Architecture of 745 Fifth Avenue - New York

Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation

Also known as: 745 5th Avenue
Formerly: Squibb Building
Built: 1930- 1931
Designed by: Buchman & Kahn
Renovated: 1991 at a cost of $36,900,000.00
Type: Skyscraper
Stories: 34
Maximum height: 435 feet / 133 meters
Location: 745 Fifth Avenue
City: New York
State: New York

S itting in the southeast corner of Central Park, gazing intently at this Art Deco masterpiece it is very easy to imaging a New York City of another era. A time when "wireless" meant AM radio, not cell phones. A time of bakelite telephones with cloth cords; Dick Tracy comic strips; and city streets teeming with men wearing hats. A time that even to this day Hollywood portrays in black-and-white in spite of the fire engine red lips of the women walking past the glittering brass facades of architectural monuments like this.

The pile known as 745 Fifth Avenue is the stereotypical Art Deco office building. Broad shoulders flank the sides to create a central light channel and an imposing presence. Setbacks progressively stagger to a tower topped by an American flag, while at the base the windows have vertical accents to deliver an added sense of height. Visually, it's as if the entire building is leaning away from you -- an illusion to make its 34 stories appear much more. This building could easily be the inspiration for a city hall, a police headquarters, or a private dick's office in any number of pre-World War Two comic books. The entrance is a brass and brushed nickel grille with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's glasswork. Inside the lobby, the focus is on the ceiling which is adorned with magnificent frescoes.

This building was designed by Ely Jacques Kahn.
> 2001 - The building is sold for $700 per square foot - a record at the time.

> At one time this building was the home to the famous FAO Schwartz toy store.

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