General Electric Building

The General Electric Building stands 195 meters tall along Lexington Avenue with a red-brick facade accented by terra cotta ornamental elements. The 50-story structure features Gothic-inspired detailing and an octagonal crown characteristic of 1930s Art Deco design.

The structure was originally built in 1931 as the RCA Victor Building and became General Electric's headquarters starting in 1933. The company moved to Connecticut in 1974, ending decades of occupancy at this location.

The crown features radio and electrical wave designs that reflect how people understood modern technology during that era.

The building features 11 elevators and offers direct access to the Lexington Avenue subway station serving multiple train lines. The main lobby preserves original 1930s finishes and remains open to public viewing.

The building's crown glows at night, while diagonal zigzag patterns across the brick facade represent electrical currents and radio transmission waves.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1931

Architects: Cross & Cross, John Walter Cross

Official opening: 1931

Architectural style: Art Deco architecture, Gothic Revival

Floors above the ground: 50

Elevators: 11

Height: 195 m

GPS coordinates: 40.75722,-73.97250

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:00