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W. R. Grace Building facts for kids

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The W. R. Grace Building is a tall skyscraper located in Manhattan, New York City. It was designed mainly by an architect named Gordon Bunshaft and finished in 1974. The building was built for the W.R. Grace Company, and another big company, Deloitte & Touche, also used it.

Quick facts for kids
W. R. Grace Building
W. R. Grace Building, New York, NY 10018, USA - Jan 2013.jpg
Curved vertical facade fronting on 42nd Street
General information
Type Commercial offices
Location Sixth Avenue & 42nd Street
New York City, New York
Coordinates 40°45′17″N 73°58′57″W / 40.75472°N 73.98250°W / 40.75472; -73.98250
Construction started 1971
Completed 1974
Owner Brookfield Office Properties
Height
Roof 630 ft (190 m)
Technical details
Floor count 50
Floor area 1,478,531 sq ft (137,360.0 m2)
Design and construction
Architect Gordon Bunshaft
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The Grace Building is located at 1114 Sixth Avenue. However, its main entrance is on 42nd Street. This is between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. From the building, you can see Bryant Park and the main branch of the New York Public Library. The building has about 1.5 million square feet of space that can be rented. It sits on a piece of land that is about 100 feet by 442 feet.

The Grace Building was built where a large department store called Stern's used to be. Today, companies like Bain & Company have offices here. You can also find a fancy restaurant called Gabriel Kreuther in the lobby. It even has a sister chocolate shop!

Building Design and Look

West 42nd Street - Bryant Park (buildings)
From left to right: HBO headquarters, W. R. Grace Building, Aeolian Building (houses the State University of New York College of Optometry), Salmon Tower Building and 500 Fifth Avenue

One cool thing about the Grace Building is the way its north and south sides curve inwards. These are the sides facing 42nd and 43rd Street. This curved design is similar to another building that Gordon Bunshaft also designed, called the Solow Building. He actually used an early idea for the Solow Building's front for the Grace Building.

The curved shape is also a bit like the Chase Tower in Chicago. The outside of the Grace Building is covered in white travertine. This is a type of stone. The white stone really stands out against the building's black windows. It makes the Grace Building look much brighter than the buildings around it.

Images for kids

  • W. R. Grace Building
  • Grace Bldg NY from entrance

    Looking up from the entrance on 42nd Street

  • Grace Building New York

    The tower reaching into the sky

  • Manhattan New York City 2008 PD 55

    A view from the corner of 43rd Street and Sixth Avenue

  • WR Grace Plaza-Matt Bisanz

    Looking up from the plaza area

  • Grace Bldg NY from 5th and 40th

    A view from 40th Street and Fifth Avenue, with the New York Public Library in front

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