One Madison Avenue Exemplifies “The History of the Modern Office,” says New York Magazine

The article highlights One Madison Avenue as the latest iteration in the evolution of office architecture, a contemporary addition to a storied block that responds sensitively to the surrounding layers of Manhattan history. The One Madison Avenue complex has born the constant progress of the city’s business district for over one hundred years, growing from a turn-of-the-century, white-collar workspace to a sensible, mid-century office and finally to a translucent, wellness-oriented building.

KPF’s renewal scheme for One Madison Avenue, developed by SL Green, retains an existing structure from the 1950s and adds a new tower above. The addition required delicately inserting a new concrete core into the base building, while a steel truss transfers the weight of the new tower to megacolumns strategically placed in the original structure. “All that deft engineering yielded a stack of admirably open interiors, uncluttered by columns, luxuriantly ventilated to post-COVID standards, and readily adaptable to whatever notions of contemporary office culture a tenant might bring,” writes Davidson. KPF’s design intervention carefully considers the complex’s iconic clock tower, added by Napoleon LeBrun in 1909, by stepping away from the street and deferring to the monument in height and materiality.

The article also highlights the building’s leasing success, as well as its amenities. IBM’s offices are located in the original building and first tower floor, while Franklin Templeton has taken space above. Davidson notes that “neither needed to have much impact on the design since KPF could be counted on to deliver office floors that are generically appealing and maximally flexible.” Neighborhood and office amenities include Chelsea Piers Fitness as well as a ground floor restaurant La Tête D’Or and tenant rooftop amenity space, both designed by Rockwell Group with menus by Daniel Boulud.

Read the full article here.