Percy Rivington Pyne House

The Percy Rivington Pyne House is a Federal-style townhouse located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. It features a carefully designed facade with symmetric windows, classical architectural elements, and a layout typical of residences built for well-off New Yorkers of that period.

The firm McKim, Mead & White designed this residence in 1911 for Percy Rivington Pyne II, whose grandfather founded a major banking institution. During the Cold War period, the building served for some years in a diplomatic role before transitioning to its current cultural use.

The house is named after Percy Rivington Pyne II, member of a merchant family among New York's wealthiest residents of that era. Its symmetric windows and classical details on the facade reflect the care wealthy families invested in their city residences.

The building now serves as headquarters for the Americas Society and stands at a central location on the Upper East Side. Visitors can admire the architecture from outside, and tours or cultural events are occasionally available when scheduled in advance.

The building faced demolition in 1965 but was saved when a private donor purchased and gave it to a cultural organization. This rescue redirected its purpose and has kept it standing as an active cultural space rather than lost to the urban landscape.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1910s

Architects: McKim, Mead & White

Architectural style: Federal architecture

Part of: Park Avenue Houses

GPS coordinates: 40.76800,-73.96500

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:25