330 West 42nd Street facts for kids
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McGraw-Hill Building
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 Location in Manhattan
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 330 West 42nd Street Manhattan, New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Raymond Hood |
| Architectural style | International Style, Art Deco, Art Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002701 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1980 |
| Designated NHL | June 29, 1989 |
The McGraw-Hill Building is a tall, 35-story building in New York City. It stands at 330 West 42nd Street in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan. The building is about 485 feet (148 meters) tall.
It's easy to spot because its outside walls are made of bright blue-green tiles. These tiles are mixed with green-framed windows, giving the building a unique look. The McGraw-Hill Building was the only skyscraper in New York City shown in a famous art show in 1932. This show was about the "International Style" of building design. It is also known for its "Art Deco" design.
For many years, the McGraw-Hill Building was the tallest building in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. It is located between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, near the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Even though newer, taller buildings like The Orion are now nearby, the McGraw-Hill Building can still be seen from far away.
Contents
Building History
Why the Building Was Built
The McGraw-Hill Companies needed a bigger office. They bought the land for this new building in early 1930. The famous architect Raymond Hood designed the building.
Construction and Early Use
Building work started in December 1930. The first rivet was put in place then. The whole building was finished in 1931. McGraw-Hill moved into their new offices in October 1931.
The lower floors of the building were used for printing. The fifth floor had the bindery, where books were put together. The sixth floor was for the printing presses. The seventh floor was where text was set up for printing. The floors from the ninth to the fifteenth were rented out to other businesses.
A Home for Comic Books
In 1939, a publisher named Martin Goodman had his office here. Goodman started a company called Timely Comics. This company later became Marvel Comics, famous for superheroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers! Timely Comics later moved to the Empire State Building.
Changes Over Time
McGraw-Hill Companies moved out of the building in 1972. They sold it and moved to a new McGraw-Hill Building. In 1989, this original building was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place.
An interesting metal sculpture called Boomerang by Owen Morrel was once hung on the side of the building. In 1994, a group called Deco Towers Associates bought the building. They started to restore it in 1998, and the Boomerang sculpture was taken down.
In 2021, the owners decided not to turn the building into apartments. Instead, they planned to fix up the whole building. They wanted to make some small changes to the outside. They also suggested changing the lobby, which is the entrance area. This idea made people who wanted to protect old buildings ask to save the inside of the building too.
Images for kids
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View of one of the street-facing facades
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"McGraw-Hill" sign atop the building's crown
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Seen from Ninth Avenue after its construction
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Seen in 2015
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See also
In Spanish: McGraw-Hill Building para niños
