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New York's most iconic Art Deco buildings, mapped

From the Fiscal District to the Bronx, 15 Art Deco structures not to miss

Past Updated Dec 6, 2019, 12:16pm EST

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New York City is past no means a place with a unified architectural style, and that's one of the things that makes it so darn beautiful. Simply some of the city's most iconic structures exercise share a common theme: Art Deco design, plant in the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, to proper noun just two.

In his book New York Fine art Deco: A Guide to Gotham's Jazz Historic period Architecture, Anthony W. Robins defines the fluid manner that's given character to some of the city's most love structures: "It is flowery and information technology is zigzag; it is intimate and it is monolithic; it is abstract and it is figurative; it is Roaring Twenties Extravagant and it is Depression-era cheap."

What all does that eddy down to? Below, we've mapped some of the urban center's nigh notable buildings exemplifying the beloved architectural fashion.

ane Wall St
New York, NY 10005

Ralph Walker's limestone-clad i Wall Street is an Art Deco beauty inside and out. The 50-story building was constructed during the same period equally the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, and it was originally occupied by the Irving Trust Company. It features setbacks characteristic of Fine art Deco, besides as vertical designs etched along the faceted facade, but the interiors are what truly brand it special. The building'southward soaring double-height lobby on Wall Street, the banking company's original reception room, is a stunning space designed by Hildreth Meiere. Known equally the Red Room, it's covered with a mosaic of blood-red, gilded, and orangish tiles that were fabricated in Berlin. On the 49th flooring, an observation room occupies "a gaspingly high space," equally the Times says, with vaulted ceilings covered with shells from the Philippines. The building is currently undergoing a residential conversion at the hands of programmer Harry Macklowe.

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Built in 1930 for CITGO by Clinton & Russell, Holton and George, 70 Pine once claimed the distinction of the globe's tertiary tallest edifice. At 952 anxiety, it's notwithstanding tall by today's standards. The edifice, Robins says, "rises in subtle setbacks like an elaborate, elongated faceted precious stone of Indiana limestone and white brick to a glass-enclosed solarium with an illuminated lantern" that's said to exist visible up to xx miles abroad. The interiors are a prize too, with the lobby spaces featuring "polychromatic marble, rippling marble walls, beamed plaster ceilings, and gorgeous, abstract geometric Art Deco aluminum metalwork on everything from lift doors to mailboxes," much of which is on full display following the tower'southward contempo conversion into rentals.

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Once home to all of the operations of the Western Spousal relationship Telegraph Company, the imposing building at 60 Hudson Street now serves as a carrier hotel that holds a multitude of components—cables, network operators, and the like—that proceed the internet up and running. The building is the work of Art Deco master Ralph Walker, who included 19 different shades of brick on the facade that gradually lighten as they go upwards. A renovation to the building 30 years ago makes it hard to see some of the color changing consequence, simply Robins notes it's withal visible with a little try.

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210 Westward 18th St
New York, NY

Before it was Walker Tower, abode to many a celebrity and high net worth individual, this glorious 23-story building was a central hub for Verizon, storing copper wire that made the telecommunications visitor run. The building was constructed in 1929 and designed by Ralph Walker, named builder of the century by the New York Times in 1957. No surprise here, JDS and Holding Markets Group'due south condo conversion takes its proper noun from the lauded builder.

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The world's tallest building upon its completion in 1931, the Empire State Building sets a tone for the Manhattan skyline—but as Robins notes, the building "has go such an icon beyond its architectural design that its style seems almost beyond the point." The keyword in that location is well-nigh, as the Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon design takes up the geometric patterns and so common in Art Deco compages. This is peculiarly seen in the building'south columns of windows (here framed in aluminum.)

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Now the Bryant Park Hotel, the glorious Art Deco building on the southern rim of Bryant Park was congenital as the American Radiator Building and is instantly recognizable for its dark facade and stunning gold crown and accents. Robins describes the building best: "Completed one year earlier the 1925 Paris exposition that gave Art Deco its name, the Radiator Edifice nonetheless reflects an eclectic, early-1920s approach, with spires and niches and gargoyles that might feel at habitation on the back door of a French country church..." The architect, Raymond Hood, is also behind Chicago's Tribune Tower.

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405 Lexington Ave
New York, NY

The Chrysler Building was very briefly the tallest building in the world when information technology opened in 1930, but the stunning Fine art Deco architecture is what sets it apart to this solar day. Designed by William Van Alen, the Chrysler is known for its elegant, terraced crown, with a sunburst blueprint; its thousand eagles, which stand up sentry on the 61st flooring; and the radiator caps on the 31st floor, an homage to the company whose name graces the edifice.

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1501 Broadway
New York, NY

Located at 1501 Broadway, the landmarked Paramount Building was built in 1927 as the headquarters of Paramount Pictures. In accord with the times, the edifice has a stepped-dorsum facade, with its iconic arched entryway getting some lovely Art Deco detailing. Now, it'due south home to the Hard Rock Cafe.

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30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Designed past Raymond Hood and a consortium of other noted architects of the time, 30 Rock became the centerpiece of the ambitious Rockefeller Centre circuitous. Per the AIA Guide to New York, "The skin is straightforward, mod, and unencumbered by the need for stylishness—but stylish nonetheless. Maybe the near undated modern monument that New York Metropolis enjoys." One time the headquarters to RCA, the building is now controlled by Comcast.

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1260 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY

Radio City, completed in 1932, was another office of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s ambitious Rockefeller Plaza master plan. Architect Edward Durrell Stone and interior designer Donald Deskey teamed upward to realize this Art Deco masterpiece. "One has the feeling that the atmosphere of the place of the identify volition be gay... [specially] Donald Deskey'south dizzily mirrored women's pulverisation room," wrote a New Yorker critic in 1933. It turns out they were spot on: the and then-called Showplace of the Nation has been charming all who ready pes in it since.

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300 Central Park Due west
New York, NY

Classically oriented builder Emory Roth teamed up with relatively unknown architecture duo Margon & Holder to consummate the legendary Eldorado. Painted metal finials, intricate brickwork, and geometric spires lend the building its Art Deco character. As Robins writes most its facade, "The more you wait at the details of this relatively uncomplicated facade, the more you'll run into."

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This A railroad train terminate opened in 1932, dorsum when the MTA had some existent creative flair. Columbia grad Squire J. Vickers is to thank for this ornament. Take hold of the most articulate example of Fine art Deco style at the station's entrance on Fort Washington Artery, where a cast stone facade and a distinctly Deco subway sign can be establish.

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558 Thousand Concourse
Bronx, NY

The Bronx General Post Function shows fewer marks of a traditional Art Deco edifice, but it even so won the distinction of being an "fantabulous example" of a government edifice displaying modern influence in its design at the Architectural Forum of June 1938. A set of thirteen publicly funded murals inside the building depict people at piece of work throughout the land. Artist Ben Shahn said in a 1944 interview that the idea behind the murals he created with Bernarda Bryson was to "evidence the people of the Bronx something about America outside of New York."

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While JFK's landmarked TWA Terminal gets a lot of blueprint love, LaGuardia'due south landmarked Marine Air Terminal often goes less lauded, merely the Art Deco structure is arguably the best role of the oft-derided airport. William Delano designed the round building in 1940, and according to the National Parks Service, it "remains the simply active drome terminal dating from the first generation of passenger travel in the United States." A decorative mosaic of flying fish rings the top of the outside, and inside hangs James Brooks'due south landscape Flying.

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15. Brooklyn Public Library (Key Library)

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10 Grand Army Plz
Brooklyn, NY

The Brooklyn Public Library'southward Primal Branch wasn't intended to be an Art Deco building. Construction began on a structure in the early 1900s, only politics and delays plagued the projection for decades to come. In 1935, the library tossed its original, more than archetype design for the site and hired Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally to blueprint a new edifice for the site. Some of the original structure was salvaged but much of the original ornamentation was scrapped in favor of a more modernistic arroyo. The library finally opened its doors in 1941. "As...one approaches the new building, the effect is unexpectedly exhilarating" wrote New Yorker critic Lewis Mumford in 1940. Information technology remains that mode to this twenty-four hours.

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one. I Wall Street

Ralph Walker's limestone-clad one Wall Street is an Fine art Deco beauty inside and out. The 50-story building was constructed during the same flow as the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, and information technology was originally occupied by the Irving Trust Visitor. It features setbacks feature of Art Deco, as well as vertical designs etched along the faceted facade, but the interiors are what truly brand it special. The building's soaring double-acme lobby on Wall Street, the bank's original reception room, is a stunning space designed by Hildreth Meiere. Known as the Red Room, it'southward covered with a mosaic of red, gilt, and orange tiles that were made in Berlin. On the 49th flooring, an observation room occupies "a gaspingly loftier space," as the Times says, with vaulted ceilings covered with shells from the Philippines. The building is currently undergoing a residential conversion at the hands of programmer Harry Macklowe.

ane Wall St
New York, NY 10005

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2. seventy Pino Street

Congenital in 1930 for CITGO past Clinton & Russell, Holton and George, lxx Pino in one case claimed the distinction of the world's third tallest building. At 952 feet, it's all the same tall by today's standards. The edifice, Robins says, "rises in subtle setbacks like an elaborate, elongated faceted gem of Indiana limestone and white brick to a drinking glass-enclosed solarium with an illuminated lantern" that'due south said to exist visible up to 20 miles abroad. The interiors are a prize too, with the antechamber spaces featuring "polychromatic marble, rippling marble walls, beamed plaster ceilings, and gorgeous, abstruse geometric Fine art Deco aluminum metalwork on everything from lift doors to mailboxes," much of which is on full display post-obit the tower's recent conversion into rentals.

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3. Western Union Building

One time home to all of the operations of the Western Union Telegraph Company, the imposing building at 60 Hudson Street now serves as a carrier hotel that holds a multitude of components—cables, network operators, and the like—that keep the internet up and running. The building is the work of Fine art Deco master Ralph Walker, who included 19 different shades of brick on the facade that gradually lighten as they go upwardly. A renovation to the building 30 years agone makes it difficult to run across some of the colour changing issue, just Robins notes it's notwithstanding visible with a fiddling endeavour.

Open in Google Maps

4. The Walker Tower

Earlier it was Walker Tower, home to many a celebrity and high net worth individual, this glorious 23-story edifice was a central hub for Verizon, storing copper wire that made the telecommunications company run. The building was constructed in 1929 and designed by Ralph Walker, named builder of the century by the New York Times in 1957. No surprise here, JDS and Belongings Markets Group's condo conversion takes its name from the lauded architect.

210 Westward 18th St
New York, NY

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5. Empire State Building

The world'southward tallest edifice upon its completion in 1931, the Empire State Edifice sets a tone for the Manhattan skyline—but as Robins notes, the building "has become such an icon across its architectural design that its style seems about across the point." The keyword there is nigh, every bit the Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon design takes upward the geometric patterns so mutual in Art Deco compages. This is particularly seen in the building's columns of windows (here framed in aluminum.)

Open in Google Maps

vi. Bryant Park Hotel

Now the Bryant Park Hotel, the glorious Art Deco building on the southern rim of Bryant Park was congenital as the American Radiator Building and is instantly recognizable for its dark facade and stunning gold crown and accents. Robins describes the edifice all-time: "Completed one twelvemonth before the 1925 Paris exposition that gave Art Deco its name, the Radiator Edifice however reflects an eclectic, early-1920s approach, with spires and niches and gargoyles that might feel at home on the back door of a French country church..." The architect, Raymond Hood, is as well behind Chicago's Tribune Belfry.

Open up in Google Maps

7. Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building was very briefly the tallest edifice in the globe when it opened in 1930, but the stunning Fine art Deco architecture is what sets it apart to this day. Designed by William Van Alen, the Chrysler is known for its elegant, terraced crown, with a sunburst pattern; its grand eagles, which stand sentinel on the 61st flooring; and the radiator caps on the 31st floor, an homage to the company whose proper noun graces the building.

405 Lexington Ave
New York, NY

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eight. Paramount Building

Located at 1501 Broadway, the landmarked Paramount Edifice was built in 1927 as the headquarters of Paramount Pictures. In accord with the times, the edifice has a stepped-back facade, with its iconic arched entryway getting some lovely Art Deco detailing. Now, it's home to the Difficult Rock Cafe.

1501 Broadway
New York, NY

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9. xxx Rockefeller Plaza

Designed by Raymond Hood and a consortium of other noted architects of the time, 30 Rock became the centerpiece of the ambitious Rockefeller Centre complex. Per the AIA Guide to New York, "The skin is straightforward, modernistic, and unencumbered past the need for stylishness—merely stylish nevertheless. Perhaps the most undated modernistic monument that New York City enjoys." Once the headquarters to RCA, the edifice is now controlled by Comcast.

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

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x. Radio Urban center Music Hall

Radio City, completed in 1932, was some other function of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s ambitious Rockefeller Plaza master plan. Architect Edward Durrell Stone and interior designer Donald Deskey teamed upward to realize this Fine art Deco masterpiece. "1 has the feeling that the temper of the place of the place will be gay... [especially] Donald Deskey'southward dizzily mirrored women'due south powder room," wrote a New Yorker critic in 1933. It turns out they were spot on: the then-called Showplace of the Nation has been charming all who set human foot in it since.

1260 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY

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eleven. The Eldorado

Classically oriented builder Emory Roth teamed up with relatively unknown architecture duo Margon & Holder to complete the legendary Eldorado. Painted metal finials, intricate brickwork, and geometric spires lend the building its Art Deco grapheme. As Robins writes about its facade, "The more you lot look at the details of this relatively uncomplicated facade, the more y'all'll see."

300 Fundamental Park Due west
New York, NY

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12. 181st Street subway station

This A train end opened in 1932, back when the MTA had some real artistic flair. Columbia grad Squire J. Vickers is to thank for this ornament. Take hold of the virtually clear example of Art Deco style at the station's entrance on Fort Washington Avenue, where a cast stone facade and a distinctly Deco subway sign can be found.

Open in Google Maps

13. Bronx General Post Part

The Bronx General Post Office shows fewer marks of a traditional Art Deco building, but it withal won the distinction of being an "excellent example" of a government building displaying modernistic influence in its blueprint at the Architectural Forum of June 1938. A set of 13 publicly funded murals within the building depict people at piece of work throughout the country. Creative person Ben Shahn said in a 1944 interview that the thought behind the murals he created with Bernarda Bryson was to "testify the people of the Bronx something about America outside of New York."

558 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY

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fourteen. Marine Air Terminal

While JFK's landmarked TWA Last gets a lot of blueprint love, LaGuardia's landmarked Marine Air Concluding frequently goes less lauded, merely the Art Deco structure is arguably the all-time part of the ofttimes-derided airport. William Delano designed the round edifice in 1940, and according to the National Parks Service, it "remains the only active airport final dating from the kickoff generation of passenger travel in the United states." A decorative mosaic of flying fish rings the top of the exterior, and inside hangs James Brooks's mural Flight.

Open in Google Maps

15. Brooklyn Public Library (Central Library)

The Brooklyn Public Library'south Central Branch wasn't intended to be an Art Deco edifice. Construction began on a construction in the early 1900s, but politics and delays plagued the projection for decades to come. In 1935, the library tossed its original, more classic design for the site and hired Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally to design a new building for the site. Some of the original structure was salvaged merely much of the original ornamentation was scrapped in favor of a more modern approach. The library finally opened its doors in 1941. "As...i approaches the new edifice, the effect is unexpectedly exhilarating" wrote New Yorker critic Lewis Mumford in 1940. Information technology remains that manner to this day.

ten M Army Plz
Brooklyn, NY

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Source: https://ny.curbed.com/maps/nyc-art-deco-architecture-map