110 East 42nd Street, Office building near Grand Central Terminal, Manhattan, US
110 East 42nd Street is an 18-story office building in Manhattan with Italian Romanesque Revival design and a sandstone facade divided into three vertical sections. The structure sits directly above Grand Central subway tunnels and makes use of the airspace above this infrastructure.
The structure was completed in 1923 and initially served as a branch of the Bowery Savings Bank, a major financial institution of that era. Its architecture received New York City Landmark status in 1996, protecting its role in the city's commercial development.
The building originally served as a bank, and its grand entrance hall with soaring ceilings and ornate details reflects how financial institutions presented themselves as symbols of prosperity. This generous spatial design remains visible today, even though the spaces now serve different purposes.
The building entrance is directly accessible from 42nd Street and sits immediately above the Grand Central-42nd Street subway station, which offers numerous connections throughout Manhattan. Visitors should note that the lobby is open during daytime hours, though most spaces function as privately used areas or event venues today.
The original banking hall was transformed into an event space operated by Cipriani, preserving the soaring ceilings and elegant architectural details of the 1920s interior. This space offers visitors a rare glimpse into the opulence of early twentieth-century bank interiors, which are typically closed to the public.
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