MetLife Building
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| MetLife Building | |
|---|---|
| Name | MetLife Building |
| Caption | The MetLife Building viewed from Park Avenue |
| Location | Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40, 45, 12, N... |
| Start date | 1960 |
| Completion date | 1963 |
| Opening | 1963 |
| Height | 808 ft (246 m) |
| Floor count | 59 |
| Architect | Emery Roth & Sons, Pietro Belluschi, Walter Gropius |
| Structural engineer | Severud Associates |
| Developer | Erwin S. Wolfson |
| Owner | Tishman Speyer |
| Former names | Pan Am Building (1963–1992) |
MetLife Building is a prominent 59-story office skyscraper located at 200 Park Avenue in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City. Originally known as the Pan Am Building, it was completed in 1963 and served as the global headquarters for Pan American World Airways until 1992. The building is a defining feature of the city's skyline, situated directly north of Grand Central Terminal and forming a key part of the Park Avenue corridor. Its distinctive octagonal shape and sheer scale have made it one of the most recognizable, and at times controversial, commercial structures in Manhattan.
History
The site was previously occupied by the Grand Central Terminal train sheds and the former New York Central Building. Developer Erwin S. Wolfson spearheaded the project, aiming to create a massive modern office complex atop the terminal. The design consortium included the firm Emery Roth & Sons, renowned architect Pietro Belluschi, and the founder of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius. Its construction, which began in 1960, was a major engineering feat involving the integration with the active rail lines of the New York Central Railroad. Upon its opening in 1963, it became the world's largest commercial office space by volume and was immediately occupied by its anchor tenant, Pan American World Airways. Following the bankruptcy of Pan Am, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company purchased the building in 1981 and renamed it in 1992, a change that coincided with the airline's dissolution.
Architecture
The architecture is a prime example of the International Style, characterized by its minimalist facade of white Vermont marble and bronze-tinted glass. The structure's most notable feature is its elongated octagonal floor plan, designed to maximize office space and provide distinctive corner offices. The building's top features a prominent helipad, which was operational until a fatal accident in 1977 involving a New York Airways helicopter. The base of the building integrates with the deck over Grand Central Terminal, and its main lobby is connected directly to the terminal's concourse via a series of ramps and escalators. The design was influenced by the modernist principles of Walter Gropius and the corporate aesthetic championed by Pietro Belluschi.
Tenancy
As a Class A office tower, it has historically housed major corporate headquarters and prestigious professional firms. Its original anchor, Pan American World Airways, occupied several floors until its demise. Following the acquisition by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the building was renamed and the insurer became a major occupant. Other significant past and present tenants have included international law firms like Debevoise & Plimpton, financial institutions, and various consulates. The building is currently owned and managed by the real estate firm Tishman Speyer, which has undertaken significant capital improvements. Its location above a major transportation hub continues to make it a highly desirable address for businesses seeking visibility in Midtown Manhattan.
In popular culture
The building has been featured prominently in numerous films, television shows, and literary works, often symbolizing corporate power or the imposing nature of New York City's built environment. It appears in the opening credits of the television series *The Apprentice* and has been depicted in movies such as Catch Me If You Can and *Spider-Man*. Its distinctive silhouette and former Pan Am logo made it a frequent backdrop in media from the 1960s through the 1980s. The building has also been referenced in songs by artists including Billy Joel and The Beastie Boys, and it serves as a key location in the novel The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe.