American Fine Arts Society | |
New York City Landmark No. 0255
| |
 (2008) | |
 | |
| Location | 215 West 57th Street, Manhattan, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°45′58″N 73°58′50″W / 40.7662°N 73.9806°W |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Henry J. Hardenbergh |
| Architectural style | French Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002662[1] |
| NYCL No. | 0255 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1980 |
| Designated NYCL | December 10, 1968[2] |
The Art Students League of New York Building (also the American Fine Arts Society and 215 West 57th Street) is a building on 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The structure, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in the French Renaissance style, was completed in December 1892 and serves as the headquarters of the Art Students League of New York. The building was developed by the American Fine Arts Society (AFAS), formed in 1889 by five organizations including the Art Students League, the Society of American Artists, and the Architectural League of New York.
The Art Students League Building is five stories tall. Its primary facade along 57th Street is clad with limestone and contains ornate decoration. The rear is clad with brick faces 58th Street and is more simple in design. The building's interior contains meeting, classroom, and gallery space for the Art Students League; the space was previously divided among the AFAS's constituent organizations.
The Art Students League Building has been modified several times throughout its history, and it was repaired following major fires in 1901 and 1920. The building was used exclusively by the Art Students League by 1941, with the other organizations having moved out during the early 20th century. The Art Students League Building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1968 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The building was renovated in 2003 and part of the adjacent Central Park Tower was constructed above it in the late 2010s.