Guide to New York Buildings / Architects
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Manhattan Skyscrapers Guide
New York is famous for tall architecture - skyscrapers - but also cultural buildings such as the Guggenheim and MoMA. Of all the cities in the United States of America New York has more quality architecture and many of its buildings feature in the key histories of World Architecture. Famous architects that achieved major architecture works here include Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. Manhattan is based on a grid, with many interesting buildings by famous architects.
New York Architecture - photo © Tim Collins
Ten Key New York skyscrapers, chronological:
1. Flatiron Building
1902
Daniel Burnham, Architect
2. Woolworth Building
1913
Cass Gilbert, Architect
3. Chrysler Building
1930
William Van Alen, Architect
4. Empire State Building
1931
Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, Architects
5. Rockefeller Center
1940
Raymond Hood, Architect
6. Lever Building (Lever House)
1952
Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) Architects
7. United Nations Headquarters (UNO Buildings)
1953
Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer
8. Seagram Building
1958
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Architec; Philip Johnson
9. UN Plaza
1975
Roche-Dinkeloo Architects
10. Freedom Tower - Site of World Trade Center: Ground Zero
2004-
Daniel Libeskind Architects + David Childs of SOM Architects
New York photos : Andrew McRae, 2007
Key Manhattan building no longer standing:
Site of World Trade Center
1966-73 (destroyed 2001)
Minoru Yamasaki, Emery Roth & Sons
One World Trade Center was 417m high, Two World Trade Center was 415m high
New York skyscraper - Empire State building photo : Andrew McRae
New York Skyscraper photos
New York Architects
New York Skyscrapers : Complete List, alphabetical
Key New York skyscrapers, chronological:
1. Flatiron Building, 23rd Street, Broadway; 5th Avenue
1902
Daniel Burnham, Architect
Famous piece of New York architecture that appears on numerous postcards and in many films, so-named due to its sharp pointed plan.
At 87m high the Flatiron building is the original New York skyscraper.
2. Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway
1910-13
Cass Gilbert, Architect
241m high, one of the first New York skyscrapers. Designed in a formal, symmetrical Gothic Revival style and originally nicknamed the Cathedral of Commerce. The Woolworth building was the tallest in the world from 1913-30. Refurbished 1977-81.
3. Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue
1930
William Van Alen, Architect
Chrysler Building
This building is 318m high, an Art Deco skyscraper that is a world-famous symbol for New York. Tallest building globally on completion, taking over from the Eiffel Tower. It obviously was also the tallest building in New York until the Empire State Building was completed the following year. Refurbished 1995.
4. Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue
1931
Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, Architects
Empire State Building
381m high skyscraper, Art Deco architecture - especially the tower interior, famous New York landmark.
5. Rockefeller Center, 5th - 7th Avenue; 47th - 51st Street, Midtown
1940
Raymond Hood, Architect
Rockefeller Center - Radio City, photo © Tim Collins
Rockefeller Center
The home of the beautiful ice rink, the Radio City Music Hall and supreme luxury of the Rainbow Rooms: you can dance away at the top of one of the highest skyscrapers in the city.
6. Lever Building (Lever House), 390 Park Avenue
1952
Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) Architects
A beautiful piece of New York architecture facing Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building and trying to give it a run for its money. Having had a good look at both I think Mies wins but nevertheless this SOM Architects building was a classic in its day, podium and tower: Lever House
7. United Nations Headquarters (UNO Buildings), 1st Avenue
1953
Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Sir Howard Robertson
with Harrison & Abramovitz Architects
The only Le Corbusier building in New York: UN Building New York
8. Seagram Building, 375 Park Avenue, New York
1958
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Architect; Philip Johnson
Seagram Building
Another building by Mies van der Rohe is the Barcelona Pavilion
Philip Johnson became an associate for Mies van der Rohe on the Seagram Building in 1955: he worked on interiors such as the Four Seasons Restaurant.
9. UN Plaza, East 44th St / 1st Avenue
1969-75
Roche-Dinkeloo Architects
Crystalline glassy building with facets in plan and section but generally a clean-styled building. The UN Plaza apartments tower was added in 1983. Renamed in 1999 Millennium Hotel New York, UN Plaza.
10. Freedom Tower - Site of World Trade Center, Ground Zero, Lower Manhattan
2004-
Daniel Libeskind Architects + David Childs of SOM Architects
Controversial towers to replace the New York World Trade Centre skyscrapers lost in 2001. The main Freedom Tower skyscraper by Libeskind was to be a significant number of feet high - 1,776 ft - to mark a key American date in history - United States Year of Independence; the building was largely handed over to architect David Childs. Designed to be the tallest tower in the world for the site leaseholder - real estate developer Larry Silverstein. The angular design is typical for Daniel Libeskind but here echoes the Statue of Liberty. A Snohetta building was also due to appear but the situation is in a state of flux, more online soon.
New York Skyscraper News:
One Bryant Park - Bank of America Tower
Cook + Fox Architects
image © Jock Pottle, Esto for Cook+Fox Architects
One Bryant Park
99 Church Street Tower, World Trade Centre Tower Site, Lower Manahttan
Robert A. M. Stern Architects
image : dbox Courtesy of: Silverstein Properties
23 East 22nd Street, Flatiron district
OMA
23 East 22nd Street
56 Leonard Street
Herzog & de Meuron
image © Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, 2008
56 Leonard Street
World Trade Center New York Towers
World Trade Centre Tower Two
Foster and Partners
image : Foster + Partners I Courtesy of: Silverstein Properties
200 Greenwich Street Tower
World Trade Centre Tower Three
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
image : RSHP, Team Macarie I Courtesy of: Silverstein Properties
World Trade Centre Tower Four
Maki and Associates
image : Maki and Associates I Courtesy of: Silverstein Properties
Tower Verre : MoMA Extension + Hotel + Apartments
Jean Nouvel
image © Ateliers Jean Nouvel
Manhattan Tower
Masterplan for Eastern Rail Yards & Western Rail Yards
Steven Holl
image courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
Hudson Yards New York
Hearst Building, Eighth Avenue; 56th - 57th Street
Foster + Partners
photo : Andrew McRae
Hearst Tower - New York skyscraper award : RIBA International Award 2007
400 Park Avenue South
Christian de Portzamparc
Manhattan tower
Brooklyn Arts Tower
Behnisch Architekten with StudioMDA
Brooklyn Tower
Lexington Avenue Building
Foster & Partners to design 62 storey New York skyscraper beside Mies Van der Rohe's classic Seagram Building on Lexington Avenue.
BLUE Residential Tower
Bernard Tschumi
BLUE Residential Tower photo: Peter Mauss/ESTO
New York Tower
LVMH Building, East 57th Street ; Fifth & Madison Avenue
Christian de Portzamparc, Architect
photo : Wade Zimmerman
LVMH Tower
One Madison Park, Madison Square Park
OMA
Manhattan skyscraper
New York Skyscraper Photos welcome
AT&T Building, Madison Avenue
Philip Johnson, Architect with John Burgee
image : isabelle lomholt
AT&T Building : famous Postmodern building with so-called 'Chippendale Chair' top
Battery Park, Manhattan - photo © Tim Collins
New York Architects
Useful Links re Manhattan Skyscrapers:
Skyscraper Museum
39 Battery Place, Battery Park, New York:
New York Skyscrapers - Website: www.skyscraper.org
New York Architecture
London Skyscrapers
Harlem Tower
Hong Kong Skyscrapers
New York Skyscraper News - Current Projects + Developments
World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe
Buildings / photos for the New York Skyscraper page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
New York Skyscraper - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
Buildings by this architect:
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Key Links:
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