Lipstick Building Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lipstick Building
The Lipstick Building
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Office
Location	885 Third Avenue, Manhattan, New York, United States
Coordinates	40°45′28″N 73°58′08″W / 40.75778°N 73.96889°W / 40.75778; -73.96889
Completed	1986
Height
Roof	138 m (453 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	34
Design and construction
Structural engineer	The Office of Irwin Cantor

The Lipstick Building is a famous skyscraper in New York City. It stands 453 feet (138 meters) tall and has 34 floors. You can find it at 885 Third Avenue in Manhattan, right across from the Citigroup Center. It was finished in 1986. The building was designed by John Burgee Architects with Philip Johnson. It got its unique name because its shape and color look a lot like a tube of lipstick.

In 2010, the company that owned the building, Metropolitan 885 Third Avenue LLC, faced financial problems.

Building Design and Look
Who Used the Building?
Images for kids
See also

Building Design and Look

The Lipstick Building has a very interesting design. Its walls are set back at three different levels. This means the building steps back from the street as it goes higher. This design helps more sunlight reach the street level, which is a rule for buildings in Manhattan.

Unique Shape

The building's shape is quite unusual compared to others nearby. It uses less space at its base than a typical square skyscraper. This gives more room for people walking on the busy Third Avenue sidewalks.

Entrance and Lobby

At the bottom, the building stands on tall columns. These columns create a grand entrance to a huge lobby. The lobby is about 30 feet (9 meters) high! The elevators and emergency staircases are at the back of the building, making the main entrance area feel very open.

Exterior Materials

The outside of the building is made of red Imperial granite and shiny stainless steel. The windows are surrounded by gray frames. There's a thin red band between each floor, which reminds you of the red color of lipstick. The curved shape of the building helps light reflect beautifully off the polished stone and steel surfaces.

Who Used the Building?

Many different companies and people have used the Lipstick Building over the years.

Architects' Offices

The architects who designed the building, John Burgee and Philip Johnson, moved their own firm into the building in 1986. Later, in 1991, they ended their partnership, and Johnson moved to a smaller office within the same building.

Owners and Tenants

In 2011, an Israeli real estate company, Israel Financial Levers Ltd., bought a 35% share in the Lipstick Building. This company was owned by Semyon Vainshtok.

The building is now known for its largest tenant, the international law firm Latham & Watkins.

In April 2013, another law firm called LeClairRyan moved its two New York City offices together onto the 16th floor.

In December 2020, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, a law firm from New York, decided to stay in the Lipstick Building until 2033. They also expanded their space, now using the entire 20th and 21st floors, which is over 32,000 square feet.

Art Exhibitions

In 2011, an art exhibition took over the 14th and 15th floors of the building. Artists brought their own works and also used things left behind by previous tenants to create new art displays.