American Radiator Building facts for kids
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American Radiator Building
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The American Radiator Building
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| Location | 40 West 40th Street Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Raymond Hood and André Fouilhoux |
| Architectural style | Gothic Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002663 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 7, 1980 |
The American Radiator Building (also known as the American Standard Building) is a 338 ft (103 m), 23-story early skyscraper at 40 West 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was conceived by the architects John Howells and Raymond Hood, and built in 1924 for the American Radiator Company, five years before it merged with Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company to form American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corporation, later known as American Standard. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Description
The building's form is based on Eliel Saarinen's unbuilt competition entry for the Tribune Tower, augmented with a strong use of color. The architects combined Gothic and modern styles in the design of the building. Black brick on the frontage of the building (symbolizing coal) was selected to give an idea of solidity and to give the building a solid mass. Other parts of the facade were covered in gold bricks (symbolizing fire), and the entry was decorated with marble and black mirrors. Howells and Hood employed the talents of their frequent collaborator Rene Paul Chambellan for the ornamentation and sculptures.
The building was depicted in Georgia O'Keeffe's 1927 painting Radiator Building – Night, New York.
Conversion
In 1988, successor company American Standard sold the building to a Japanese company. In 1998, the building was sold to Philip Pilevsky for $150 million. Three years afterwards, the American Radiator Building was converted into The Bryant Park Hotel with 130 rooms and a theater in the basement. The landmark status of the exterior required that the conversion pay special attention to the renovation of the facade decor, and prohibited proposed changes such as bigger guestroom windows.
Images for kids
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Seen at center from Bryant Park
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Crown illuminated at night
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Early photo of the elevator lobby
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40th Street facade, with the original building at left and the annex at right
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The pinnacle undergoing restoration in 2020
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The annex, which contains Guttman Community College
