Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center
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Name	Rockefeller Center
Location	New York City, New York, United States
Architect	Raymond Hood, John Mead Howells, Reinhard & Hofmeister
Owner	Tishman Speyer, Nissan
Height	850 feet (259 m)

Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 Art Deco buildings, was developed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in the 1930s, with the help of Reinhard & Hofmeister and Raymond Hood. The center was built on a site that was previously occupied by the Elgin Botanic Garden, which was established by David Hosack in 1801, and later became part of Columbia University. The construction of the center was a massive undertaking, involving the work of thousands of laborers, including International Brotherhood of Teamsters members, and was supported by Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal programs, such as the Works Progress Administration and the Federal Theatre Project. The center's development was also influenced by the Museum of Modern Art, which was founded by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan.

● History

The history of the center dates back to the 1920s, when John D. Rockefeller Jr. began acquiring land in Midtown Manhattan, with the help of William A. White & Sons and Todd, Robertson & Todd. The construction of the center began in 1931, during the Great Depression, and was completed in 1939, with the help of Bechtel Group and Starrett Brothers & Eken. The center was officially opened on November 1, 1939, with a ceremony attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, and other dignitaries, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Hopkins. The center's development was also influenced by the New York City Planning Commission, which was established by Robert Moses, and the Regional Plan Association, which was founded by Charles Dyer Norton.

● Architecture

The architecture of the center is characterized by its Art Deco style, which was popularized by architects such as Raymond Hood, John Mead Howells, and Harold Van Buren Magonigle. The center's buildings were designed by a team of architects, including Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, Harrison & Fouilhoux, and René Chambellan, and feature a range of decorative elements, including sculptures by Paul Manship, Lee Lawrie, and Gaston Lachaise. The center's design was influenced by the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in Paris in 1925, and the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, which was held in 1893. The center's buildings are also notable for their use of Indiana limestone and granite, which were supplied by the Vermont Marble Company and the Georgia Marble Company.

● Complex

The complex consists of 19 buildings, including the GE Building, which was formerly known as the RCA Building, and the Time-Life Building, which was designed by Yasuo Matsui and The Eggers Group. The center also includes a range of public spaces, including the Rockefeller Plaza, which features a large ice skating rink during the winter months, and the Channel Gardens, which were designed by Gilmore D. Clarke and feature a range of plant species, including rhododendrons and azaleas. The center is also home to a number of NBCUniversal studios, including Saturday Night Live, which is produced by Lorne Michaels, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which is produced by Jimmy Fallon and Josh Lieb. The center's complex is managed by Tishman Speyer, which is a New York City-based real estate company founded by Jerry Speyer and Robert Tishman.

● Attractions

The center is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year, including those visiting the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, which offers stunning views of New York City and the Hudson River. The center is also home to a range of attractions, including the NBC Studio Tour, which takes visitors behind the scenes of NBCUniversal's studios, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which features the Rockettes and is produced by Madison Square Garden Entertainment. The center's attractions are also influenced by the Museum of Modern Art, which is located nearby and features a range of modern and contemporary art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Andy Warhol. The center is also close to other popular attractions, including the Empire State Building, which was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, and the New York Public Library, which was designed by Carrère and Hastings.

● Media

The center has been featured in a range of media, including films such as The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which was produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, and The Avengers, which was produced by Kevin Feige and Alan Fine. The center has also been featured in television shows such as 30 Rock, which was created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, and Saturday Night Live, which is produced by Lorne Michaels and features a range of comedians, including Eddie Murphy and Bill Murray. The center's media presence is also influenced by the New York Times, which is headquartered nearby and features a range of news and opinion pieces, including those by Nicholas Kristof and Paul Krugman. The center is also close to other media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by News Corp, and the New York Daily News, which is owned by Mortimer Zuckerman.

● Operations

The center's operations are managed by Tishman Speyer, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the complex, including the maintenance of the buildings and the public spaces. The center is also home to a range of businesses, including NBCUniversal, which is a leading media company founded by RCA and General Electric, and Time Warner, which is a leading media conglomerate founded by Steve Ross and Ted Turner. The center's operations are also influenced by the New York City Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the management of the city's transportation infrastructure, including the New York City Subway and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The center is also close to other major transportation hubs, including Grand Central Terminal, which is operated by Metro-North Railroad, and Penn Station, which is operated by Amtrak and New Jersey Transit.