One Worldwide Plaza
New York, USA

HEIGHT: 237m/778 feet
FLOORS: 50 floors
COMPLETION: 1989
ARCHITECT: Skidmore, Owings & Merril (SOM)

was completed in 1989 as the 47-storey office portion of the Worldwide Plaza multi-use complex on the site of the previous (third) Madison Square Garden (1925-1966).
The Worldwide Plaza complex extended the influence of Midtown commercial enclave towards the residential West Side. The residential portion of the development (arch. Frank Williams of SOM) comprises of a 38-storey tower and six-storey low-rises bordering a multilevel, landscaped plaza that separates them from the office tower. There are 455 apartments in the residential buildings.

The 2,490 m² public plaza yielded 14,940 m² of additional space within the office tower, but in 2000 the city sued the developers as part of "correctional" activity to improve public spaces of commercial buildings. In 2002, the city agreed to allow the developers to use 250 m² of the space for café seating, a ruling that didn't please the local residents who saw it as a misuse of public plaza space that had allowed more bulk for the office tower in the first place.

The tower rises to the height of 237.5 m, topped by a large pyramidal roof with an illuminated top, reminiscent of the N.Y. Life Insurance Co. Building, the original inspiration for the design.

The base of the tower comprises an east-west-orientated vaulted ellipse pedestrian arcade -- the plan of the tower itself differs notably from that with its Empire State-like wings covering the long ends of the ellipse next to the sheer square tower. The lone set-back of the tower occurs on the chamfered corners of the top. The facade is clad in brown-toned and white brick.

The building has become a landmark on the West Side skyline, albeit still a lone example deep within the neighbourhood of Hell's Kitchen/Clinton.

The 140,000 m² building was successful in getting tenants early on due to the relatively low office rents and the proximity to the Rockefeller Center. The success of the complex has, in fact, encouraged the ongoing redevelopment of the Times Square area in the 1990s.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/worldwide_plaza/images/1worldwide_plaza_night_06oct.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/worldwide_plaza/images/wwp_j28.jpg

http://img51.photobucket.com/albums/v156/AtlanticaC5/1ww.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/532/4023104_0470.jpg

http://www.som.com/resources/projects/2/1/6/wwplazastreetview_355.jpg

I didn't care for this one at first. It's ok now. 7/10

Not my favourite style but it's ok.

6.5/10

I've got a book that goes through this building's construction...anyone else have it?

I'm not sure if it still is, but upon completion, I know that this was the World's tallest building to utilize a brick facade. I consider it to be one of the very few buildings that David Childs has done that isn't an embarrassment. In fact, I actually like it. The top is overscaaled, the massing is too streamlined, and the facade is a bit bland, but it is a nice PoMo design overall...

8.0/10

It's okay, but the shape is a bit boring and so is the facade. Could've been designed better and had more setbacks.

6/10

i havent seen much buildings with roofs on them.. old and classical.. love it.. 9

brick?? all the way up?? thats cool. . i really have alternating opinions on this tower . .but today i like it .. 7.5/10

actually I thought it was an old NYC skyscraper from the pics!...it certainly blends well into the skyline and an all brick facade as well...impressive...this building should age nicely...love it...9/10.

8.5/10

I like these kinda designs. This one is a bit boxy though. Prefer the Atlantic Ctr in Atlanta.

6.5/10 - I like the chamfered walls and the crenelations along the roof line. But the overall effect is kind of dull and boxy. It needs more setbacks, and the pyramid crown doesn't work. They should have carried the walls upward with a series of setbacks.

seen better, seen worse

6/10

The profile of Worldwide Plaza always looks great when looking at the Manhattan skyline or from just about anywhere in the city. It's a bit too massy for my likings, but I give it credit for it's interesting base.

6.5

trying for that retro gimmick a bit too much, and it shows

... 6

7/10 nice old building

it's massive! 9/10

I like how the top point glows like that at night. Reminds me of the main tower at Canary Wharf in London. ->8/10

Built in the '80's, eh?

7/10

I really have no opinion on it, it looks a bit chubby.

7/10
It's OK, nice old building

This building is awesome. Very proportionate but bulky as well, which I like. Love the slightly contrasting colors on the facade.

9/10

A classic that never dies , more of these are a festivity for my eyes ! an 9

Completed in 1989? You wouldn't say that. 7.5/10

Really good! The crown...quite massive too.
8.5/10

Nice job imitating the look of older skyscrapers. Some nice detailing. On the other hand, it is too fat and the crown is way out of proportion to the rest of the building. The goods and bads average out to a 5.

I could see the top of this building from my hotelroom on Hotel Edison when I was in NY in October 2002. 9/10!!

10/10. I like the design of this building. One Worldwide Plaza also stands out well in Midtown Manhattan like the Empire State Building. One of my favorites as well. :D

9 I like this one... looks very old... sort of an art moderne look to it... love the brick facade... the setbacks near the top... and the pitched roof

While I like the colour of the facade, it's still plain, and it has a bulky appearance. As Ahmed Tahboub said a while back, it looks like a fat pencil. 5.5/10

7.5/10

Trying too much to look like a classic..but lacking the grace of yesteryears? 7.5/10.

a good one 7.0/10

6.5/10 i don't think the top fits the brick facade that well. i would have prefered it not there.

Awful, doesn´t deserve Top 101-200.

2/10

Quite nice. But I wouldn't want to see a whole sea of pink buildings like them. 8/10

awesome! 10, reminds me one atlantic center in atlanta

Naw. The body of the building and the top have nothing in common, they don't connect. Some nice efforts at detailing, but far too skimpy.

6.0.

8/10...It has a great facade and colors, but then the top comes and throws off the whole building. Though I do think David Childs (the architect) accomplished what he wanted by adding a top that attracts attention from the rest of the building and is visible in the skyline.

3,5-10

I do not like clones

its ok, i just dont like the top. 7/10

facade: ok, just those white things there i think are wrongplaced
form: ok, top maybe a little little bit too big
points: 8.5

7.5/10


it looks ok

It doesn't involve itself in the era in which it was built, and that irritates me. The roof is the worst part of it !


3/10

7/10

my fave in nyc! love its art-deco look, very charming, one-of-a-kind. goes to show that art deco scrapers can be built with modern day materials and what makes it better than some of the '20s '30s scrapers is that it actually have a bright look to it. they should build more of these contemporary art deco skyscrapers.

10

i LOVE that little brother-old brother-like relationship within the complex! 10/10!

I like Child's attempt at po-mo, and I generally disslike po-mo. Still, not quite as good as the IBM Tower (or whatever it's called now) in Atlanta, my favorite po-mo building. 7/10

7/10

looks like a torch when it steams up

6/10

I can't believe some of the low scores I've seen on here.

This building is fabulous!

It combines a classic style with a modern look, and it really stands out on the skyline.

I love it.

9/10

7/10

Too fat. 7.0

love it!! i like the roof the most. if the bottom is slimmer, it is gonna look so much better;)

8.5/10

9 stunning

This one's something special. The crown and facade are perfect. I give it a Perfect 10/10. :yes:

Nice attempt, ruined apparently by cheap-looking materials, or by lack of cleaning/painting. The massing is a bit blocky and lacks elegance.
The illuminated fumes at night on the crown is one great idea ! But when there's no fumes it looks a bit stupid... The name's also stupid ^^
5.5

8.5/10

Everything's nice except for the top. Good, nonetheless. 8.

8/10

It fits perfectly in NYC.

There is something I don't like about this tower but I give it a 6.5/10

7.5/10

4/10

9/10.

7/10

8/10

quite fat, 7.5/10

10/10!

The king of 8th Ave, the complex includes residential buildings and a huge plaza. The building is beautiful, and is a nice beacon at night. I see tourists taking pictures of it all the time!

7.5/10

4/10 out of date

It's a clone of old NYC scrapers, but quite good one ;) 7,5/10

7/10

6,5/10

8/10

7/10
It's OK

cool and massive but not really my type 7.5/10

8/10.... Quite like it

7/10

7/10 :)

8.5 - This looks like an awesome buildiing. SOM did a really jobn trying to recreate the architecture of the 1920s-1940s

Too fat. 7/10

7/10 Classy.

7/10.

6.5/10 dont really like it

Its one of the few modern buildings in the world that tries to evoke a "built back in the 30's" feel that works. Its squat and ultra thick for its height but a fantastic crown, fantastic facade, and fantastic coloring make up for it and more. The base entrance is gorgeous in person. Of of the top 5 in NYC IMO.

10/10

8/10.

Nice enough tower that doesn't stand out or particually offend in Manhattan's upward sprawl. 7/10

7/10.

3,5/10

8/10

10/10

7/10

looks very massive, 8.5/10

7.5/10

I like the texture and warm color of the building but I don't like the color of the crown. It's a mismatch.

8.5/10

7/10

7/10

7/10, not really my type of building

Massive building and gives the impression of power. This is a good way of bringing back the past architecture. 8/10

8.5 nice.

6/10 not really liking the design

7.5 / 10

7/10

Nah not my style. 6 out of 10.

7/10

ok

8/10

Massive but nice design.
8/10

Nice 8.0

Not bad 7/10

Nice crown, heck, nice tower. 8/10

10! because it remainds me the older skycrappers

8.0/10

8/10

not bad 7/10

9/10

Ugly... 4/10 :down:

8/10

ugly...3,5/10

9/10

8/10

shit 4

i really like it, though the design is nothing special :)

I really like the top !

6.5

6/10

Images show the first floors

5/10

dont like it 5/10

vhea plaza

5/10

Nice design!

9/10

7/10

9/10:)

9/10
I like these kind of buildings!!!!!

8/10...i like the old styling of it...just a bit too fat!

6.5/10

I was in this hotel. Inside he looks like the palace, but outside.......:)

Objectively judging I am giving 7/10

7.5/10

7,5/10

7/10

6.5/10

This one is good but deserved to be taller. Illumination at night is beautiful !

7.0/10

Gotta love New York buildings- 8/10

Gotta love New York buildings- 8/10

Many yes but not all. This gets noticed in away it would not were it a couple of avenues further East and lost in the jungle. Thus it stands out in a way it doesn't realy deserve to. Not bad. Not great by any means. 6.

7.0

not bad, 7/10.

8. Good building. Regards.

8.5/10

8/10

5.5/10

Too bulky to pull off an otherwise solidly referrential design. 6

6.5/10

5.5

7.5/10

voted 7.5/10

8/10

I like it
9/10

This building scored 7.41 on average. Go to http://gbuscraper.blogspot.com/2010/07/one-worldwide-plaza-new-york-city-74110.html to read more.

7/10

I've seen better postmodern ones, but it's still a 8/10

9/10

7/10

7.5/10

7/10

8.5/10

7.5 it makes me think of one of those giant joke pencils you get from the dollar store...

8/10

7/10 fine to me

7/10

7/10

6/10

7/10

8/10

7.5/10

I've liked this building for a long time, but I didn't know that it was built by SOM or that it was still relatively young. It looks older.

8,5/10

7.5 :okay:

5.5/10.

7/10

8/10