One of the most intriguing skyscrapers in New York is not only the home of one of the leading newspapers in the city but also one of its tallest buildings. It features a unique element that is worth checking out.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the New York Times Building, an incredible structure in a bustling city.
1. It’s located in the western part of Midtown Manhattan
As the name of the building suggests, the New York Times Building serves as the headquarters of the New York Times Company, one of the biggest mass media companies in the United States.
The towering skyscraper is located at 620 Eighth Avenue, which is situated between 40th and 41 Streets in the western part of Midtown Manhattan. Just west of the skyscraper you can find the 42nd Street Port Authority of New York & the New Jersey Bus Terminal.
The New York Times also didn’t move too far away from its previous home, an area that was renamed because of the company’s presence from Longacre Square to Times Square. The city’s most famous square is located within walking distance to the east.
2. The New York Times has moved around quite a bit since the 19th century
The New York Times Campany was founded in the year 1851 and has since become one of the most famous daily newspapers in the world. Their growth can be seen in the various headquarters they have occupied since halfway through the 19th century.
Here’s a quick overview of the various locations of the headquarters of the New York Times Company:
- They had humble beginnings and occupied buildings at both 113 and 138 Nassau Street.
- Their first noteworthy office building was a 5-story structure located at 41 Park Row.
- The 5-story building was replaced by a 13-story office building in 1889 (this building still exists today).
- They moved to their most famous location, One Times Square, in 1904.
- Just a decade later, they moved to a location near Times Square called 229 West 43rd Street.
They remained in their final location for nearly a century, until their impressive new headquarters discussed in this article was completed in the 2000s.
3. The building was completed between 2003 and 2007
By the early 21st century, the newspaper had again outgrown the location it had occupied for nearly a century at 229 West 43rd Street. They announced the construction of a new office tower on December 13, 2001.
The location of the new 52-story office tower was significant in two ways. It initiated the further western expansion of Midtown Manhattan, and the location was also close to Times Square, the famous plaza named after the company.
The magnificent skyscraper was eventually completed between 2003 and 2007, greatly enhancing the western section of the Midtown Manhattan skyline.
4. It has the same height as one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers
The New York Times Building has 52 floors and a total floor area of 1,545,708 square feet (143,601 square meters). It stands 1,046 feet (318.8 meters) tall which means it has the exact same height as the Chrysler Building.
This is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in New York City and was even briefly the tallest building in the world upon completion in 1930. Just 11 months later, however, it was surpassed by the Empire State Building, an equally iconic building that stands 1,454 feet (443.2 meters) tall.
This equal height also means that both buildings occupy the 11th spot in the list of the highest buildings in New York City. The undisputed leader in this list remains One World Trade Center, the highest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 feet (541 meters).
5. Its unique features make it one of the most efficient buildings in New York
The skyscraper was designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano. Yes, this was one of the architects that designed the peculiar Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (1977), and more recently the Shard in London (2012), to name just a few of his amazing designs.
The main feature that allows the tower to save so much energy is its double-skin ceramic sunscreen curtain wall in combination with an automated louver shading system. This automatically optimizes shading and reduces solar heat gain by 30%.
The lighting system is also completely automated to preserve energy. Lights switch on and off automatically as people enter the room and dim on autopilot as well. These features make it one of the greenest buildings in New York City.
More interesting facts about the New York Times Building
6. The price tag of this energy-efficient building was a whopping $850 million. The cost of the structure was shared between 3 different parties, the New York Times Company, Forest City Ratner, and ING Real Estate.
7. Acquiring the land to build the tower in the vicinity of Times Square wasn’t easy. It was initially acquired by the Empire State Development Corporation, one of New York’s public benefit companies.
They did so by eminent domain, the right of a city to claim land for the public good. Some owners, however, sued because they claimed the area was not blighted. They eventually lost in court and the 80,000 square feet (7,400 square meters) of land was used to build the tower.
8. Even though it appears that the New York Times Building is the headquarters of just one company, the New York Times Company only occupied floors 2 to 22 of the building.
This is about 628,000 square feet (58,300 square meters) of floor space. The additional floors are leased by a wide variety of other companies, including for example the law firm Covington & Burling (floors 39 to 44).
9. The energy-saving curtain wall, shading system, and automatic lighting system inside of the building are just a few of the features that turn the New York Ties Building into one of the greenest structures in New York.
The building also doesn’t feature a parking lot, something that forces workers to take public transportation. There’s also a cogeneration plant that provides about 40% of the building’s energy, and 95% of the structural steel used was recycled.
10. No tall building in the world is safe for French spiderman Alain Robert. The daredevil has climbed just about every amazing skyscraper in the world, and conquered the New York Times Building on June 5, 2008, as well.
These kinds of stunts are illegal and he was met by the New York City Police Department and placed under arrest after climbing the tower from the 1st floor to the top.
