One Madison Avenue’s Façade Nears Completion in Flatiron District, Manhattan

One Madison Avenue. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.

Exterior work is nearing completion on One Madison Avenue, a 27-story commercial building in the Flatiron District. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by SL Green, the National Pension Service of Korea, and Hines, the project involves the gut renovation of an existing eight-story structure and the construction of a 19-story addition above its parapet, and will yield 1.4 million square feet of office space and ground-floor retail. NYC Constructors is building the expansion and AECOM Tishman is the construction manager for the property, which occupies a full block at the southeast corner of Madison Square Park between Madison Avenue, Park Avenue South, East 23rd Street, and East 24th Street.

At the time of our last update in early February, window installation was just getting underway on the steel-framed addition. This process unfolded with surprising rapidity, and the glass curtain wall now envelops almost the entirety of the upper expansion. All that remains to be enclosed are a series of small openings where the crane formerly anchored to the center of the southern elevation, and the vertical gap on the northern wall near Park Avenue where the construction elevator remains attached.

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

A subtle grid of metal bars protrudes from the flat glass surface, adding to a degree of depth to the appearance.

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

The first two stories of the expansion will feature a lighter glass envelope framed by black-painted structural steel, as shown in the main rendering.

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

IBM has signed on as the anchor tenant at One Madison Avenue with a 328,000-square-foot, 16-year lease. Additional tenants include Chelsea Piers Fitness with a 55,780-square-foot, 20-year lease; Franklin Templeton with a 347,474-square-foot, 15-year lease; 777 Partners with an 18,746-square-foot, 15-year lease for the entire 27th floor; and Palo Alto Networks with a 28,903-square-foot, ten-year lease for the entire 26th floor. Amenities include spacious landscaped outdoor terraces on floors ten and 11, a 9,000-square-foot tenant lounge, a three-level gym operated by Chelsea Piers Fitness, and bike storage.

Chef Daniel Boulud is also planning to open two dining destinations at the property: a 9,500-square-foot European-style marketplace along East 23rd Street, and a 6,500-square-foot steakhouse designed by Rockwell Group with a capacity of 800 patrons.

Construction on One Madison Avenue is five weeks ahead of schedule and is slated for completion this October.

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28 Comments on "One Madison Avenue’s Façade Nears Completion in Flatiron District, Manhattan"

  1. Good addition to the density of the neighborhood, if the building fills with tenants: I still regret that the Madison Ave glass link wasn’t set back as in the original scheme as the space between the two stone facades seemed more respectful of the original buildings.

    • Same, sure the developer just didn’t wanna pay for it…

    • I agree but I dont think it detrimental or anything. Ideally a setback would have defined both structures better… but spilled milk under the bridge…

    • The building already has signed IBM and Franklin Templeton as major office tenants – the majority of space has already been leased. Maybe one other company but I can’t remember which one. They also have several retail leases signed. They will be just fine.

  2. This came out great.

  3. Another translucent glass facade in the renderings turns out to be far less translucent and instead more reflective in reality.

    Otherwise, it has some well designed elements, and the overall scheme is thoughtful.

    • Many times the energy rating that the building requires dictates the glass used. You very rarely see clear glass used anymore for exterior glazing as it has no rating and will not meet the energy specs put in under Obama.

    • Can’t have fully translucent glass, it isn’t bird friendly.

  4. Next time someone says, “Why more office space? The office is dead!”—I’m gonna send them here to look at the 15-years leases!

    • I totally agree! Investors wouldn’t be financing office building construction/renovation – whether supertall or small – if “the office is dead!”.

      • Dgold, please tell that to Marks comment below and give him a piece of your mind. That would be very much appreciated for the rest of us intelligent readers and thinkers 😁

    • Let’s make the deniers of New York’s so-called “dead” office comeback stand in front of the doors when the building opens and force them to watch each new worker move in

  5. This building compliments the Metropolitan Life Building very nicely. It’s a handsome design all around.

  6. What a piece of crap that completely ignores the fabulous, and so much better, buildings around it. Wait until no one rents.

    • Wrong—did you read the article? Paragraph under last picture is a list of 15-year leases!

    • You are wrong in three ways. Everyone seems to agree this building is quite nice (limestone at base is restored). It goes out of its way to enhance the surrounding buildings around it (does not block the view of the clocktower). And there are tenants renting

    • “Wait until no one rents?” Did you not read the entire article to the very end?!? My God, you’re an example of the failing American education system.

      Your question just showed how uneducated, impatient, and illiterate you are, and hope you’re smart enough to read this comment 🤬

    • Mark, I would love to make you stand in front of the front doors when the building opens to its tenants and watch each person walk inside to their office and pass you to see how wrong you are

    • Phillip Gutierrez | May 12, 2023 at 9:38 pm | Reply

      The only crappy thing I see here is you inability to read through a whole story

    • Scott Preston | May 13, 2023 at 9:18 am | Reply

      Mark, what are all those companies listed at the bottom of the article then? Did you not see it and understand this building is significantly rented out, or are you just completely ignoring and pushing the idea that New York is dead?

  7. This building and its facade went up so fast! Can’t wait to see it finished soon and how the glass will look without all those paper squares on the inside part

  8. David : Sent From Heaven. | May 13, 2023 at 3:38 am | Reply

    Steakhouse and 800 patrons so nice what it is designed, I have eaten several times cause impressed by beef tenderness. About grid of metal bars protrudes show a degree of depth, that’s visible pinpointing marks beautiful item. Bars were work with its protruding, suddenly made prominent exterior: Thanks to Michael Young.

  9. You actually believe a landlord?

    • Scott Preston | May 13, 2023 at 9:10 pm | Reply

      The level of ignorance you’ve shown is astoundingly shocking and wish you were joking. Honestly it’s sad to see your extreme level of denial in the way people deny climate change, and hope you take a look at the building in October when the offices open to tenants who DID sign on, and the market and steakhouse open to the public. I’m sure they’ll be fine with one less salty customer

    • Harold Wilkinson | May 14, 2023 at 10:08 am | Reply

      Mark, where is your sense of doubt coming from? There are plenty of other articles and websites that discuss One Madison Avenue signing on tenants. At least pay a visit when the restaurant and public market opens this fall and see for yourself. Otherwise, I don’t see why you vehemently believe that Yimby and every news outlet and website would lie to the public about the building occupancy. That’s not the case for gods sake and why can’t you grasp that simple concept 😡

    • If you got some beef with your landlord, I can see why you feel reluctant to believe what you’re trying to deny in this article. But that still doesn’t mean what Yimby and other news outlets have said is false…

  10. mark—Google it, and pick a source (among dozens of news outlets, or even IBM’s site) that you do believe in. Really.

  11. I was worried that this building would kinda ruin the beautiful metropolitan life insurance building next door, but it really respects the historic building and still lets it shine with the flatiron building as the parks two most prominent buildings. Love the new vertical density that was added to the area😁😁😁

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