400 Madison Avenue, Office building in Midtown Manhattan, US.
400 Madison Avenue is a 22-story office building on the block between 47th and 48th Streets in Midtown Manhattan, with a cream-colored terracotta facade and large windows. The building is narrow and tall, with office space on the upper floors and retail space at street level.
The building was started in 1927 and completed in 1929, during a period when Midtown Manhattan was growing fast as a commercial center. It was built as part of a wave of development over the underground rail lines below Grand Central Terminal.
The Neo-Gothic details on the facade were meant to give a commercial building a sense of distinction at a time when Midtown was still defining its character. Walking past it today, you notice how different it looks from the plain glass towers that came later.
The building is easy to find on Madison Avenue, right between 47th and 48th Streets, and the surrounding area is walkable. Several subway lines stop nearby, making it simple to combine a visit with other destinations in the neighborhood.
The building stands on air rights above Grand Central Terminal's tracks, meaning it is built over open space rather than solid ground. This approach was used for several buildings around the station, quietly shaping the skyline above an active rail network.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
