Citigroup Center

[NYguy]

The former Citicorp Center, completed in 1977, stands 915 ft tall, one of the tallest in Manhattan.
It's also one of my favorite Manhattan skyscrapers.

APRIL 22, 2007

1.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641195/large.jpg


2.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641199/large.jpg


3.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641213/large.jpg


4.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641222/large.jpg


5.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641224/large.jpg


6.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641232/large.jpg


7.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641239/large.jpg


8.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641241/large.jpg


9.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641243/large.jpg


10.
http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641265/large.jpg

[NYguy]

http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641195/medium.jpg_http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641232/medium.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641199/medium.jpg_http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641213/medium.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641222/medium.jpg_http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641224/medium.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641239/medium.jpg_http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641243/medium.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641241/medium.jpg_http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/77641265/medium.jpg

[pianoman11686]

You just gotta love a tower like this. Crazy base, one of the most distinctive roofs in the world, and a ton of engineering controversy. Aside from the East River view from Long Island City, I think one of my favorite places to watch this tower is when walking up 5th Avenue between 52nd & 53rd streets. Thanks for the pics, NYguy.

Fun fact of the day: Citigroup occupies less than half of the building.

[NYguy]

Thanks for the pics, NYguy.

Fun fact of the day: Citigroup occupies less than half of the building.

Yer welcome. For some reason, I liked the name better when it was Citicorp.

[MidtownGuy]

Definitely one of my favorites too. What a feeling of wonder it inspires when you stand under it and look up at the huge support columns and the overhang(love the square grid under there, what scale it gives);
I'm lucky because it's 2 blocks away so I see it every day:)

The tourists get googly-eyed when seeing it for the first time. I've often thought about sitting there with my camera, to capture the awe-struck expressions as they approach.

Thanks for posting these great shots.

[Stern]

You just gotta love a tower like this. Crazy base, one of the most distinctive roofs in the world, and a ton of engineering controversy.

All that and in my mind a nearly perfect, very tight design. How many times have we seen architects over do it, trying to push the envelope and just going to far and missing the point of good design. Citicorp not only incorporates all these elements but it applies them as a whole, it is an exceptional building, made more so when considering the era it was built in.

[BrooklynRider]

I love it. It is impressive on the skyline and even more impressive at street level - not the usual combo for a NY building.

[Viktorkrum77]

I love it too, especially the roof and the windows.

However I heard it has a church in it's base. But, like where? And a church in an office building? That doesn't seem to go together very well. :confused:

[pianoman11686]

St. Peter's Church is housed in a separate building on the SE corner of 54th & Lexington, literally right below the underbelly of Citigroup Center. Originally they wanted to build on the full block site, but the church wouldn't move. Hence the unique positioning of the columns.

[BrooklynRider]

The church is designed to look like "a rock" under the building. St. Peter aka the rock the Roman Catholic Church was built upon. It actually works quite well in the grand scheme.

[Fabrizio]

Way better than most things done in the 1970's, but still not one of my favorite buildings: I have an aversion to sunken plazas (Rockefeller Center excepted), the sad atrium/mall (or maybe it's gotten better in the last couple of years, but still...) , the slit like windows, the slanted roof still waiting for those solar panels.... BUT those are the best photos I've ever seen of it. Good eye.... my compliments.


---

[Luca]

Gotta go with Fabrizio on this one; I like the pictures better than the actual building. The fact it's so light in color, though, is a major plus, especially for such a large, chunky building.

[stache]

Even still very distinctive on our skyline.

[ryan]

the sad atrium/mall (or maybe it's gotten better in the last couple of years, but still...)

Nope, still downscale and gloomy.

[NYguy]

It's rare to see a Manhattan building that more people like than not. I think this one never got the due it deserves in New York, the city of Chrysler, Empire State, and the WTC. As distinctive as it is, most people probably wouldn't be able to tell you what city it's in. I think it should be right up there with those New York icons.

[NYguy]

From the City Review...
http://www.thecityreview.com/citicorp.html

A better look at the base and church...

http://www.thecityreview.com/citi2.gif


http://www.thecityreview.com/citi1.gif


http://www.thecityreview.com/plazas30.gif


Quote from the review...

The new St. Peter's church building is shaped abstractly like two hands held together in prayer, with large vertical windows offering passersby glimpses into its interior and the Erol Beker Chapel that contains a large sculptural wall by Louise Nevelson. The church was well known for its jazz programs under the Rev. Ralph E. Peterson, and those programs have continued after its rebuilding.

The gray granite-clad church structure's sharply angled form echoes the angularity of the Citicorp Center roofline. At first glance, the form and texture of the church appears a bit ungainly and perhaps it might have been more attractive if it had been clad in the same material as the tower, or even better, a chrome-colored surface. While it was understandable that the church wanted to have its own identity separate from the tower, it is a little lamentable that its unpolished granite facade was not polished or more similar, and better, than the tower's. As it is, the church's facade seems a little like a poor relation.Nonetheless, the contrapuntal concept is marvelous and works well.

The bank had hoped that it could convince the city to extend the special zoning district it had created for much of midtown Fifth Avenue to its new site so that it could build a bigger building by including apartments at the top. The angled roofline was originally conceived to be composed of setback penthouses facing south for maximum exposure. The city, however, did not go along with such suggestions, but the striking form took on a design force of its own. For a long time, however, the slant was planned to go down from the top to the west to relate to the angled top of the Chrysler Building as viewed from north on Lexington Avenue.

When the apartment component of the mixed-use project was dropped, however, the bank considered its present configuration, facing south, to maximize its potential for using solar collectors to help lower the building's energy costs. That technology, however, was not well enough advanced and the plan for the collectors was dropped, but the form was kept.

[Fabrizio]

BTW: it should be noted that the sunken plaza was given a redo a number of years ago. Originally it was paved in smooth brown brick, a look that made little sense in Midtown, but was popular at the time. Still I don't think those sunken plazas have ever worked in Manhattan (Rock Center the excepton). The one at the GM building was finally covered over.

The church always looked like an air shaft... what a wasted opportunity. Does it have a form... an impact.... that sticks in anyone's mind?

[Deimos]

The views from the Citigroup center are absolutely fantastic as well, I always enjoy looking at it at night as well when it's all lit up too.

[macreator]

Some shots I took recently:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x64/macreator/citiblock.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x64/macreator/citilip.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x64/macreator/citigroup.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x64/macreator/citi.jpg

[macreator]

I enjoy Citigroup's placement next to the Lipstick Building (53rd at 3rd)

[antinimby]

CITI TOWER CALLED RIPE FOR SOLAR


By CHUCK BENNETT

May 8, 2007 (http://www.nypost.com/seven/05082007/news/regionalnews/citi_tower_called_ripe_for_solar_regionalnews_chuc k_bennett.htm) -- The iconic 45-degree slant of the CitiCorp Center's roof was originally intended for Earth-friendly solar panels. Thirty years ago, however, the technology wasn't ready.

Now, advocates are beaming at the chance to harness the sun's rays atop one of Manhattan's most recognizable towers.

"It is, without a doubt, a feasible project, especially since the building is designed for it," Bob Reedy, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, told The Post.

But building owner Boston Properties, headed by Daily News boss Mort Zuckerman, isn't sunny on solar. (Mort Zuckerman http://wirednewyork.com/forum/images/icons/icon13.gif)

Copyright 2007 NYP Holdings, Inc.

[MidtownGuy]

This building is Gorgeous, capital G.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/492272018_d69c6c46d6_b.jpg





http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/492272020_66cedfbad9_b.jpg





http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/492272012_cada97089f_b.jpg

[alonzo-ny]

Why wouldnt boston properties take the opportunity of good publicity and put solar panels on? never mind fufilling the design aim.

[NYguy]

This building is Gorgeous, capital G.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/492272018_d69c6c46d6_b.jpg

Sweet. That Bloomberg Tower (3rd photo) angers me.

[NYguy]

Some shots I took recently:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x64/macreator/citiblock.jpg


Anywhere else, the "lipstick" building would have been iconic. It's not the greatest design, but it's one of those Manhattan towers that stick out from the crowd.

[macreator]

Anywhere else, the "lipstick" building would have been iconic. It's not the greatest design, but it's one of those Manhattan towers that stick out from the crowd.

Agreed. I like it a lot because of how different it is especially among the relentless row of boxes on 3rd Avenue in the 40's and 50's.

[TREPYE]

Sweet. That Bloomberg Tower (3rd photo) angers me.

At that height it definitely could have been better.

[pianoman11686]

My favorite view of the building:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r260/pianoman11686/SA700855-1.jpg

[Dagrecco82]

A rarely seen view.

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/js300/2042463234/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2042463234_f69bf1d2c4_o.jpg

[antinimby]

Should've installed solar panels.

[Skylimitone]

Shame!

[vanshnookenraggen]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/114/314682445_b6651a4d27_o.jpg

I have a few others I like a bit more but I can't seem to find them now.

[DarrylStrawberry]

^ great pic.

[negromarquina835]

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9398/citigroupcenterslimbr7.jpg

Almost seems to be floating here. Its quite an amazing tower.