The University Club, 1 West 54th Street
One of McKim, Mead & White’s best New York City buildings and perhaps the best example of the skyscraper-palazzo in the world, The University Club conceals a nine-story building behind a three-story face derived after Florentine models. Robust yet gracious ornament, strong proportions and a sense of august eminence carry the day. The sumptuous interiors… Continue reading
689-691 Fifth Avenue, The Elizabeth Arden Building
Built in 1925-27 as the Aeolian Building to designs by Grand Central Terminal architects Warren & Wetmore, 689-691 Fifth Avenue is better known today as the Elizabeth Arden Building, after the famed beauty salon housed there since 1930. A singularly graceful example of the setback skyscraper, the building is decked out in soigné French Classical… Continue reading
681 Fifth Avenue
A rare example of a mid-block skyscraper by the celebrated firm of McKim, Mead & White, 681 Fifth Avenue was built in 1912, most recently renovated in 2010 and is a popular location with high fashion and boutique finance tenants. The original ground floors were lost to a hideous façade when Fortunoff was the street… Continue reading
655-663 Fifth Avenue
Built in 1912, 655 Fifth Avenue and its neighbor at 663 Fifth Avenue are similar enough to be indistinguishable to the casual viewer. Both represented a turning away from the more lavishly ornamented commercial architecture of the era; later alterations at the street level have increased their sense of austerity.
651 Fifth Avenue, Cartier’s, The Morton Plant Mansion
The largest mansions left intact on Fifth Avenue south of Central Park and one of the grandest of its type ever constructed, the Morton Plant Mansion at 651 Fifth Avenue was designed by the British-born Robert W. Gibson, best known as an ecclesiastical architect whose other major New York City work is the astonishing Church… Continue reading