Completed in just two years (1928-1930), the Chrysler Building transformed New York City's skyline. Walter Chrysler appointed architect William Van Alen to design what was intended to be the tallest building in the world, dedicated, as Chrysler wished, as a "sound contribution to business." However, the building held the title of the world’s tallest for only a few months before being surpassed by the Empire State Building. Still, the Chrysler Building stood out for its unique design. Made from 4 million bricks, it featured a water bottling unit and an auto showroom on the first two floors.