1221 Avenue of the Americas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1221 Avenue of the Americas |
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1221 Avenue of the Americas. 1251 Avenue of the Americas is visible to left.
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Architectural style | International style |
| Location | 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°45′33″N 73°58′54″W / 40.75917°N 73.98167°W |
| Construction started | 1966 |
| Completed | 1969 |
| Opening | 1972 |
| Owner | Rockefeller Group (Mitsubishi Estate) |
| Height | |
| Roof | 674 feet (205 m) |
| Top floor | 50 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 51 |
| Floor area | 2,199,982 sq ft (204,385 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 36 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Wallace Harrison |
1221 Avenue of the Americas is a tall building in New York City. It stands at 1221 Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This building has 51 floors and is known for its simple, modern look. It used to be called the McGraw-Hill Building.
The building is designed in the International Style. This means it has a clean, simple look with no extra decorations. Its outside walls are made of red granite and glass. These stripes make the building look very tall.
There is a special area in front of the building. It is set back from the street by about 35 meters. This space has a sunken courtyard. In the courtyard, you can see a large steel sculpture. It is 15 meters tall and is called Sun Triangle. An artist named Athelstan Spilhaus created it.
Inside, the main entrance area, called the lobby, is very fancy. It has dark red terrazzo (a type of floor made with chips of marble or glass) and red marble. The lobby also has famous sayings from Plato and John F. Kennedy.
About the Building's History
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This building is part of a bigger project called Rockefeller Center. In the 1960s and 1970s, Rockefeller Center grew with new buildings. These were nicknamed the "XYZ Buildings."
The plans for these buildings were first made in 1963. The Rockefeller family hired an architect named Wallace Harrison. He worked for the company Harrison & Abramovitz.
The "X," "Y," and "Z" names are based on how tall the buildings are.
- The "X" Building is 1251 Avenue of the Americas. It is the tallest at 750 feet (229 meters) and has 54 stories. It was finished in 1971.
- The "Y" Building is 1221 Avenue of the Americas. It was the second one finished, in 1973. It is the second tallest, at 674 feet (205 meters) with 51 stories.
- The "Z" Building is 1211 Avenue of the Americas. It is the shortest and newest, with 45 stories (592 feet or 180 meters).
1221 Avenue of the Americas used to be the main office for McGraw-Hill Financial. That's why it was sometimes called the McGraw-Hill Building. Today, other companies have offices here. These include Sirius XM Satellite Radio and the law firm White & Case.
Special Features
The sunken courtyard has a unique metal triangle sculpture. It was designed by Athelstan Spilhaus. The sculpture is set up so that the Sun's rays line up with its sides. This happens during the solstices and equinoxes. These are special times of the year when the Sun is at its highest or lowest point, or when day and night are equal.
When the building was new, the courtyard also had small models of the planets. These showed our Solar System. Today, a mosaic map of the Earth is still there in one corner.
In 2009, the building received a special award. It earned LEED certification (Certified level) for Existing Buildings. This award means the building is good for the environment. It shows that it uses energy and resources wisely.
Images for kids
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Sunken courtyard
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World maps and sculpture Sun Triangle
See also
In Spanish: 1221 Avenue of the Americas para niños
