New York Online - Top Skyscrapers of New York City

1. The Flatiron Building, also known as the Fuller Building, was the tallest building in New York City at the time of its construction. The 21-story edifice, designed by Daniel Burnham in the Beaux Arts style, was also built in the pioneering technology using a steel skeleton. Its name is connected with the shape of the edifice, resembling a clothes iron, and the name of the company founder, George A. Fuller, who sponsored its construction. The most distinctive features include the triangular base and the white terra-cotta midsection with Renaissance decoration. Nowadays the Flatiron Building houses a few book publishers. It is also popular with tourists. The Flatiron Building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1989.

2.Seagram Building

The Seagram Building is the only of the New York's skyscrapers designed by the famed German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Since its completion in 1958, it has set the architectural style for New York's skyscrapers for decades.The 38-story edifice is regarded as a corporate modernism masterpiece and a fine example of the International Style. What made it different from other skyscrapers built of a steel frame was the use of non-structural bronze-toned vertical I-beams around the huge glass windows. The expensive materials used for the exterior, resembling a simple bronze box with a granite plaza at the front, and the interior (with glass and bronze furnishings to match the exterior) made Seagram Building the most expensive skyscraper at the time of its construction. Nowadays the building houses the ''Four Seasons'' Restaurant. In February 2006 the Seagram Building was entered into the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

3.Lever House

Lever House, a well-known International Style skyscraper, has a reputation as the first curtain wall to be ever built in New York City. This sleek building, innovative in its design, dates back from 1952. It is named after Lever Brothers, the British soap company, the building was meant for as its seat. Its curtain wall, with no operating windows, helped to cut down the operation and maintenance costs, was an innovation at the time of its construction. Since its recent refurbishment the Lever House houses the award-winning Lever House Restaurant, whereas its lobby and plaza are home to the Lever House Art Collection gallery. An Isamu Noguchi sculpture garden in the plaza has been added. Nowadays the Lever House serves as the the RFR Holding LLC headquarters.

4.One WorldWide Plaza

One WorldWide Plaza, also known as Worldwide Plaza, is a three-building complex used both for residential and commercial purposes. One Worldwide Plaza is an office tower in contrast to the other buildings in the complex which are apartment buildings. The 49-story edifice is granite and precast concrete based edifice topped with a brick-facaded tower and a copper roof. One Worldwide Plaza was built in 1989. A mid-block plaza, with ''the Four Seasons'' fountains in the middle and a cafe, adds charm to the postmodernist structure.

5. Citigroup Center

Citigroup Center, formerly known as Citicorp Center, ranks among the tallest skyscrapers in New York City. Designed by Hugh Stubbins Jr., it was completed in 1977. The most distinctive features, which make the 59-floor skyscraper a distinct landmark of New York City, include its stilt-style base and a 45° angled top. To counteract the swaying motions of the buidlings due to the wind, a tuned mass damper was appplied at its top, which was a pioneering technology at that time. It houses offices nowadays.
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6.World Financial Center

The World Financial Center, built between 1985-1988, is a complex of post-modernist buildings which was the most modern business center in New York City at the time of its construction. It consists of four tower blocks of varied shapes, made up from 34 to 52 stories, surrounding the Winter Garden Atrium. Parts of the World Financial Center complex suffered during the September 11th attacks, but have been refurbished since then. The tower blocks house offices of well-known American corporations, whereas the glass-domed Winter Garden, filled with trees and plants, attracts visitors with its numerous stores and cafes.
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7.Woolworth Building

The Woolworth Building, though years have past till its construction, is still one of the twenty tallest edifices in New York City. It is also one of the most famous skyscrapers in the city. Since 1966, the 57-story Woolworth Building has been a National Historic Landmark. The Neo-Gothic styled building, bearing resemblance to European Gothic cathedrals, was opened in 1913. It was named after Woolworth, the owner of the company, who commissioned the construction of the building. The characteristic features include the lavish limestone-colored, glazed architectural terra-cotta panels, strongly scaled Gothic detailing on the outside and a French Empire styled Woolworth's private office inside.

8.Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, situated at 350 Fifth Avenue, is the tallest of all the New York skyscrapers. It has been one of the top city attractions since its erection in 1931 when the Empire State Building was ranked number one as the tallest of all the buildings in the world. Its design, with typical art deco style characteristics, dates back as far as the 1920s, the prosperity era. The final stages of its construction coincided with the Great Crisis, hence, it had been nicknamed ''the Empty State Building''. In total, it took only 410 days to build the 102-story skyscraper, with a record span of 10 days during which a team of 3,500 workmen built as many as 10 stories.
Since then the Empire State Building has become the most famous of all the skyscrapers in New York City. Weather permitting, one can enjoy an unforgettable view of the city and its environs within the distance of 130 kilometres from the glazed observation deck situated on the 86th story.

9.GE Building

The GE Building, frequently referred to as 30 Rock or the Slab, is the 8th tallest building in New York City. The 70-story edifice is also the centerpiece of the famed Rockefeller Center. The Art Deco styled skyscraper, completed in 1933, was the first edifice ever built with the elevators placed in its central core. The well-recognized skyscraper has been an official landmark since 1985. It is famous for its austere facade, slimness and expressive form. There is no spire on the top of the GE Building. It is primarily known as the NBC Studios headquarters and the Today show studios. There is the Rainbow Room restaurant on the building top floor and the ''Top of the Rock'', an observation deck from which one can enjoy a panoramic view of New York City.

10.Chrysler Building

The 77-story Chrysler Building is reputed as the second tallest edifice in New York City and the tallest brick building in the world. It is the New Yorkers' favorite of all the city's top edifices. From the architectural point of view, it is a classic example of Art Deco, which according to some architects makes is the finest of all New York City's buildings. The National Historic Landmark, registered as such in 1976, was designed by William Van Alen as the Chrysler Corporation Headquarters. The most distinctive feature, which makes it a tourist must, is its crown including the Chrysler automobile decorations (eagles-Chrysler hood ornaments and radiator caps).