Massing is a term in architecture which refers to the perception of the general shape and form as well as size of a building.
107-814: The Bush Tower (also the Bush Terminal Building , the Bush Terminal International Exhibit Building and formerly the Bush Terminal Sales Building ) is a 433-foot-tall (132 m) building in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City , just east of Times Square . Designed by Frank J. Helmle and Harvey Wiley Corbett of the firm Helmle & Corbett, the building occupies a plot at 130–132 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue . The Bush Tower
214-401: A $ 25 million renovation by Fogarty Finger Architects which would restore the ground-level arches on 42nd Street and add a double-height lobby. China Vanke bought a controlling ownership stake in the tower itself in 2015 for $ 125 million; by then, the building was 40 percent leased. In addition, the masonry and copper lanterns were repaired between 2012 and 2016. The rear facade on 41st Street
321-559: A 25-story showroom skyscraper on the site, to be designed by Helmle and Corbett. This site, near Times Square, was "one of the most central in the city" as described by the Real Estate Record and Guide . Furthermore, the proximity of Times Square's Theater District allowed tenants and visitors of the Exhibition Building and Buyers' Club to partake in leisurely activity. The plans were modified that June, bringing
428-433: A college education or higher. The percentage of Midtown Manhattan students excelling in math rose from 61% in 2000 to 80% in 2011 and reading achievement increased from 66% to 68% during the same time period. Midtown Manhattan's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is lower than the rest of New York City. In Midtown Manhattan, 19% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year , less than
535-633: A common marketplace. The architects, Frank J. Helmle and Harvey Wiley Corbett of the firm Helmle & Corbett, gave the Bush Tower a neo-Gothic appearance that was somewhat similar to the nearly contemporary Woolworth Building . The main contractor was the Thompson-Starrett Company , while the terracotta contractor was the South Amboy Terra Cotta Company. Various firms were involved in furnishing
642-447: A conversation with an unnamed client (likely Bush) who was surprised at the feature. The roof itself is clad with copper and was originally designed with finials on each end. The architects stated that they wanted to make the Bush Tower "a model for the tall, narrow building in the center of a city block". During the design process, the lot's small frontage presented an issue of whether the building would be seen as an "infill" structure in
749-485: A further step in the artistic development of the tall building." C. Matlack Price believed the silhouette of the Bush Tower to be one of the best among all New York City skyscrapers, while Orrick Johns called it an "exquisite, virginal creation" in The New York Times Magazine . The tower's design was also praised for its aesthetics. H. S. Gillespie, writing for Architecture magazine in 1919, said
856-601: A growing number of saleswomen. It was intended as a refuge for buyers who wanted to take a break from the sales representatives on the upper stories, and solicitation was therefore prohibited on these floors. The club lasted only until about 1921, when it was converted into the Old Town Tavern, but the design remained in place over the following century. The first story had an information bureau, magazine and cigar counter, ticket office, and lounges and "retiring rooms" for both ladies and gentlemen. The second story contained
963-409: A layer of blue clay, as well as a stream about 30 feet (9.1 m) below ground. The upper stories lacked interior partitions and therefore could not have any diagonal struts concealed in the walls. Instead, the superstructure columns contain strong braces where they intersect horizontal ceiling and floor beams. Because wide column spacing was necessitated on the lowest three floors, the fourth story
1070-588: A lease for the ground-level space, replacing a pizza shop. The nightclub opened in November 2021 with space on the ground and mezzanine levels along 41st Street. Media company Future plc also leased space at the building in 2021. The tallest building in Midtown Manhattan when completed, the Bush Tower signified the movement of the Manhattan business district to Midtown. The Bush Terminal Company, in
1177-404: A lounge at the front, overlooking the first story, and a large reading room at the rear, staffed with trained librarians . The library contained media from "commercial topics" such as advertising, banking, industrial administration, labor disputes, retail selling, and scientific management. The third story had offices and conference rooms, as well as an auditorium that could host lectures, concerts,
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#17327827094251284-447: A low population of residents who are uninsured . In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 11%, slightly less than the citywide rate of 12%. The concentration of fine particulate matter , the deadliest type of air pollutant , in Midtown Manhattan is 0.0113 milligrams per cubic metre (1.13 × 10 oz/cu ft), more than the city average. Eleven percent of Midtown Manhattan residents are smokers , which
1391-419: A lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 81.2% between 1990 and 2022. The precinct reported 8 murders, 23 rapes, 653 robberies, 502 felony assaults, 660 burglaries, 2,375 grand larcenies, and 68 grand larcenies auto in 2022. The main part of midtown Manhattan, between 34th and 59th Streets from Lexington Avenue to Eighth Avenue, is served by five fire stations of
1498-600: A major force in Midtown Manhattan's economy, and indeed the city's, as the total value of all New York City property was estimated at US$ 914.8 billion for the 2015 fiscal year . Manhattan has perennially been home to some of the nation's, as well as one of the world's, most marketable real estate, including the Time Warner Center , which had the highest-listed market value in the city in 2006 at US$ 1.1 billion, to be subsequently surpassed in October 2014 by
1605-588: A number of private languages and music centers (e.g. Berlitz , American Language Communication Center, New York Language Center, Swan Music School, and the New York Youth Symphony ). The La Scuola d'Italia Guglielmo Marconi Italian international school moved to West Midtown in 2016. The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (also the Main Branch),
1712-966: A program aimed at creating "a 24/7, live-work, mixed-use neighborhood" in Midtown South though the conversion of commercial and office space to residential, as part of an effort to create 20,000 new residences citywide in a decade. According to The Broadway League , shows on Broadway sold approximately US$ 1.54 billion worth of tickets in both the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 seasons. Both seasons featured theater attendance of approximately 12.3 million each. Companies that used to have their headquarters in Midtown Manhattan include American Airlines , American Comics Group , American Overseas Airlines , Central Park Media , Eastern Air Lines , GoodTimes Entertainment , LJN , NewKidCo , Pan American World Airways , Philip Morris Companies (now Altria Group ), Trans Caribbean Airways , and Trans World Airlines . In 1997, Aer Lingus announced that it
1819-459: A promotional material published shortly after the building's completion, described it as "the most imposing structure in the neighborhood [...] design, construction and finish immediately stamp it". Upon the Bush Tower's completion, The New York Herald called it a "world's fair in a skyscraper", and Literary Digest magazine dubbed it "a watch-tower of industry". The sentiment was repeated by David W. Dunlap for The New York Times , who described
1926-620: A rear stairway to the basement, and an elevator to the second through fifth stories of the theater. The Cameo Theater, which was also operated by the Bush Terminal Company, later became known as the Bryant. The upper stories of the theater were taken by the Newspaper Club, which previously occupied some space in the 41st Street annex since 1922. After the Bush Terminal Company failed to pay mortgages of about $ 2.09 million,
2033-679: A reference branch at 476 Fifth Avenue. The four-story building, constructed in 1911, is known worldwide for its architecture and has several million items in its collections. There are also five circulating branches in Midtown: Two campuses of the City University of New York (CUNY)—the doctorate-granting CUNY Graduate Center and the Stella and Charles Guttman Community College —are located in Midtown, while Baruch College , also of
2140-543: A sporting goods store, moved into the ground floor in early 1943, and the American Red Cross and two other tenants took space later that year. Some federal government agencies also took space in the Bush Tower during 1944. The Bush Tower was purchased and auctioned off by real estate investor Jacob Freidus in 1945. It was subsequently bought by a syndicate co-headed by real estate developer Joseph Durst in 1951 at an assessed value of $ 2.03 million. The lease of
2247-505: A traditional large metropolitan private club and housed the International Buyers Club, which a brochure from the club described as containing "that mysterious element called 'atmosphere' and 'social standing'". Merchants and buyers from any accredited firm, domestic or foreign, could join for free. The floors were also designed to be "welcoming of women members"; at the time, salespersons were mostly men, but there were
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#17327827094252354-471: Is 41% in Midtown Manhattan, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 45% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018 , Midtown Manhattan is considered to be high-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying . Midtown Manhattan is patrolled by two precincts of the NYPD . Midtown North is patrolled by the 18th Precinct, located at 306 West 54th Street, while Midtown South
2461-651: Is also growing in Midtown Manhattan based upon the city's strength in academic scientific research and public and commercial financial support. By mid-2014, Accelerator, a biotech investment firm, had raised more than US$ 30 million from investors , including Eli Lilly and Company , Pfizer , and Johnson & Johnson , for initial funding to create biotechnology startups at the Alexandria Center for Life Science, which encompasses more than 700,000 square feet (65,000 m ) on East 29th Street and promotes collaboration among scientists and entrepreneurs at
2568-464: Is at 130–132 West 42nd Street, on the southern side of the street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue , in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City . The building extends 197.5 feet (60.2 m) southward to 41st Street, where it carries the alternate address of 135–137 West 41st Street. The building's land lot has a frontage of about 50 feet (15 m) along 42nd Street and 100 feet (30 m) on 41st Street, extending further west than
2675-702: Is commonly defined to be 59th Street ; its southern boundary is less clear, and variously taken to be 34th Street , 23rd Street , or even 14th Street . Midtown spans the entire island of Manhattan along an east–west axis, bounded by the East River on its east and the Hudson River to its west. The Encyclopedia of New York City defines Midtown as extending from 34th Street to 59th Street and from 3rd Avenue to 8th Avenue. In addition to its central business district , Midtown Manhattan encompasses many neighborhoods, including Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea on
2782-554: Is considered to be the busiest transportation hub in the Western Hemisphere , servicing around 650,000 people per day. The Port Authority Bus Terminal , located at Eighth Avenue and 41st Street at the western edge of Midtown, is the city's main intercity bus terminal and the world's busiest bus station, serving 250,000 passengers on 7,000 buses each workday. The building opened in 1950 and had been designed to accommodate 60,000 daily passengers. A 2021 plan announced by
2889-727: Is higher than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 86% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", more than the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Midtown Manhattan, there are 11 bodegas . The nearest major hospitals are Mount Sinai West in Hell's Kitchen ; Beth Israel Medical Center in Stuyvesant Town ; the Bellevue Hospital Center and NYU Langone Medical Center in Kips Bay ; and NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in
2996-505: Is higher than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are adults: a plurality (45%) are between the ages of 25 and 44, while 22% are between 45 and 64, and 13% are 65 or older. The ratio of youth and college-aged residents was lower, at 7% and 12% respectively. As of 2017, the median household income in Community Districts 4 and 5 (including Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen )
3103-693: Is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Building , the Chrysler Building , the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project , the headquarters of the United Nations , Grand Central Terminal , and Rockefeller Center , as well as several prominent tourist destinations, including Broadway , Times Square , and Koreatown . Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan is
3210-470: Is less than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 297 per 100,000 people is lower than that of the city as a whole. The 18th Precinct has a lower crime rate than it did in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 82.1% between 1990 and 2022. The precinct reported 1 murder, 22 rapes, 154 robberies, 185 felony assaults, 205 burglaries, 2,065 grand larcenies, and 116 grand larcenies auto in 2022. The 14th Precinct also has
3317-407: Is less than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Midtown Manhattan, 10% of residents are obese , 5% are diabetic , and 18% have high blood pressure —compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively. In addition, 9% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%. Ninety-one percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which
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3424-496: Is located at 421 8th Avenue. The post office stopped 24-hour service in 2009 due to decreasing mail traffic. Midtown Manhattan generally has a higher rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018 . A majority of residents age 25 and older (78%) have a college education or higher, while 6% have less than a high school education and 17% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 64% of Manhattan residents and 43% of city residents have
3531-941: Is located in Midtown Manhattan. Haier operates its United States offices in the Haier Building at 1356 Broadway, formerly the headquarters of the Greenwich Savings Bank . Haier held the opening ceremony on March 4, 2002. Sumitomo Corporation operates its New York Office, the headquarters of the corporation's United States operations, at 600 Third Avenue, 10016 in the Murray Hill neighborhood. El Al 's North American headquarters are in Midtown. The Air France USA regional headquarters are in 125 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Hachette Book Group USA has its headquarters in 237 Park Avenue . In 1994 Alitalia considered moving its USA headquarters from Midtown to Lower Manhattan , but decided to keep
3638-1277: Is one of the world's leading financial centers. Midtown Manhattan is the one of the world's largest central business district , with 400 million square feet (37.2 million m ) of office space in 2018. Midtown contains the headquarters of major companies, including 4Kids Entertainment (formerly), Barnes & Noble , Bloomberg L.P. , Ernst & Young , Calvin Klein , Cantor Fitzgerald , CBS Corporation , Citigroup , Colgate-Palmolive , Cushman & Wakefield , DC Comics , Deloitte , Duane Reade , Estée Lauder Companies , Foot Locker , Frederator Studios , JPMorgan Chase , Hess Corporation , Kroll Inc. , L-3 Communications , Marsh & McLennan Companies , Marvel Entertainment , MetLife , MidOcean Partners , Morgan Stanley , Nasdaq, Inc. , NBCUniversal , The New York Times Company , NexCen Brands , Paramount Global , Pfizer , Polo Ralph Lauren , Saks Incorporated ( Saks Fifth Avenue ), The Sharper Image , Simon & Schuster , Six Flags , TBWA Worldwide , Thomson Reuters , Warner Bros. Discovery , Time Warner Cable , The Travelers Companies , and Univision Communications . The New York Institute of Finance
3745-490: Is part of 10001. Other areas between 14th and 34th Streets are covered by ZIP Codes 10003, 10009, 10010, and 10011, though these are generally not considered to be part of Midtown proper. There are also thirty-three ZIP Codes assigned to individual buildings or building complexes. The United States Postal Service operates six post offices in Midtown: The James A. Farley Station , the city's main post office,
3852-457: Is part of the original tower. The western section resembles the original design, while the eastern section resembles the 1938 modification. The remaining spandrels above each window are simple in design. Several primary and secondary vertical "ribs" are used to articulate both facades of the shaft between the first and 20th floors. The ribs divide the shaft into three vertical bays ; the center bay on either side has three windows per story, while
3959-430: Is patrolled by the 14th Precinct, located at 357 West 35th Street. The precincts ranked 69th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. The high per-capita crime rate can be attributed to the low population of the area, as well as the high number of crimes committed against tourists. As of 2018 , with a non-fatal assault rate of 25 per 100,000 people, Midtown Manhattan's rate of violent crimes per capita
4066-538: Is widely accepted that architectural design begins by studying massing. From a distance, massing, more than any architectural detail, is what creates the most impact on the eye. Architectural details or ornaments may serve to reinforce or minimize massing. Because it has a direct relation to the visual impact a building makes, massing is one of the most important architectural design considerations. Massing also has an effect on building energy efficiency . A complex shape can present more opportunities for heat loss through
4173-431: The 1916 Zoning Resolution . The facade contains trompe-l'œil brickwork, which creates vertical "ribs" with a false "shade" pattern to enhance the building's verticality. It originally contained a buyer's club on its three lowest stories and exhibits on its upper stories. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company foreclosed upon the tower in 1938 and the upper floors were subsequently converted for regular office usage. By
4280-651: The Ladies' Mile , along Fifth Avenue from 14th to 23rd Street; and the Tenderloin , from 23rd to 42nd Street and from Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue . Important streets and thoroughfares The border of Midtown Manhattan is nebulous and further confused by the fact that the term "Midtown Manhattan" can be used to refer either to a district or a group of neighborhoods and districts in Manhattan: Midtown Manhattan, along with Lower Manhattan ,
4387-581: The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company bought the tower at a foreclosure auction in May 1938 for $ 1 million. Subsequently, the upper floors were converted for regular office usage. The storefronts on the lowest three stories were modified, and windows were installed on the eastern facade. An association of dress manufacturers moved into the tenth floor in 1939, and six commercial and office tenants took space in 1941. Herman's Stores,
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4494-575: The New York City Fire Department (FDNY): The greater Midtown area between 14th Street and 59th Street contains seven additional fire stations. As of 2018 , preterm births and births to teenage mothers in Midtown Manhattan are lower than the city average. In Midtown Manhattan, there were 67 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 4 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide). Midtown Manhattan has
4601-455: The Strand, London , during the 1920s. The concept there was not fully carried through. In November 1919, the Bush Terminal Company acquired 137 and 139 West 41st Street for a future expansion. Bush rehired Helmle & Corbett to design a nine-story annex there, as well as Thompson-Starrett to construct the annex. The annex was structurally completed by early 1921. The annex, which cost $ 400,000,
4708-560: The Upper East Side . Midtown Manhattan is located within six primary ZIP Codes . West of Fifth Avenue, Midtown is located in 10018 between 34th and 41st Streets, 10036 between 41st and 48th Streets, and 10019 between 48th and 59th Streets. East of Fifth Avenue, Midtown is located in 10016 between 34th and 40th Streets, 10017 between 40th and 49th Streets, and 10022 between 49th and 59th Streets. The area southwest of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, sometimes considered to be in Midtown,
4815-666: The Waldorf Astoria New York , which became the most expensive hotel ever sold after being purchased by the Anbang Insurance Group, based in China, for US$ 1.95 billion . In the same year, six of the top ten most expensive zip codes in the United States by median housing price were located in Manhattan, underscoring the borough's dominant position in the real estate market. When 450 Park Avenue
4922-581: The "virile Gothic" themes used in the Bush Tower, according to architectural historian Robert A. M. Stern . For his part, Corbett drew attention to the Bush Tower by including an image of it in the Encyclopædia Britannica , accompanying his essay there. Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan , serving as the city's primary central business district . Midtown
5029-412: The 41st Street wing, the eastern wall contains similar trompe-l'œil brickwork to the shaft, while the western wall is clad in buff brick. The Bush Tower contains over 200,000 square feet (19,000 m) of interior space. There are seven elevators in the building. When built, it contained four elevators, which were on the right (west) side of the 42nd Street entrance vestibule. The Bush Terminal Company
5136-540: The 42nd Street frontage. and covers 14,947 square feet (1,388.6 m). The site is near the Knickerbocker Hotel to the west, 1095 Avenue of the Americas to the east, 4 Times Square to the northwest, and Bank of America Tower to the northeast. The Bush Tower was developed between 1916 and 1918 by Irving T. Bush 's Bush Terminal Company, which sought to bring buyers, manufacturers, and designers to
5243-463: The Bush Terminal Company or the manufacturer exhibiting the product. The displays were protected by fireproof construction, efficient ventilation, and ample lighting, according to a Bush Terminal Company promotional brochure. There was also a 400-seat auditorium on the ninth floor. These stories were converted into regular office suites after 1938. Irving T. Bush developed Bush Terminal in Brooklyn in
5350-474: The Bush Tower for city landmark status. Two years later, on October 18, 1988, the LPC designated the Bush Tower as a landmark. The impasse over the neighboring porn shop continued for over a decade; by the late 1990s, Ghattas expressed concern that the shop's presence was hindering redevelopment of the surrounding section of 42nd Street. In 1999, Lavoisier purchased the neighboring porn shop and announced plans to raze
5457-405: The Bush Tower was part of the original design, which predated the resolution. The design for the massing was characterized by Fiske Kimball as being like an "arrow". The building's "shaft", which rises to the 22nd floor, measures only 50 feet (15 m) wide on 42nd Street and 90 feet (27 m) deep. At the center of the eastern facade is a recessed light court , which was designed to illuminate
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#17327827094255564-563: The Bush Tower, but shipping and forwarding service occurred at the Bush Terminal (now Industry City ) facility in Sunset Park, Brooklyn . The foundation of the structure extends 50 feet (15 m) deep to the underlying rock layer. These foundations carry a total load of 18,400 short tons (16,400 long tons; 16,700 t), distributed across 24 columns. The underlying ground conditions included irregular rocks and boulders within
5671-581: The Buyer's Club on the lower floors, as well as the upper office floors, were placed on both streets. The base of the 42nd Street side originally contained three double-story, high-pointed-arched Gothic windows and a Gothic-style entrance. The current windows, removed in 1938 and reinstalled in 2015, are replicas of those in the original design. Following the 1938 modifications, the first and second stories at 42nd Street had rectangular window and door openings flanked by vertical limestone piers . A cornice runs above
5778-711: The Cameo, opened on the 42nd Street side in December 1921. A bank branch opened in the ground-story space in the early 1920s, which was replaced by the Old London Restaurant in 1931. A 14-foot-wide (4.3 m) pedestrian arcade at the center of the Bush Tower was also announced in 1927, running between the Cameo Theater to the west and the office shaft to the east. The arcade provided a connection between 41st and 42nd Streets and included small storefronts,
5885-693: The City University of New York, is located in Midtown South. Mercy College is situated at Herald Square . Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal are the two major railroad stations located in Midtown Manhattan. Penn Station serves Amtrak , NJ Transit , and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), while Grand Central serves the Metro-North Railroad and also serves the LIRR at Grand Central Madison . Penn Station
5992-509: The Hampton Shops Building on 18 East 50th Street , none had as wide a scope as the planned Bush Terminal Exhibition Building. During April 1916, the Bush Terminal Company signed a long-term lease for vacant property at 132–134 West 42nd Street. The plot extended the depth of the block, with 50 feet (15 m) of frontage on 42nd Street and 25 feet (7.6 m) on 41st Street. The Bush Terminal Company then announced plans for
6099-626: The Port Authority would spend $ 10 billion to expand capacity and modernize the facility. The New York City Subway and MTA Regional Bus Operations each operate several routes that go through Midtown. Additionally, the PATH train to New Jersey terminates at 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown. Traffic congestion is common, especially for crosstown traffic. In 2011, a new system of traffic light control, known as "Midtown in Motion"
6206-562: The United Nations, and consulates-general accredited to the United States, in Midtown Manhattan. In addition, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) is in Midtown Manhattan. Massing Massing refers to the structure in three dimensions (form), not just its outline from a single perspective (shape). Massing influences the sense of space which the building encloses, and helps to define both
6313-433: The United States achieved completion in Midtown Manhattan, at a selling price of US$ 238 million, for a 24,000 square feet (2,200 m ) penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park at 220 Central Park South . The COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid work models have prompted consideration of commercial-to-residential conversion within the neighborhood's real estate sector. In August 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced
6420-666: The West Side, and Murray Hill , Kips Bay , Turtle Bay , and Gramercy Park on the East Side. It is sometimes broken into "Midtown East" and "Midtown West", or north and south as in the New York City Police Department 's Midtown North and Midtown South precincts. Neighborhoods in the Midtown area include the following: Midtown is the original district in the United States to bear the name and included historical but now defunct neighborhoods such as
6527-507: The brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway Theater District , is a major center of the world's entertainment industry. Sixth Avenue also has the headquarters of three of the four major U.S. television networks . Midtown is part of Manhattan Community District 5 . It is patrolled by the 14th and 18th precincts of the New York City Police Department . Geographically, the northern boundary of Midtown Manhattan
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#17327827094256634-639: The building in 2015 as an attempt to create a trade center in Times Square, "long before the World Trade Center rose downtown". Furthermore, in 1918, Architecture and Building magazine characterized the tower as a symbol of recovery after World War I: Begun before America's part in the great war and the consequences of it were fully grasped, it is only the beginning of that effort which must be made by our manufacturers to absorb our greatly increased production and to secure and hold our share of
6741-618: The building to 29 stories. Thompson-Starrett were announced as the general contractor in July 1916. Work on the Bush Terminal Exhibition Building started the next month, when the existing buildings were razed. The 42nd Street "shaft" was to be constructed first, prior to the development of the 41st Street wings. All material for the project were brought through 42nd Street, a highly used thoroughfare. The brick, stonework, and terracotta were manufactured off-site before
6848-406: The busiest transportation hub in the Western Hemisphere . Midtown Manhattan is the largest central business district in the world, and has been ranked as the densest central business district in the world in terms of employees, at 606,108 per square mile (234,020/km ). Midtown also ranks among the world's most expensive locations for real estate; Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan has commanded
6955-401: The center and with nearby academic, medical, and research institutions. The New York City Economic Development Corporation 's Early Stage Life Sciences Funding Initiative and venture capital partners, including Celgene , General Electric Ventures, and Eli Lilly, committed a minimum of US$ 100 million to help launch 15 to 20 ventures in life sciences and biotechnology. Real estate is
7062-434: The center of the block or as a distinct tower. The neo-Gothic design of the facade was a cheap solution to the design dilemma, being intended to emphasize the vertical lines of the facade. The Bush Tower's frontage and function as an office building precluded the need for conventional skyscraper fenestration , or window arrangement. The primary elevations face north along 42nd Street and south along 41st Street. Entrances to
7169-411: The citywide average of 20%. Additionally, 92% of high school students in Midtown Manhattan graduate on time, more than the citywide average of 75%. There are no public elementary or middle schools in Midtown. The New York City Department of Education operates the following public high schools in Midtown, serving grades 9–12: Private schools include The Beekman School , Rebecca School , and
7276-684: The company's published promotional literature, this style gave one "the feeling of having entered a hundred-year-old tavern ". The upper 27 stories originally held displays of manufacturers' goods. The concept was explained as "the museum idea applied to commerce" by a writer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art 's Bulletin . Each story was typically occupied by a single industry or by a collection of related products. The spaces, divided into units of 10 by 10 feet (3.0 by 3.0 m), were divided by low rails, glass partitions, or booths. The exhibits were overseen by trained salesmen hired by either
7383-517: The early 1980s, the Bush Tower had deteriorated significantly and the owners considered demolishing the building. It was instead renovated and was designated as a city landmark in 1988 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . As of 2015, China Vanke has a controlling ownership stake in the Bush Tower, while Tribeca Associates and Meadow Partners hold a lease on the land. The Bush Tower
7490-662: The east, the Wurlitzer Building at 116–122 West 42nd Street featured a similar "infill" design but with twice the bulk as the Bush Tower. Architect Raymond Hood credited the architects of the Bush Tower as an influence on his American Radiator Building of 1924, two blocks south on 40th Street. Compared to the Bush Tower, the American Radiator Building used a more modern form of the neo-Gothic style. An early scheme for Ralph Thomas Walker 's Barclay-Vesey Building , further downtown, also used some of
7597-574: The elevators were replaced, the facade was cleaned and repaired, and new windows and restrooms were installed. The pornographic films being shown in the building's theater were also cleared out. At this time, the Bush Terminal Building was rebranded as "Bush Tower" to avoid confusion with the industrial facility in Sunset Park. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held hearings in 1986 during which it considered
7704-406: The entire building the appearance of a soaring cathedral tower". Therefore, the top eight stories were designed as a six-story octagonal shaft set back from all sides, with a two-story roof pavilion. A water tower and elevator equipment is hidden behind the mansard roof above the pavilion. According to Corbett, the placement of mechanical equipment in the roof was a new idea for the time; he recalled
7811-407: The exposed sides of the facade. The superstructure can carry a live load of 120 pounds per square foot (5.7 kPa), as well as a dead load of 85 pounds per square foot (4.1 kPa) on its I-beams and 100 pounds per square foot (4.8 kPa) on its columns. The tower's lowest three floors were planned for the comfort and convenience of buyers visiting New York. These floors were modeled after
7918-472: The foundation was completed; the materials were delivered at night to minimize traffic disruption. Furthermore, the buildings on either side were fully occupied and had to be shored up, as their foundations only extended to the soil, rather than to the rock. The Bush Terminal Company bought the lease for the underlying land in January 1917. The first steel beam was placed that month and the first column footing
8025-520: The ground-level Bryant Theater was showing pornographic videos. Lavoisier Properties, a Dutch Antillean company, purchased the Bush Tower in 1980 or 1981. American Properties, a company owned by the Dalloul family of Lebanon, was formed in 1983 to take over management of the building. The owners considered demolishing and replacing the Bush Tower, letting many tenants' leases expire. However, American Properties president Nicholas B. Ghattas recommended that
8132-402: The ground-level Bryant Theater was sold to Bernard Brandt in 1953. The Bush Tower was sold by the 130-8 W. 42d St Corporation to an unnamed client of Riker & Co. Inc. for $ 1.15 million in cash in January 1958. The Bush Tower later housed a Wurlitzer organ store, for which the building became well known, until the store closed in 1982. By the 1970s, the Times Square area had become rundown and
8239-407: The interior space and the exterior shape of the building. The creation of massing, and changes to it, may be additive (accumulating or repeating masses) or subtractive (creating spaces or voids in a mass by removing parts of it). Massing can also be significantly altered by the materials used for the building's exterior, as transparent, reflective, or layered materials are perceived differently. It
8346-428: The interior. The building measures approximately 432 or 433 feet (132 or 132 m) from ground to roof. The tower is described as being 30 stories tall, or 29 stories if its double-height top story is counted as one floor. The Bush Tower was the city's first skyscraper to be constructed following the passage of the 1916 Zoning Resolution . Because the zoning ordinance greatly restricted the massing of buildings, it
8453-481: The late 1890s. That complex grew into a 200-acre (81 ha) facility of large loft buildings, piers, warehouses, and railroad sidings. To assist business at Bush Terminal, Irving Bush devised the idea for the Exhibition Building and Buyers' Club (later the Bush Tower), a sales showroom and buyers club in Midtown Manhattan, in 1916. Although numerous showroom high-rises had previously been built in Manhattan, such as
8560-480: The most convincing sort". With the exception of the light court, the east and west walls of the shaft are left largely blank, as Helmle & Corbett had assumed the adjacent lots would be developed in the future. This belief also prevented the inclusion of any cornices on the side facades, as they would overhang the lot line. To give emphasis to the side walls, the architects used trompe-l'œil brickwork. Three tones of brick are used to provide aesthetic emphasis to
8667-510: The neighborhood was 64.1% (18,351) White , 4.6% (1,310) African American , 0.1% (34) Native American , 20.8% (5,942) Asian , 0% (8) Pacific Islander , 0.3% (92) from other races , and 2% (569) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 8.1% (2,324) of the population. The entirety of Community District 5, which comprises Midtown Manhattan, had 53,120 inhabitants as of NYC Health 's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 84.8 years. This
8774-482: The offices at the center of the tower. A similar light court exists on the western side of the shaft. Because of the narrowness of the lot, the light courts take up significant space within the shaft. The 41st Street wing is ten stories tall and contains a light court on its eastern lot line, adjacent to the shaft. A penthouse is atop the roof of the 41st Street wing's 10th story. For the top stories, Corbett wrote that he wanted "an appropriate finish [...] which would give
8881-720: The offices where they were at the last minute. Global Infrastructure Partners has an office in Midtown Manhattan. Silicon Alley , the common metonym for New York City's high tech sector, is based in Midtown South , specifically the Flatiron District . Prominent Silicon Alley companies in Midtown include AppNexus , Blue Apron , Gilt , Betterment , Oscar , SoFi , Rent the Runway , Warby Parker , and WeWork . The technology sector has been expanding across Midtown Manhattan since 2010. The biotechnology sector
8988-403: The same level as the corresponding floor of the Bush Tower, allowing tenants of the latter to expand their space if needed. Dubai -based developer Istithmar World , owners of the Knickerbocker Hotel, purchased 136–140 West 42nd Street in 2006. The Dalloul family offered the Bush Tower for sale in 2006, but withdrew the offer when it failed to raise the $ 165 million sought. When the family listed
9095-405: The shop and combine it with the Bush Tower's land lot. In 2002, the owners publicized their plans for 140 West 42nd Street, a 23-story glass tower to be built on that lot. The new building, designed by Gruzen Samton , was to be separated from the Bush Tower by a 6-inch (15 cm) gap, necessitated by structural codes. Each floor of the new 143,000-square-foot (13,300 m) building was planned at
9202-450: The side bays each have two windows. Above the 20th story is a horizontal band of panels, which wrap around to the eastern facade. Above the 22nd floor, there are copper lanterns at each corner of the shaft, as well as finials atop each of the facade's ribs. The top floor, within the roof pavilion, contains double-height pointed-arched windows with Gothic tracery. The top floor was illuminated at night in what Corbett described as "publicity of
9309-403: The side walls, giving the impression that the piers wrapped around all sides of the building. The facades are mostly made of buff brick, but dark brick is used for shadows and light brick is used for highlights. Vertical "ribs" are installed on the side walls from the ground to the top story. This aesthetic effect was coordinated according to the shadows cast by the average angle of the sunlight. On
9416-416: The structure instead be overhauled, in anticipation that Times Square and West 42nd Street would rebound from its economic decline. The owners unsuccessfully tried to evict a porn shop at 136 West 42nd Street, which they believed to be driving down rental rates at the Bush Tower. The Bush Tower was renovated from 1983 to 1985, with heating and electrical systems replaced throughout. The lobby was also widened,
9523-513: The structure's completion, Corbett moved his office to the building's top story. The Bush Tower experienced a large fire in December 1919, one year after its opening, but the fireproofing measures prevented the structure from burning down entirely. By then, the Bush Terminal Company was planning to replicate the Bush Tower's mixed commercial and social spaces internationally, starting with a branch in London. Bush succeeded in constructing Bush House on
9630-418: The third floor on 42nd Street; it is supported by corbels with nautical designs, which were manufactured by John Donnelly & Co., Inc. The spandrels above the fourth floor windows contain similar nautical designs. The base at 41st Street is twice as wide and lacks corbels. It is divided into two 50-foot-wide sections; the western section was constructed as part of an annex in 1921, but the eastern section
9737-453: The tower for sale again in 2011, they sought $ 240 million. The 2011 sale offering also failed to draw any bids. In 2013, Tribeca Associates and Meadow Partners purchased a leasehold for the land underneath the tower for $ 65 million from the Dalloul family's American Properties. At the time, the southern side of 42nd Street had been redeveloped, and 80 percent of the building was leased. Subsequently, Tribeca Associates and Meadow Partners announced
9844-483: The tower was "one of the finest in New York", while Architecture and Building the same year stated that the building was a "new candidate" for the awe of the "present-day New Yorker". While Sheldon Cheney wrote in 1930 that the "one-fifth Gothic ornament" was "unoriginal", he considered the other four-fifths as "honesty and well-imagined proportioning". The Bush Tower influenced subsequent skyscraper design. Just to
9951-647: The viewing of manufacturers' own promotional motion pictures, or "fashion parades" for "displaying gowns". With the construction of the annex, an auditorium was added at the ground story. Decorative features of the first through third stories included sculptural grotesques on some of the column capitals , including carvings of a manufacturer, bookbinder, and the ancient god of trade Mercury . The ceiling beams were intended to resemble "old oak timbers" with their close spacing. These lowest floors featured extensive oak paneling , oriental carpets , and antique furniture, similar to those in an old English manor house. According to
10058-509: The world's highest retail rents and is the most expensive shopping street in the world. Midtown Manhattan is the country's largest commercial, entertainment , and media center, and is also a growing financial and fintech center. Many of New York City's skyscrapers , including its tallest hotels and apartment towers , are located in Midtown Manhattan. The neighborhood hosts commuters and residents working in its offices, hotels, and retail establishments, tourists and students. Times Square,
10165-498: The world's markets. Efficiency and economy must be developed to a very high degree to accomplish this end, and the Bush Sales Building epitomizes that idea. The Bush Tower, completed at a time when the effects of the 1916 Zoning Resolution were still unknown, was characterized in several architectural publications. Vanity Fair magazine wrote in 1917 that the Bush Tower's "simple, graceful and satisfying" design "marks
10272-466: Was $ 101,981, though the median income in Midtown individually was $ 120,854. In 2018, an estimated 11% of Midtown Manhattan residents lived in poverty, compared to 14% in all of Manhattan and 20% in all of New York City. One in twenty residents (5%) were unemployed, compared to 7% in Manhattan and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent,
10379-515: Was announced, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion. Approximately 750,000 vehicles enter Midtown Manhattan on a fall business day. According to the 2011 Traffic Data Report for New York State, 777,527 vehicles a day went through select toll facilities into Manhattan. The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division , First Department, is located at the Appellate Division Courthouse at 25th Street and Madison Avenue
10486-433: Was built for Irving T. Bush 's Bush Terminal Company, which operated Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, Brooklyn , New York City. The 30-story section of the tower facing 42nd Street was developed between 1916 and 1918. A 10-story wing, completed in 1921, extends south to 41st Street . The Bush Tower's design combined narrowness, height, and Neo-Gothic architecture, and the massing contains several setbacks to comply with
10593-401: Was carried by two columns that carry 1,300 short tons (1,200 long tons; 1,200 t); these columns rested on two cross girders 72 inches (1,800 mm) deep. Generally, each story contains a ceiling height of 13.75 feet (4.19 m), but the ceilings on some stories are slightly higher. The superstructure is designed to withstand a wind pressure of 550 short tons (490 long tons; 500 t) on
10700-403: Was characterized by contemporary writers as possibly the last skyscraper to ever be built in New York City. Instead, it came to impact the designs of other skyscrapers with setbacks (see Bush Tower § Impact ). Even though several other architects at the time believed that the plans may have been adjusted in response to the 1916 Zoning Resolution, Corbett wrote that the inclusion of setbacks at
10807-602: Was completed in 1900 by architect James Brown Lord , who used a third of the construction budget to decorate the building with statues and murals. The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration operates its New York office on the 22nd floor at 135 West 50th Street . Several countries, including Algeria , Argentina , The Bahamas , China , Costa Rica , Germany , Ireland , Israel , Jamaica , Japan , Luxembourg , Mexico , Morocco , Saudi Arabia , Singapore , South Africa , South Korea , United Kingdom , and Ukraine , have Permanent Missions accredited to
10914-402: Was installed the following month. The steel framework was completed in four months and the exterior cladding was completed by October 1917. The building was essentially completed by June 1918 and several tenants had already moved into the structure. The Bush Tower was not officially completed until that December. The structure had cost $ 2 million to build (equivalent to $ 30 million in 2023). Upon
11021-413: Was intended as a central marketplace where merchants or their buyers could examine and select samples of goods without having to go to the warehouse. A promotional document by the company promised a wide variety of merchandise, including various clothes, furnishings, furniture, household appliances, machinery, groceries, toys, musical instruments, and travel and sporting goods. Displays and sales were held at
11128-523: Was moving its North American headquarters from Midtown to Melville , New York , in Suffolk County on Long Island . Based on data from the 2010 United States Census , the population of Midtown Manhattan was 28,630, a change of 2,823 (9.9%) from the 25,807 counted in 2000 . Covering an area of 692.81 acres (280.37 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 41.3 inhabitants per acre (26,400/sq mi; 10,200/km ). The racial makeup of
11235-421: Was nearly identical in style to the original structure and had direct interior connections to the original building. Also in 1921, the company signed a long-term lease for the adjoining property at 136 West 42nd Street, with the intention of constructing a 20-story addition there. The Buyers' Club on the Bush Tower's lower floors was replaced by the Old Town Tavern that year. In addition, a 600-seat theater, known as
11342-408: Was not significantly upgraded, serving as the entrance for coworking space operated by WeWork . The company had signed a lease for 64,000 square feet (5,900 m) on the fifth through eighth floors, about a quarter of the building, in 2017. Shortly afterward, Fogarty Finger presented plans to the LPC to renovate the storefronts on 41st Street. In conjunction with this work, in 2020, Club Nebula signed
11449-408: Was sold on July 2, 2007, for US$ 510 million, about US$ 1,589 per square foot (US$ 17,104/m ), it broke the barely month-old record for an American office building of US$ 1,476 per square foot (US$ 15,887/m ) based on the sale of 660 Madison Avenue . In 2014, Manhattan was home to six of the top ten zip codes in the United States by median housing price. In 2019, the most expensive home sale ever in
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