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Construction

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 commercial buildings in Midtown Manhattan, was one of the largest private construction projects of the 20th century. Built between 1930 and 1939, the complex used asbestos-containing materials extensively in fireproofing, insulation, and building finishes across millions of square feet of commercial space.

Last verified: 2026-03-09
Legal & editorial
Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
New York, NY
Industry
Commercial Construction
Exposure Era
1930–1939
Primary Asbestos Products
Spray-on fireproofing, Pipe insulation, Floor tiles, Boiler insulation, Ceiling materials
Job Categories at Risk
Construction workers, Maintenance workers, Electricians, Plumbers, HVAC technicians, Steamfitters

History & Asbestos Use

Developed by the Rockefeller family beginning in 1930, the original 14 Art Deco buildings of Rockefeller Center were completed by 1939, with additional buildings added in the 1960s and 1970s. The massive complex used asbestos-containing materials standard for the era in fireproofing structural steel, insulating mechanical systems, and finishing interior spaces. The scale of the complex — encompassing 22 acres and millions of square feet — meant that enormous quantities of asbestos materials were installed. Ongoing renovation and modernization over the decades has included progressive asbestos abatement.

Exposure Details

Asbestos was used in spray-on fireproofing, pipe insulation, boiler room materials, floor tiles, and ceiling components across the entire complex. The underground concourse connecting the buildings contained asbestos-insulated mechanical systems and utility infrastructure. Maintenance workers, steamfitters, and building engineers working in the complex's interconnected mechanical spaces encountered asbestos materials regularly throughout their careers.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Rockefeller Center had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Construction workers
  • Maintenance workers
  • Electricians
  • Plumbers
  • HVAC technicians
  • Steamfitters

Health Effects

The sheer scale of Rockefeller Center means that thousands of construction, maintenance, and renovation workers have been exposed to asbestos over the complex's nearly 100-year history. Workers maintaining the interconnected underground mechanical systems faced particularly high exposure in confined utility spaces. Tradespeople who worked across multiple buildings in the complex accumulated cumulative exposure from numerous asbestos-containing sources.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Rockefeller Center may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Rockefeller Center?

Workers who were employed at Rockefeller Center between 1930–1939 may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

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Treatment Centers in New York

If you were exposed to asbestos at Rockefeller Center and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in New York may be able to help.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, NY

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Mount Sinai Health System

Mount Sinai Health System

New York, NY

Cancer Center
View Full Profile
NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center

NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center

New York, NY

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Buffalo, NY

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much asbestos was used at Rockefeller Center?

As one of the largest commercial construction projects of the 1930s, Rockefeller Center's 19 buildings required massive quantities of asbestos-containing fireproofing, insulation, and building materials. The exact tonnage is not publicly documented, but the scale of the complex makes it one of the most significant asbestos sites in New York City.

Are all Rockefeller Center buildings affected?

The original buildings constructed in the 1930s and the later additions from the 1960s-1970s all used asbestos-containing materials to varying degrees. The older Art Deco buildings from the original construction phase typically contain the most significant amounts of asbestos.

Can maintenance workers at Rockefeller Center file asbestos claims?

Yes. Maintenance workers, building engineers, electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople who developed asbestos-related diseases from working at Rockefeller Center may be eligible to file legal claims against the manufacturers of the asbestos products used in the complex.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Rockefeller Center? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

  • The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
  • Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
  • Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
  • Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
  • Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Rockefeller Center? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Sources:

  • New York City Department of Environmental Protection records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission records — accessed 2026-03-09
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