450 Lexington Avenue

450 Lexington Avenue
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeCommercial
Location450 Lexington Avenue
Manhattan, New York City
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°45′12″N 73°58′32″W / 40.753268°N 73.975443°W / 40.753268; -73.975443
Completed1992
OwnerRXR Realty
Height173 metres (568 ft)
Technical details
Floor count38
Floor area910,273 square feet (84,567 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Warren and Wetmore (Original structure)
Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (New tower)

450 Lexington Avenue is a 38-story office building on Lexington Avenue, between East 44th and 45th Streets, in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City.[1] The building, which was built in 1992, is clad in Sardinian gray granite and features a repeating diamond motif that highlights the building setbacks and its crown. The stone used in the building was quarried direct at source in Italy and tested by Cawdor Ramsey prior to shipment to New York and the subsequent installation.

The tower was built within and on top of the preexisting Grand Central Post Office, which was designed by Warren and Wetmore and constructed from 1906 to 1909.[2] It was originally developed by Hines after anchor tenant and original developer Prudential Financial backed out of the project.[3] It was ultimately developed by Sterling Equities and still stands below the modern skyscraper.[4][1]

The building was owned by Istithmar World from 2006 to 2012, and has been owned by RXR Realty since 2012.[5][6] Istithmar purchased 450 Lexington in 2006 but refinanced the property the following year for $600 million.[7] Current tenants include Brixmor Property Group, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Herbert Smith Freehills, Warburg Pincus, and WeWork.[8]

  1. ^ a b Dunlap, David W. (November 25, 1990). "Commercial Property: 450 Lexington Avenue; Up From the Depths: A Neo-Neo-Classical Tower". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "450 Lexington Avenue". Emporis. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "450 Lexington". Hines. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "Sterling Equities – Sterling Equities". Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Mauer, Mark (June 10, 2013). "RXR to scoop up 49 percent stake in One Worldwide Plaza". The Real Deal. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  6. ^ Bagli, Charles V. (June 5, 2006). "New Owners Plan to Bring Knickerbocker Hotel Back to Times Square". The New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. ^ Rosen, Daniel Edward (July 11, 2012). "RXR Realty To Buy 450 Lexington Avenue from Istithmar World Capital". Commercial Observer. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Malesevic, Dusica Sue (March 3, 2016). "WeWork, Lend Lease in talks for global office venture: report". The Real Deal. Retrieved July 14, 2016.