Flatiron building was built in 1902 by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Understandably, due to its unique shape, people walking by the construction area, feared it would topple over their heads. At that time, it was one of the highest buildings in town and the first triangular skyscraper, with only 20 floors (for comparison the WTC has 104 floors). It took the Flatiron building 64 years until it was officially named an NYC landmark and an additional 23 years to get recognition as a national historic landmark. Today it has 21 floors, as the 21st floor was added in 1905 and was designated as a restaurant and an observation deck.
Its original name was the Fuller Building (after architect George A. Fuller, “the father of the skyscraper”) but the nickname “Flatiron” (because it resembles in shape to the clothes iron) given to it by locals, stayed with us until today. I should also note here that this neighborhood (the triangle region contained by Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 22nd and 23rd Streets) was ironically known as the “Flat Iron” prior to the building’s construction.
As 2017 person of the year by TIME magazine was the #MeToo movement, it’s also interesting to note that when the building was open, it had only man bathrooms. Today the men’s and women’s bathrooms are in alternating floors.
In 2009, Italian real estate investment firm Sorgente Group bought 52% of the buildings stakes in order to turn it into a world-class luxury hotel. But, unfortunately, the current tenants, Macmillan Publishers, have a lease until 2020 so we will have to wait patiently before we can explore this building from the inside.
And one tip to end this little story with - every time you go past it, look for the art installations in the Flatiron Prow Art Space, they keep changing it every two months or so.
For more NYC content:
You can find my daily live NYC walks on Facebook - New York Live with Mickey
You are very welcome to join our group ‘What to do in New York’: What to do in New York?
