550 Park Avenue

550 Park Avenue is a Beaux-Arts apartment building that rises 15 stories with limestone and brick exterior walls decorated with ornate details and classical proportions. The facade features carefully crafted architectural elements that give the structure its distinctive character.

The building was completed in 1917 when architect J.E.R. Carpenter designed it during a time when wealthy New Yorkers were shifting from townhouses to apartments. This period marked a major change in how the city's upper class chose to live.

The building sits within the Upper East Side Historic District, where preservation rules protect the architectural heritage of early 20th-century residential structures. Its classical details reflect the refined tastes of the wealthy residents who chose to live here.

The building sits at the corner of Park Avenue and East 62nd Street with good access to public transportation nearby. The nearby Central Park offers leisure options for anyone exploring the neighborhood.

The building retains original marble entrance galleries and separate service doors, reflecting the social divisions built into New York residential design from that era. These dual access systems reveal how class boundaries were considered when designing luxury apartments.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: December 11, 1917

Architects: J.E.R. Carpenter

Part of: Upper East Side Historic District

GPS coordinates: 40.76480,-73.96890

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:04