The story of the Flatiron Building
First up, here are some explanations of the creation, design and history of the Flatiron Building.
His creation
The Flatiron Building was created in 1902 as the Fuller Building on behalf of George A. Fuller, a businessman. At that time, the Flatiron Building was considered the tallest building in New York City, but over time this first place was taken from it. Indeed, other iconic buildings of the Big Apple have overtaken it, such as the Empire State Building or the One World Trade Center, which is today the tallest skyscraper in the city.
From the start of its creation, the Flatiron Building made a name for itself. Its original shape (triangular with a fine point) did not go unnoticed and it is also because of the latter that this skyscraper was nicknamed the Flatiron Building (Flatiron means iron in English).
This New York building was created by Daniel Burnham, an American architect. This building was built on a triangular island located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Broadway and 23rd Street. It has only three facades and its creator was inspired by New Arts style of Fine Arts to build it. Some elements of classical Greek architecture also adorn this charming building.
Note: this crossing is the only one that does not have right angles. Therefore, it was necessary to construct a pointed building at the intersection.
The Flatiron Building was also one of the first buildings to be constructed from a steel frame and its cladding is concrete.
Currently, the Flatiron Building is an office building intended for commercial use.
Some figures on the Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building was built in 24 months only. It measures 86.9 meters tall, it counts 22 floors in total and its tip is only 2 meters wide.
Even though the Flatiron Building cannot be fully visited, thousands of tourists flock to admire the facade of this authentic building and take some pictures of this one of a kind building!
In 1989, the Flatiron Building was classified national historic site.
How is the Flatiron Building divided?
As stated before, the structure of the Flatiron Building is very unusual and original. This building can however be divided into three different parts :
- The base designed with steel is made up of raised floors.
- The central part which concentrates the 22 floors of this building.
- The upper part which includes Greek columns and the apartment built a few years after the construction of the building.
Visiting the Flatiron Building: it's possible, but ...
While in New York, a walk past the Flatiron Building is a must! From the outside, you will be amazed by its incredible shape and architecture.
Once in front of this building, do not hesitate to push the entrance doors to it. There are two people and these are located on Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
Inside, you can discover a entrance hall (rather narrow) and a reception desk. On the walls, you will have the chance to see a small presentation retracing the history of this skyscraper.
If you want to explore the other floors, be aware that this is unfortunately impossible. During your visit, you will therefore have to limit yourself to the reception hall (which is worth the look anyway). This little visit is free and the Flatiron Building open its doors every day from 11 a.m. to 20 p.m..
Flatiron Building: a very famous skyscraper!
Since its inauguration, the Flatiron Building has enjoyed some success. Moreover, some time after its opening, this building housed the headquarters of the famous newspaper The New York Times.
The Flatiron Building has also inspired film professionals since this skyscraper was used in Spider Man films: it houses the offices of Daily Bugle, the newspaper where Peter Parker works.
In the famous movie Godzilla, we can also see the Flatiron Building destroyed as a result of the monster passing through the streets of New York. You may also have seen this skyscraper in the movie Mr. Popper and his Penguins where actor Jim Carrey, a real estate agent in the movie, has his offices in this building.
This building has also inspired photographers like Alvin Langdon Coburn and painters like the French Albert Gleizes.
The Flatiron Building is therefore a very famous whose success is undoubtedly not about to end!
How do you best experience the Flatiron Building?
Contemplating the Flatiron Building during your trip to New York is highly recommended. But you might be wondering how admire this building iconic. To help you, here are some tips:
- Arrive on Fifth Avenue. To do this, get off at the 28th street subway station (lines N and R), then head towards Fifth Avenue via 26th or 27th street. Arriving in this direction, you will be able to see an original shape approaching.
- Spend a little time at Madison Square Park. This park will allow you to relax while admiring the facade of the Flatiron Building.
How do I get to the Flatiron Building?
The full address of the Flatiron Building is: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010.
As noted at the start of this article, the Flatiron Building is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and 23rd Street. To get there, you will need to take the N, R, W subway lines and get off at Fifth Avenue-59th Street station. You have arrived !
To help you better situate yourself, here is a plan:
Conquer the surroundings of the Flatiron Building
Once you've finished gazing at the Flatiron Building, be sure to check out the surroundings of this skyscraper that has a lot of good surprises !
First of all, why not go for a stroll on Fifth Avenue? Renowned around the world, the latter is a true paradise for all shopping addicts. On this emblematic avenue, many shops open their doors to show you their products. You will not leave empty-handed, that's for sure!
Otherwise, if you get hungry after your discovery of the Flatiron Building, I advise you to go to Madison Square Park close to the building. Here, you can go to Shake Shack, a famous restaurant chain that offers delicious burgers in a pleasant setting and a warm atmosphere (it's one of my favorite places by the way).
Finally, take the opportunity to walk around and discover the other symbolic buildings of the city. Among them, there is the Rockefeller Center and its famous Top of The Rock located also on Fifth Avenue or Saint Patrick's Cathedral which is in front of the latter.
With that, I wish you a good discovery of this famous Flatiron Building. Don't forget to go and discover the other unmissable monuments of New York! Anyway, take your camera with you to take some pretty pictures and keep wonderful memories of your trip to the Big Apple! Have a nice stay!
