W. R. Grace Building

The W. R. Grace Building is a skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City. The building was designed principally by Gordon Bunshaft, and completed in 1974.[1] The building was commissioned by the W.R. Grace Company, and was also used by the Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

W. R. Grace Building
Curved vertical facade fronting on 42nd Street
General information
TypeCommercial offices
LocationSixth Avenue & 42nd Street
New York City, New York
Coordinates40°45′17″N 73°58′57″W
Construction started1971
Completed1974
OwnerBrookfield Office Properties
Height
Roof630 ft (190 m)
Technical details
Floor count50
Floor area1,478,531 sq ft (137,360.0 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectGordon Bunshaft
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The building is located at 1114 Sixth Avenue, but the main entrance is on 42nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It overlooks Bryant Park and the New York Public Library's main branch. The building size has approximately 1.518 million square feet (141,000 m2) that are rentable, and sits on a site approximately 100 by 442 feet (30 by 135 m).

The Grace Building is located on the former site of Stern's flagship department store and headquarters. Tenants include Bain & Company.[2] The Michelin-starred restaurant Gabriel Kreuther is located in its lobby as well as a sister chocolate store.

Architecture
From left to right: HBO headquarters, W. R. Grace Building, Aeolian Building (houses the State University of New York College of Optometry), Salmon Tower Building and 500 Fifth Avenue (annotated image on Wikimedia Commons)

One of the aesthetic attributes of the building is the concave vertical slope of its north and south facades, on 42nd and 43rd Street. This is similar to another Bunshaft creation, the Solow Building, from which he used the initial, rejected façade design for the Grace Building.[1] The sloping facade is also similar to the Chase Tower in Chicago. The exterior of the building is covered in white travertine, which forms a contrast against the black windows and makes the building appear brighter than those surrounding it.

  • W. R. Grace Building
  • W. R. Grace Building, looking up in front of the entrance on 42nd Street
  • Tower against the sky
  • View from intersection of 43rd Street and Sixth Avenue
  • View looking up from plaza
  • View from 40th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York Public Library in foreground

See also

References
  1. "W. R. Grace Building". Emporis. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  2. Bain New York City
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