Gallery lobby windows in the month of October.

Honorable mentions among this year's contest finalists include:

• Tammy Alexander (Marion, OH)
• Beyti Barbarous (Mount Arlington, NJ)
• David Castro (Baldwin, NY)
• Erica Kammann (New York, NY)
• Corey Lewis (Los Angeles, CA)
• Matthew Pugilese (Brooklyn, NY)
• Debra Wassum (Brooklyn, NY)

Due to the caliber of entries, beginning in 2015, ESRT will award two Grand Prize Winners — honoring one image of the building and one image from the building.  This year's honorable mentions for photos from the building include:

• Gary Ambessi (Highlands, NJ)
• Mark Lombardi (Harleysville, PA)

The contest, which ran from June 30 – September 2, 2014, received over 1,100 entries from photographers across the country and showcased ESB as the centerpiece of New York City.  Entries were accepted via ESB's Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/EmpireStateBuilding) or via Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #ESBHeartofNYC.  ESB's Facebook fans voted on their favorite images, and nine weekly winning photos were selected.  After the submission period concluded, ESB determined the remainder of the runners-up and one Grand Prize-winning photo.

Throughout 2015, the finalists will receive the honor of having their photos showcased to the global online community as the ESB's Facebook and Twitter profile pictures as well.  Additionally, the finalists may be featured in future ESB marketing material.

"This year's annual 'Capture the Heart of New York City' photo contest brought remarkable submissions and allowed us to engage with our fans and followers," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman, CEO and President of ESRT.  "Justin Dring's photo captured the intricate architectural details that represent our Art Deco roots, while our honorable mentions showcased the passion and connection visitors have with the World's Most Famous Office Building."

The remaining 31 Runners-Up include (in alphabetical order):

• Gigi Altarejos (Jamaica, NY)
• Crystal Amaya (Vancouver, WA)
• Brian Buonassissi (New York, NY)
• Candice D'Souza (New York, NY)
• Chris Daftsios (New York, NY)
• Dennis Delima (Astoria, NY)
• Hope Dickens (Brooklyn, NY)
• Melissa Dolman (New York, NY)
• Bryan Dumas (New York, NY)
• Robert Ferri (Brooklyn, NY)
• Andrew Hebert (Jennings, LA)
• Daniel Kapovic (Astoria, NY)
• Jennifer Khordi (Cliffwood, NJ)
• Graham Lampen (New Canaan, CT)
• Chris Lee (Brooklyn, NY)
• Kenneth Libo-on (Bronx, NY)
• Jill Lyles (Crystal River, FL)
• Joseph Marcone (Fort Salonga, NY)
• Allan Mendez (Saddle Brook, NJ)
• Nandor Ordog (Corona, NY)
• Liya Palagashvili (Ephrata, PA)
• Jason Piece (Edgewater, NJ)
• Anthony Quintano (Hillsboro, NJ)
• Barbara Race (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Engin Sevimli (Guttenberg, NJ)
• Alana Shamah (New York, NY)
• Alex Shamis (Hayward, CA)
• Thompson Ukpebor (Brooklyn, NY)
• Michael Viola (Hobe Sound, FL)
• Daniel Wanderman (Merrick, NY)
• Richard Zoeller (Baldwin, NY)

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions as the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg.

About Empire State Realty Trust
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous office building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.0 million rentable square feet, as of July 15, 2014, consisting of 9.3 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 732,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio. The Company also owns land at the Stamford, Connecticut Transportation Center that supports the development of an approximately 380,000 rentable square foot office building and garage.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "contemplates," "aims," "continues," "would" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the factors included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, including those set forth under the headings "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business," and "Properties." While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact the Company's future results, performance or transactions, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to the Company (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).

Media Contact: Edelman Public Relations
Matthew Frappier, 212. 277.3786
[email protected]

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SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.