80 Fifth Avenue

80 Fifth Avenue’s lavishly detailed thirteen-story Classical shaft sits atop an arresting three-story base of interlocking bay windows. The uppermost floors are particularly noteworthy, incorporating giant two-story arches that gather pedimented windows into trios in the manner of the Chicago School of architecture as practiced by 19th Century architect Louis Sullivan and others. Unfortunately, the… Continue reading

78 Fifth Avenue

78 Fifth Avenue’s handsome façade is obscured but not defaced by the addition of fire escapes – possibly the only time these life-saving devices are visible to this extent on Fifth Avenue.  The detailing on the uppermost floors strikes a curiously old-fashioned note, with rounded hood molds redolent of the Italianate detailing of a previous generation…. Continue reading

Honest Buildings’ New Blog to Feature David V. Griffin

Landmark Branding is pleased to announce that David V. Griffin will be a regular contributor to Honest Buildings’ new blog, Community. In the first in a series of articles with a focus on renovation and restoration projects, Griffin speaks with Greg Popkin of RFR Realty about the current gut renovation at 285 Madison Avenue, one… Continue reading

Just off Fifth: Butterfield House

A discreet presence on West 12th Street, Butterfield House has long been celebrated as one of the city’s great postwar apartment buildings. Designed in 1962 by William J. Conklin and James S. Rossant of the architectural firm of Mayer, Whittlesey & Glass, the building consists of two separately conceived structures, a small 4-bay 7-story façade… Continue reading

74 Fifth Avenue

A 1910 work by the firm of Maynicke & Franke, 74 Fifth Avenue is a capable design by the architects who also produced 55 Fifth Avenue and the studio houses at 12-26 East 8th Street. Decorative details suggest a take on Secessionist motifs. The building has been converted to residential use.