Historic Buildings of New York City: Bringing History Forward in Time
Known worldwide for its unique balance of modernity and progress, and culture and history, New York City is home to many architectural wonders. In its over 400 years of history, New York City has experienced a constant state of construction and continues to evolve in design and shape.
Our team has had the privilege of being a part of the renovation and rebuild of many historical, landmarked properties. While the 100-year old buildings in New York City are an excellent source of cultural value, the historic structures and landmarked components provide a unique set of challenges and cost considerations. From gut renovations and façade restorations, to navigating the landmark and permit process, our team brings decades of experience preserving historical character and architectural aesthetics, while bringing the space forward in time.
Read on to learn more about some of the most iconic NYC buildings and our work in each:
The Empire State Building- One of the most famous buildings in the world, The Empire State Building opened in 1931 as the tallest building in the world, a title it held for nearly four decades. At 102-stories tall, the traditional Art Deco building takes a subdued design approach up until the ornate, aluminum extensions tapering toward the pinnacle of the tower. Built during the Great Depression, the tower was miraculously built in just over one year of construction.
Today, The Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Reality Trust, is home to about 1,000 commercial tenants, and hosts around 4 million visitors a year. Our team at L&K has completed interior build-out projects for several prominent technology companies located in the building. While it is no longer the tallest building in the world, it remains an symbol of economic power and societal advancement.
30 Rockefeller Center- Completed in 1933, 30 Rockefeller Plaza serves as the centerpiece for business district, Rockefeller Center, which covers 22 acres in Midtown Manhattan. Designed by lead architect Raymond Hood, the 66-story modernized Art Deco building features a limestone façade, Gothic-inspired four-leafed spandrel, and, unlike many buildings built during this time period, a flat roof. The building houses the headquarters and studio of NBC, the Rainbow Room restaurant, and an observation deck, as well as contains one of the largest collections of commissioned artwork in a major building project.
The historic landmark, now owned by Tishman Speyer, has undergone several renovations throughout the building, façade, and outdoor areas. Today, tenants of the building enjoy a bluestone paved plaza, urban-mall like retail shops, and built-to-suit offices with high-end amenities. We have long-standing partnerships with tenants in the building and have completed several interior build-out projects and office updates.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art- The Met’s earliest roots date back to 1866 in Paris, France, when a group of Americans agreed to create a "national institution and gallery of art" to bring art and art education to the Americas. Plans moved swiftly, and in 1880 the museum opened to the public at its current site on Fifth and 82nd street. Over the course of its renowned history, the institution has expanded greatly, including various additions in structure and art collections. Today, the 2 million sf building hosts tens of thousands of some of the world’s greatest artwork and artifacts.
Our team worked with the museum the in the renovation of the European galleries, which houses over 700 historical, pre-modern European paintings and objects. The project required a complete overhaul to utility systems, wall demolition, and a fresh paint scheme, all with minimal disruption to museum patrons. The renovation and reinstallation expanded the gallery by nearly a third, and offers a dynamic, fluid display of the European exhibit.
The Woolworth Building- Financed by “five and dime” store entrepreneur, Frank Woolworth, and designed by famed architect Cass Gilbert, the 58-story skyscraper was built in 1913 and was the tallest building in the world for nearly two decades. Regarded as a model of commercial building design, the Neo-Gothic skyscraper was designed to resemble a European cathedral with its intricately detailed exterior, including gargoyles, ogee arches, copper roof, and windows framed by vibrant blue and green glazed terra-cotta panels.
Over a century later, Alchemy Properties has transformed the former “Cathedral of Commerce” into a mixed-use property with the top 30 floors now luxury condos known as The Woolworth Tower Residences.
Office and commercial tenants occupy the remaining floors of the building, and enjoy class A office space and amenities, expansive operable windows, and one of the most extravagant lobbies in the world. Our team worked with building management and a media and advertising company to custom-build their 60,000 sf headquarters within the NYC landmark.
The Toy Center- Located at the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, the Toy Center consists of two buildings between 23rd and 25th Street and for many years served as a hub for the toy industry during World War 1 following restrictions on imports from traditional European toy manufacturers. The first building was built in 1909, followed by a second a few years later which was connected by an over pass on the building’s ninth floors. The Toy Center contained a million square feet of rental space, and was occupied by more than 600 tenants representing every major toy company in the United States.
Today, the Toy Center has since been converted into 900,000 sf of office space, owned by L&L Holding Company, and luxury condominiums, 10 Madison Square West, developed by the Witkoff Company. Our team at L&K has renovated over 400,000 sf of office space for a corporate client at the landmark property.
Interested in learning more about our work in landmark properties? Contact a member of our project team today.