New York skyscrapers

It is hard to find a city in the world that has as many expectations and hopes as New York.

Since ancient times, visitors from all over the world have flocked to this city - Irish, Germans, Jews, Italians, African Americans, Asians and immigrants from Latin America. It was these visitors who made this city great, multifaceted, colorful. New York is a city that has become the embodiment of world business activity; a huge number of representative offices of world famous brands are concentrated here. New York is the capital of capitalism, and one of its symbols is countless skyscrapers rising to the sky, which will be discussed in this article.

The very high cost of land in Manhattan and its relatively small area forced the construction of ever taller buildings. A large number of famous New York skyscrapers were built between 1920 and 1930. And during the twentieth century, the title of the tallest building in the world belonged to eight different skyscrapers in New York.

The first skyscraper in New York is the now destroyed New York World Building, which was built back in 1890. Unfortunately, the building had to be demolished during the construction of a new exit to the Brooklyn Bridge.

See also: Manhattan attractions | 17 Best place to visit in Manhattan

The 25 tallest buildings in New York City

1. Empire State Building

Probably the most legendary skyscraper and one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States, the Empire State Building, an Art Deco building with 102 floors, is the tallest skyscraper in New York. It is located at the corner of West 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. This building was considered the tallest in the world for more than 40 years - it reaches a height of 381 m, and including the antenna - 443 m. In 1972, it was surpassed by the North Tower of the World Trade Center. But, after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, when both towers were destroyed, the skyscraper again became the tallest in New York, but during this time taller skyscrapers were built in Chicago - the Willis Tower and the International Hotel, which were "overtaken" in height Empire State Building.

This skyscraper is a very popular place for tourists, as its observation decks, located on the 86th and 102nd floors, allow you to enjoy breathtaking views of New York. Another of the attractions of the skyscraper is the staircase leading to the 102nd floor, which consists of 1860 steps. Every year there are competitions in high-speed ascent to the roof of a skyscraper. By the way, it takes only 20 minutes for trained athletes.

The Empire State Building also became famous in the cinema - it was from its roof that King Kong fought off the planes that were advancing on it.

The Empire State Building has been designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers and, since 1986, a National Historic Landmark.

Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001, United States

Website: https://www.esbnyc.com/

2. Twin Towers World Trade Center

These skyscrapers have been a symbol of the financial greatness of the United States and New York for almost 30 years.

Source: Flickr / Ken Lund

But today they are associated with one of the most tragic events in modern history - the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This ultra-modern office complex was built in an inconspicuous part of Lower Manhattan.

Address: 285 Fulton St, New York, NY 10007, United States

Website: https://www.wtc.com/about/buildings/1-world-trade-center

3. Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building, located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street, near the Grand Central Station, is one of the most famous buildings in New York, along with the Empire State Building. In the 30s of the last century, for 11 months, the Chrysler Building managed to be the owner of the title of the tallest skyscraper in the world.

This building has 77 floors, and its height is 320 m. Its distinguishing feature is not so much size, but amazing elegance and organicity. The design of this skyscraper impresses with its extravagance.

Address: 405 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10174, United States

Website: https://tishmanspeyer.com/properties/chrysler-center

4. Trump World Tower

Trump World Tower is a residential skyscraper located in Manhattan, at the United Nations Plaza. Its construction began in 1999 and lasted two years.

The author of the building project, Marta Ruzska, designed the skyscraper with a height of 72 floors (264 m) with a dark, bronze-colored glass facade. This is one of the tallest fully residential buildings.

Address: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, United States

Website: https://www.trumpworldtower.com/

5. Woolworth Building

Woolworth Building is one of the most famous and oldest skyscrapers in New York City. More than 95 years have passed since its construction, but this skyscraper, whose height is 241 meters, is still listed in the list of the 50 tallest buildings in the United States and is among the 20 tallest buildings in New York.

Since 1966, Woolworth Building has been listed as a Historic Building. The architecture style of this skyscraper is neo-gothic. Until 1930, the building was the tallest in the world, before the construction of the Chrysler Building and Trump Building.

Address: New York, NY 10007, USA

6. Bank of America Tower

The Bank of America Tower, located in Lower Manhattan, between 42nd and 43rd Streets, near Bryant Park, is a 366-meter-high skyscraper. Its construction cost was US $ 1 billion. This building is the second tallest in New York (after the Empire State Building) and the fourth tallest in the United States.

Source: Flickr / Inhabitat

The authors of the building project, Fox and Gensler, included in the project requirements for environmental safety and efficiency, comparable to the best indicators in the world. As it becomes clear from the name of the skyscraper, the main tenant of the area is Bank of America. The development of the design of the building was carried out taking into account the main goal - to provide the most environmentally sound atmosphere. So, for example, tempered glass is used as floors between floors.

Address: New York, NY 10036, USA

7. New York Life Building

The New York Life Building is the headquarters of the New York insurance company. The skyscraper is located in Manhattan, at 51 Madison Avenue. The author of the New York Life Building project, Cass Gilbert, created a forty-story skyscraper with a pyramid-shaped gilded roof.

Source: Flickr / Eden, Janine and Jim

The building occupies an entire block between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue South, and between 26th and 27th streets. It is noteworthy that the New York Life Building was erected on the site where the Harlem depot and railway tracks, as well as the Madison Square Garden and the racetrack, were previously located.

Address: 51 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States

8. Seagram Building

The construction of the Seagram Building skyscraper was completed in 1958. The authors of the project were the German Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the American Philip Johnson. The skyscraper has 38 floors and is 157 meters high.

The Seagram Building is one of the finest examples of collective modernism and a masterpiece of functional aesthetics. This building has had a strong influence on American architecture.

Address: New York, NY 10022, USA

9. American International Building

The American International Building is a 66-story, 290-meter-high skyscraper located at 70 Pine Street in Lower Manhattan. Completed in 1932, the building was intended for gas and oil tycoon Henry Latham Doherty. The 30s of the last century is a time when the richest people in America competed in the height of their skyscrapers, which also determined the appearance of the American International Building, the roof of which is decorated with a spire in the then fashionable neo-Gothic style.

Source: Flickr / Wally Gobetz

After completion of construction, this building became the third tallest in the world, giving way to the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. The American International Building is the last skyscraper in Lower Manhattan to be built before the outbreak of World War II.

Address: 630 5th Ave, New York, NY 10111, United States

10. The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building

This skyscraper is one of the oldest in New York, built in 1912. The building was built to accommodate government and municipal employees, who increased in number after the unification of the Five Cities in 1898.

Source: Flickr / Berellian

The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building is the first skyscraper with a subway station at its base. The elegant architecture of the building served as the prototype for the Fisher Building in Detroit and the Terminal Tower in Cleveland.

Address: 1 Centre St, New York, NY 10007, United States

Website: http://www.mbpo.org/

11. Lipstick Building

The Lipstick Building is a 138 meter high residential skyscraper located in Manhattan, at 885 Third Avenue. This building was built in 1986 and has 34 floors. The skyscraper got its name due to its shape and color, reminiscent of a tube of lipstick.

Source: Flickr / Harshil Shah

On three levels, the building blocks are made with ledges necessary for unhindered access of light to the street. The result is a telescope-like building that looks rather original among the surrounding buildings.

Address: New York, NY 10022, USA

12. Casa Lever

Casa Lever is located at 390 Park Avenue. This 24-storey, 92-meter-high skyscraper was built in 1952 by architect Gordon Bunshaft. Lever House was the favorite project of Charles Luckman, the owner of the Lever company.

Source: Flickr / Seth Tisue

Luck man has proven himself not only as a successful businessman who has appeared on the covers of the Times, but also as an excellent architect who designed projects for such famous buildings as Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles International Airport.

Address: 390 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

Website: http://www.casalever.com/

13. Times Square Tower

The Times Square Tower is a 47-storey, 221 meter high office building located in Times Square, Manhattan. This skyscraper was built in 2004 and houses class A office space.

The most famous feature of this building is its billboards, most of which are located at the bottom of the facade, but one of the signs is located in the middle of the building and occupies 4 floors.

Address: New York, NY 10036, USA

14. General Electric Building

The General Electric Building is a historic skyscraper erected in 1931 in Lower Manhattan on Lexington Avenue. It consists of 50 floors and rises to 195 meters. The original name of the building is RCA Victor Building. Often, so as not to be confused with the new General Electric Building, which is located at 30 Rockefeller Center, the old building is named for its location.

Source: Flickr / Scott Beale

The skyscraper is built of the same orange-pink brick as the nearby church of St Bartolomeu. From the Lexington Avenue side, the General Electric Building appears as a high-rise Gothic-style skyscraper with its own personality. The main body of the building is adorned with elaborate brickwork, figured sculptures and bas-reliefs, and at the corner of the building is an original clock with the General Electric logo.

Address: 570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA

15. Nelson Tower

Nelson's Tower is named after the businessman Julius Nelson, who was involved in its planning and construction. This building, which is 171 m high, is located in Manhattan, at 450 Seventh Avenue.

Source: Flickr / Eden, Janine and Jim

Nowadays, Nelson's Tower looks small compared to the 60-story One Penn Plaza hotel opposite, but, nevertheless, it can be clearly seen from all directions except the southeast.

Address: 450 7th Ave, New York, NY 10123, United States

16. 550 Madison

It is located in Manhattan, at 550 Madison Avenue. The height of the 550 Madison Building is 197 m, it has 37 floors.

Source: Flickr / Steven Zucker, Smarthistory co-founder

The project's authors, architects Philip Johnson and John Burji, brought it to life in 1984, after which controversy and gossip immediately arose about its peak (which was often called "Chip and Dale" in mockery). But sincere admiration was aroused by the grandiose entrance, made in the form of an arch with a height of seven floors.

Address: 550 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

Website: https://550madison.com/

17. CitySpire Center

CitySpire Center is the tallest skyscraper in which there was a place for both office space and luxury housing. Built in 1987, this building is located in midtown Manhattan, at 56th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. The building has 75 floors, its height is 248 meters, and the total area is 33.400 sq. M.

Source: Flickr / Wally Gobetz

The owner of the building is Tishman Speyer Properties. The CitySpire Center is ranked 9th in New York City in terms of height. The lower 23 floors are office buildings, while the rest are luxury apartments that expand on higher floors. The roof of the building is decorated with a Moorish-style dome.

Address: 150 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019, United States

Website: http://city-spire.com/

18. Bloomberg Tower

Bloomberg Tower is a high-rise building located in downtown Manhattan, on the East Side. Its other name is One Beacon Court. The lower floors of the building are occupied by the headquarters of Bloomberg LP, while the upper floors are occupied by expensive co-op luxury housing.

Source: Flickr / .Martin.

Bloomberg Tower is located at 731 Lexington Avenue. The building has 54 floors and a height of 246 meters. Its construction began in 2001 and lasted 4 years. Bloomberg Tower is now ranked 14th in the ranking of high-rise buildings in New York.

Address: New York, NY 10022, USA

19. World Wide Plaza Residence

Skyscraper World Wide Plaza, built in 1989, is a 49-storey office building. Its height is 237 meters. World Wide Plaza is an office part of a three-building complex on 8th Avenue.

In addition, there is Two World Wide Plaza - a residential building located next to the central block and Three Worldwide Plaza, a low-rise residential building, on the first floor of which there are shops.

Address: 350 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019, United States

Website: https://worldwide-plaza.com/

20. Conde Nast Building

The Condé Nast building is a modern skyscraper located in Times Square in Lower Manhattan. The building was constructed in 2000 as part of the 42nd Street Improvement Project.

Source: Flickr / Ken Lund

The Conde Nast Building has 48 floors and is 247 meters high. Most of the building is occupied by the editorial offices of Conde Nast Publications, and the rest is the offices of the richest law firms in the United States, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom.

Address: 1472 Broadway, Manhattan, New York

See also: The Flatiron Building is New York City's architectural masterpiece.

20. The Olympic Tower

The Olympic Tower is a skyscraper in Lower Manhattan built in 1975. The building has 51 floors and is divided into 225 residential areas and 23,000 sq.m. retail and office space.

Source: Flickr / David Merrett

St. Patrick's Cathedral is located near the Olympic Tower, the buttresses of which are perfectly visible from the top of the tower. The building is very popular among the elite; immediately after the completion of construction work, its areas were sold out.

Address: 641 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States

Website: http://www.theolympictower.com/

21. The News Building

The News Building was the headquarters of the famous New York newspaper of the same name from 1929, when the building was completed, and until 1995. The Art Deco skyscraper is located at 220 East 42nd Street.

Source: Flickr / Jorbasa Fotografie

Raymond Hood, the architect of the The News Building, was the first to design a skyscraper devoid of any decorative top, which is why it is believed that this skyscraper served as the prototype for the Rockefeller Center. In 1989, The News Building was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Address: 220 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States

22. Paramount Plaza

Paramount Plaza is a 42-story Broadway skyscraper. There are 2 theaters in this building. The tower is 204 meters high and covers a large area west of Broadway, between West 50th and 51st Streets. Paramount Plaza was built in 1970 on a project designed by Emery Ros & Sons on the site of the old Capitol Theater.

Source: Flickr / Can Pac Swire

All of the above skyscrapers were built in the XX - early XXI centuries. But New York, the world's first city of skyscrapers, cannot lose that status. So, the new skyscrapers of New York:

Naturally, the main attention is focused on One World Trade Center, Freedom Tower and World Trade Center 2, 3 and 4 - to rebuild towers of the World Trade Center destroyed by terrorists. But, in addition to this complex, there are other wonderful buildings, the opening of which is expected in the near and distant future.

Address: 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, USA

23. 1 Manhattan West

A site bounded by 9th, 10th avenues and West 31, West 32 streets has been prepared for the bookmark. The building should be relatively low - 66 floors, but rather massive - 306,000 sq.m. on every floor.

Source: Flickr / Charles

But, with such proportions, the building will not look awkward, cumbersome, since the designers thought over the original facade and clearly defined the visual proportions. A steel, glass and concrete structure will look almost airy. Completion of construction is scheduled for 2015.

Address: 395 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001, United States

Website: https://www.manhattanwestnyc.com/

24. One57

Not far from Carnegie Hall, construction began on the original skyscraper, which was planned to be the tallest in the world. But, financial difficulties made their adjustments.

Source: Flickr / massmatt

As a result, the decision was made to build a tower with a height of 75 floors, of which the lower 25 will be occupied by the Park Hyatt hotel, and the remaining - first-class apartments. Completion of construction is scheduled for 2013.

Address: 157 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, United States

Website: https://one57.com/

25. The Atelier Condo

The financial crisis slowed down construction of the very unusual 605 Atelier II building. This building resembles a sail, as if crashed into the Hudson. Its height will be 57 floors, but with such dimensions, it fits perfectly into the surroundings.

Its construction, which began back in 2007, has been frozen, but will be resumed very soon. It will be a residential building with all 938 luxury apartments already sold out.

The construction of skyscrapers in New York City does not stop for a minute. Every year, architects have new original projects, new construction sites appear, foundations are laid, giant towers are erected - these are symbols of a great city, which has no similar in the whole world.