Every Building on Fifth

A haughty little cube that suggests the Italian architecture of the 1930’s, 718 Fifth Avenue’s current appearance actually dates to 1960 when the building was redone for Harry Winston by the French architect Jacques Régnault in travertine. The prior treatment was an uncompromising piece of Art Moderne by William and Geoffrey Platt for the Corning… Continue reading

A sleek Mid-Century Modern addition to Midtown, 717 Fifth Avenue was designed by Harrison, Abramovitz & Abbe in 1959 for the Corning Glass Works, which was previously housed in a much smaller building directly across the street at 718 Fifth Avenue. A handsome entry in Lever House professionalism, the original plaza has, regrettably, been partially filled in…. Continue reading

A breakthrough concession to preservation, 712 Fifth Avenue is a tall limestone tower that incorporates two beautiful small commercial buildings at its base alongside an entry façade that mimics the Beaux Arts style so completely that many see it as another historic feature. Constructed in 1990 through 1992 to designs by architectural firm Kohn Pedersen… Continue reading

A grand Beaux Arts office building, 711 Fifth Avenue was built in 1926-1927 by developer-architect Floyd Brown.  The sumptuous but conservative exterior concealed what architectural historian Christopher Gray has called “The radically modern headquarters of NBC.”  Designed by Raymond Hood, one of the chief architects at Rockefeller Center, these rooms displayed a sleek Art Moderne… Continue reading

The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, here shown under restoration, is one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in the United States.  Located at 55th Street and Fifth Avenue since 1873, the stupendous Victorian High Gothic building was the tallest in New York City when completed. Designed by the little-known architect Carl Pfeiffer, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian’s impressive… Continue reading