NEW YORK CITY—The Empire State Building opened its new, second-floor galleries on Monday, completing the second phase of the $165 million project. Empire State Realty Trust finished the first phase which included a new entrance to the Observatory at 20 W. 34th St. in August last year.

Several observation decks dot the city, including at Rockefeller Center, the World Trade Center and ones under construction at Hudson Yards and One Vanderbilt. But incorporating an experiential component, the Empire State Building's interactive galleries hope to lure visitors to the tourist site offering not only views but also drawing upon the building's history. The 102-story, 2.7 million-square-foot tower was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and originally completed in 1931.

Empire State Realty Trust president Jean-Yvyes Ghazi tells GlobeSt.com he wants visitors to experience "a sense of joy of having gotten to really know the building in a way they hadn't expected."

The trust hired Thinc Design as the exhibition designer. The firm's projects span museums, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and include the 9/11 Museum, the USA Pavilion in the Expo Milano 2015, and the Sustainability Pavilion in Expo Dubai 2020. The firm's principal Tom Hennes tells GlobeSt.com research showed the Empire State Building has a unique place in people's imaginations. He says visitors are moved by its stories and feel a deep connection to the building.