3 Park Avenue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 3 Park Avenue
From the northeast
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Commercial and educational
Location	3 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 United States
Coordinates	40°44′47″N 73°58′52″W / 40.74639°N 73.98111°W / 40.74639; -73.98111
Opening	1973
Owner	Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation (Office) New York City Educational Construction Fund (Lower floors)
Height
Roof	556 feet (169 m)
Technical details
Floor count	42
Lifts/elevators	12
Design and construction
Architect	Shreve, Lamb and Harmon
Structural engineer	Rosenwasser/Grossman Consulting Engineers, P.C.

3 Park Avenue is a tall building in New York City. It has both offices and a high school inside. This building is located on Park Avenue in Manhattan. It was finished in 1973. The building has a plaza (an open public space) on three sides. It is found near East 33rd and 34th Streets. There is even an entrance to a subway station right inside the building!

Building's Story

What Was Here Before?

Before 3 Park Avenue was built, there was a different building on this spot. It was an armory, which is a place where soldiers keep their weapons and train. The first armory here burned down in 1902. A new, bigger one was built in 1905. People didn't think this second armory was very pretty. It was called "Manhattan’s ugly old brownstone" by a magazine. This old armory was taken down in the 1960s. The land was empty for about ten years before the current building was constructed.

How Was 3 Park Avenue Designed?

The company that designed 3 Park Avenue is called Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. This is the same company that designed the famous Empire State Building! Another company, Rosenwasser/Grossman Consulting Engineers, P.C., helped make sure the building was strong and safe. The building has had a few different owners over the years. Today, Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation owns the office parts.

Making It Look Modern

The main entrance area, called the lobby, was updated in 2001. Later, in 2016, a famous architect named César Pelli helped design more changes. These updates included new metal covers and gray stone outside. They also made the shops on the ground floor look new. Inside the lobby, new wood walls, glass, and lights were added. Even the elevators got a fresh look!

What's Inside and How Does It Look?

Schools and Offices Inside

3 Park Avenue is 42 stories tall. It has many different businesses and schools inside. Some of the special schools include Unity Center for Urban Technologies and Manhattan Academy for Arts and Language. Murray Hill Academy is also located here. In the past, Norman Thomas High School was in the building too. The building has 12 elevators to help people get to all the different floors. It is about 169.47 metres (556.0 ft) tall.

Unique Design Features

This building looks special because it's not perfectly straight. It's built on a diagonal angle. It also uses bright, light-colored bricks. These same bricks are used for the small plaza at the main entrance.

Right at the main entrance, there is a cool sculpture. It's called "Obelisk to Peace." An artist named Irving Marantz made it in 1972. The sculpture is 23 feet (7.0 m) tall. It is made from bronze and sits on a shiny granite base. This was the last outdoor artwork Marantz made before he passed away.

The entrance for the schools is on the East 33rd Street side. This area has an open space with a bench. However, it's important to remember that only people who work or go to school there are allowed in this private area.

Who Has Offices Here?

Many different companies have their offices in 3 Park Avenue. Here are some of the businesses that were located there in 2014:

See also

In Spanish: 3 Park Avenue para niños