1221 Avenue of the Americas, International Style skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, United States
1221 Avenue of the Americas is a 51-story International Style tower that rises above Midtown Manhattan with distinctive vertical bands. The facade alternates red granite piers with broad glass panels, creating a strong rhythmic pattern across its entire surface.
Architect Wallace Harrison designed this structure as part of the Rockefeller Center expansion that began in the 1960s. Construction completed in 1973, establishing it as a defining example of corporate architecture from that era.
The lobby features carved quotations from thinkers like Plato and Kennedy set into dark red terrazzo and marble. These words greet visitors as they pass through the entrance hall, offering a moment of reflection.
The structure houses 32 elevators and connects directly to multiple subway lines including the B, D, F, and M trains. This combination ensures quick vertical movement inside the building and easy access to the broader Manhattan transit network.
A metal triangle sculpture in the sunken courtyard serves as a solar calendar, tracking the positions of solstices and equinoxes throughout the year. Few visitors notice this functional artwork that quietly marks the passage of seasons.
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