Chanin Building

[Rich Battista]

The Chanin Building is located at 122 east 42nd street and was completed in 1928, reaching a whopping height of 680 feet. This 56 story towers blunt buttressed crown became a symbol for New York's crushing modernist drive. The buff-brick, limestone, and terra-cotta tower is a fascinating synthesis of skyscraper styles. The giant limestone buttresses at the base and crown are a conscience reference to the skyscrapers stylistic origins in the gothic world. Its giant 680 foot shaft rises uninterrupted for 22 stories above a series od shallow setbacks. The thinness of this slab viewed from uptown or downtown, creates a classic Art Deco setback silhouette. This is a two in one solution which was copied also by the McGraw Hill Building, and Rockefeller Center. The crowns reverse is lit at night so that the buttresses are thrown into shadow, and the recesses are illuminated.
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This building, built as leaseable office space, the building presents itself as a high point of creation. A bronze frieze located at street level depicts it as the sea and the tower as land. Another frieze on the 4th floor of the fascade proclaims itself as a building of the 2oth century.
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Please feel free to reply and please send pictures of this wonder, thank you Rich Battista * *

[noharmony]

Here is an old postcard of Chrysler and Chanin buildings





And here some current photographs of the Chanin Building

[Rich Battista]

Thanks Noharmony for the pictures of the Chanin Building. Can you do anything for me with Citicorp????

[Edward]

From the old postcard: The Chanin building




From the old photograph: The Chrysler, the Chanin, and the Lincoln buildings





(Edited by Stern at 7:42 pm on May 13, 2003)

[Rich Battista]

Thanks Edward for the great pictures
Thanks, Rich

[redbrick]

one of my favorite art deco buildings...

[pernot]

Chanin is not only a famous skyscraper, it is also (ans as a matter of fact, it is before) a small herdsman's hut in the mountains of Savoie, France. It is a kind of skyscraper too, as it is at 2200 m alt. (7220 feet). You can see it at
http://www.chanin.net

[Bob]

Art Deco RULES!! This is a fabulous, timeless building!

Two more observations:

1. Would be neat if the building's observation deck were reopened. That would also make for one heckuva restaurant: Windows on the Chrysler.

2. The Chanin's floral leaf frieze design has been copied (or simulated) on the elevator doors on one of Holland-America Lines newer cruise ships, the Oosterdam. Was on that ship earlier this year and noticed the art-deco doors right away. I knew the design from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it. Now, I know it came from the Chanin. (Somebody here can probably find a picture of those elevator doors, right?)