Otis Singleton
The General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, is a 640-foot-tall skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The building was designed by Cross & Cross in the Art Deco style with Gothic ornamentation and was completed in 1931. The building was originally commissioned for RCA, then a subsidiary of General Electric (GE), but RCA moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza during construction, and the building was renamed for GE.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA |
| Address | 570 Lexington Avenue |
| Height | 640 ft (200 m) or 643 ft (196 m) |
| Floors | 50 |
| Style | Art Deco with Gothic Revival ornamentation |
| Construction start year | 1929 |
| Construction end year | 1931 |
| Architect | John Walter Cross of Cross & Cross |
| Main Contractor | McClintic-Marshall Construction Company |
| Main Developer | Victor Talking Machine Company-RCA Victor |
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What You'll Learn
Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1931
Construction of the General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, began in 1929 and was completed in 1931. The building is a 640-foot-tall (or 643 feet, according to another source) skyscraper located at the southwestern corner of Lexington Avenue and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It has 50 floors, including 46 office floors and four mechanical floors. The 48th and 49th floors also once contained executive dining rooms.
The building was designed by Cross & Cross, specifically John Walter Cross and Eliot Cross, in the Art Deco style with Gothic Revival ornamentation. This contrasted with the firm's earlier designs, which tended to be in the Gothic Revival, Georgian Revival, or Renaissance Revival styles. The building was originally designed and constructed for the RCA-Victor Corporation, a subsidiary of General Electric (GE), to project an image of great visibility for the company, which was a leader in the radio industry and communications at the time. The steel was erected by McClintic-Marshall Construction Company, and the concrete floor arches were contracted to Brennan & Sloan.
The General Electric Building features bold and lavish ornaments inspired by industrial imagery, such as lightning bolts representing the power of electricity. The crown of the building, an example of Gothic tracery, also symbolizes electricity and radio waves. The building's colours were chosen to contrast with the painted dome of the adjacent St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, with which the building's design was intended to harmonize. The tower is set back from the round-cornered base, which features elaborate masonry and architectural figural sculpture.
The General Electric Building is a structure of significant importance to the city of New York and the United States as a whole. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of the time it was built and the Art Deco style, which flourished during the 1920s and 1930s. Due to its architectural and historical significance, the building was officially declared a national landmark in 1985 and was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
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It was designed by John Walter Cross of Cross & Cross
The General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, is an Art Deco skyscraper in New York City. It was designed by John Walter Cross of Cross & Cross and completed in 1931.
John Walter Cross, of the architecture firm Cross & Cross, was the lead designer of the General Electric Building. The building is an example of Art Deco architecture, with bold and lavish ornaments inspired by industrial imagery. This style marked a departure from traditional historicism and embraced modern living and the age of the machine. John Walter Cross's design for the General Electric Building contrasted with the firm's earlier work, which tended to favour Gothic Revival, Georgian Revival, or Renaissance Revival styles.
The building's design is particularly notable for its integration with the neighbouring structures, especially St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. The colours chosen for the building provided a contrast with the painted dome of the church, creating a visually striking effect. The Gothic tracery of the crown of the building was intended to represent electricity and radio waves, reflecting the building's original purpose as the headquarters of an electricity company.
The General Electric Building is 640 feet tall (some sources state 643 feet) and has 50 floors, including 46 office floors and four mechanical floors. The building was originally commissioned by RCA, a subsidiary of General Electric, and was renamed midway through construction when RCA moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The building served as the headquarters of General Electric from 1933 to 1974, and the company retained ownership until 1993 when it was donated to Columbia University.
The General Electric Building is recognised as a significant structure in New York City and the United States. Its design embodies the distinctive characteristics of the time it was built, and it was officially declared a national landmark in 1985 and included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
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The building is 640 feet tall and has 50 floors
The General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, is a skyscraper located at the southwestern corner of Lexington Avenue and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The building was designed by Cross & Cross and completed in 1931. It is 640 feet tall and has 50 floors, consisting of 46 office floors and four mechanical floors. The 48th and 49th floors once contained executive dining rooms, with the former having private rooms and the latter a large dining room. The building is an example of Art Deco architecture, with bold and lavish ornaments inspired by industrial imagery. It features a stylized Gothic octagonal brick tower, elaborate masonry, and architectural figural sculpture. The colours chosen for the building complement the painted dome of the adjacent St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.
The General Electric Building is an iconic structure of significant importance to both the city of New York and the United States. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of the time it was built, reflecting the Art Deco style that flourished during the 1920s and 1930s. The building was officially declared a national landmark in 1985 and was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
The building's design contrasts with the firm's earlier styles, which tended towards Gothic Revival, Georgian Revival, or Renaissance Revival. The Art Deco movement marked a shift away from traditional historicism towards modern living and the age of the machine. In architecture, this translated to simpler designs that favoured geometric shapes, clean lines, and symmetrical layouts.
The General Electric Building was originally developed for RCA-Victor Corporation to project an image of great visibility for the company, which was a leader in the radio industry and communications at the time. The building's Gothic style and Art Deco decorations of lightning bolts symbolised the power of electricity and radio waves.
The construction of the General Electric Building commenced in 1930, with the steel frame and floor arches completed by mid-year. The building was designed to harmonise with neighbouring structures, particularly St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, with which it shares a similar brick colour and architectural terracotta decoration. The colours chosen for the building complement the painted dome of the church.
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It was built on the site of the former Schaefer Brewery
The General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, is a 640-foot-tall skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was built between 1929 and 1931 and was designed by John Walter Cross of Cross & Cross in the Art Deco style with Gothic Revival ornamentation.
The building was constructed on the site of the former Schaefer Brewery. The lots that make up the General Electric Building's site were purchased by Frederick and Maximilian Schaefer starting in 1867 and were developed as the Schaefer Brewery in 1878. The brewery was located near the Park Avenue railroad tracks, which were placed underground in the early 20th century during the construction of Grand Central Terminal. The opening of the terminal in 1913 spurred development in the area, and St. Bartholomew's Church bought the Schaefer site in 1914.
The church built its main structure on the block's northwestern corner in 1919, and the site of the former brewery remained undeveloped. When RCA acquired the property in the late 1920s, the block was dominated by Renaissance-style buildings, including the church of the Byzantine-Romanesque style of St. Bartholomew. The General Electric Building was designed to harmonize with the neighbouring structures, particularly St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, with the same brick colouring and architectural terracotta decoration.
The building's Gothic Revival style, with its bold and lavish ornaments, was intended to project an image of great visibility for RCA, which was at the forefront of the radio industry and communications at the time. The crown of the building, with its Gothic tracery, represents electricity and radio waves, fitting the theme of the power of electricity and the development of modern radio. The colours chosen for the building complement the painted dome of the neighbouring church, and the lobby features chrome and coloured marble plaques, making it one of the best examples of Art Deco design in the world.
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The building was donated to Columbia University in 1993
The General Electric Building, an iconic landmark in New York City, was erected in the early 20th century and stands as a testament to the company's legacy and the Art Deco style. Completed in 1933, the building served as the headquarters of the General Electric Company for many decades. However, in the early 1990s, a decision was made that would shape the future of this historic structure.
In 1993, General Electric donated the building to Columbia University, marking a significant turning point in its history. This generous act demonstrated the company's commitment to education and the community. The donation ensured that the building would continue to serve a vital purpose, benefiting the students and faculty of the renowned academic institution.
The decision to donate the building to Columbia University was a natural choice. The university, located just a short distance away in Upper Manhattan, is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the United States. By donating the building to Columbia, General Electric ensured that it would remain an integral part of the city's fabric and contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the community.
The donation also provided practical benefits for both parties. Columbia University, facing space constraints on its main campus, welcomed the opportunity to expand its presence in Midtown Manhattan. The General Electric Building offered a substantial amount of office and classroom space, providing much-needed relief to the growing university.
The building's new purpose as an academic facility required some renovations and adaptations. Columbia University embarked on a careful restoration project, transforming the interior to suit its new educational purpose while preserving the building's historic integrity. The university also ensured that the building complied with modern safety and accessibility standards, making it a comfortable and inclusive space for all.
The donation of the General Electric Building to Columbia University in 1993 marked a new chapter in the building's history. It exemplified General Electric's commitment to education and community development, while also addressing Columbia's need for additional space. Today, the building continues to stand tall, its distinctive Art Deco design a reminder of its past, even as it serves a new generation of students and scholars.
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Frequently asked questions
The General Electric Building was built between 1929 and 1931.
The General Electric Building is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, at the southwestern corner of Lexington Avenue and 51st Street.
The building is an Art Deco skyscraper with Gothic Revival ornamentation.
The General Electric Building is 640 feet tall (some sources state 643 feet) and has 50 floors.
