Gorham Building, Commercial landmark in Midtown Manhattan, United States
The Gorham Building is an eight-story structure at 390 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, with a facade made of limestone, granite, bronze, copper, and gold leaf. Its exterior follows the Italian Renaissance style, with decorative details that run across every floor of the building.
The building was completed in 1904 by the architecture firm McKim, Mead & White, commissioned as the headquarters of the Gorham Manufacturing Company. It was built at a time when industrial clients were claiming prime addresses along Fifth Avenue.
The Gorham Building sits on a stretch of Fifth Avenue that shifted from residential to commercial use in the late 1800s. The bronze ornaments on the facade are detailed enough to study up close, giving visitors a sense of the craftsmanship that once defined the street.
The building is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 36th Street, an easy part of Midtown to reach on foot or by transit. Those who want to look closely at the facade should go early in the morning or on a weekday, when foot traffic is lighter.
The Gorham Manufacturing Company was best known for its silverware, and the building was designed partly as a showroom for its products. The bronze elements on the facade were meant to reflect the same level of craft the company applied to its goods.
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