Brutalist architecture in Manhattan? Kips Bay Tower South is that and more. This massive structure stands as a testament to I.M. Pei’s vision. Prepare to delve into the story of this iconic condominium complex.
Kips Bay Tower South is one of two residential buildings. It is located in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan. The complex boasts 1118 units. Its construction finished in 1965. The towers were designed in the brutalist style by I.M. Pei and S. J. Kessler. James Ingo Freed also contributed to the design.
Originally, Kips Bay Tower South was known as Kips Bay Plaza. Webb & Knapp developed it as middle-income rental apartments. It transitioned to condominiums in the mid-1980s. The complex spans three city blocks. This covers about 7.5 acres. It is bounded by First and Second avenues. It lies between East 30th and 33rd streets.
Interestingly, the development arose from a slum clearance project. This was under Title I of the federal Housing Act of 1949. NYU leaders wanted the city to clear slums. These slums were on the west side of First Avenue. They wanted them cleared for the new medical center.
Robert Moses revealed plans for a state housing project. This would improve the area west of the medical center. The city’s Committee on Slum Clearance Plans surveyed the area. The survey was for condemning land. They wanted to redevelop it with middle-income housing. NYU-Bellevue Medical Center provided funds for the survey.
Initially, the project was called the NYU–Bellevue project. Plans included five 14-story residential buildings. These would contain 840 apartments. There would also be stores, a professional building, and a parking garage. The city swapped ownership of 31st and 32nd streets. This created a superblock between First and Second avenues.
However, the Committee on Slum Clearance Plans forced University Center Inc. to surrender the project. Webb & Knapp took over in 1957. William Zeckendorf assigned I.M. Pei to the project. The name changed to Kips Bay Plaza. The site plan was modified to include two 20-story towers. Pei aimed to remove the “project-itis” from Kips Bay Plaza.
I.M. Pei used concrete in Kips Bay Tower South’s construction. This was unusual for apartment towers at the time. He wanted a Picasso sculpture for the open space. Instead, he chose fifty saplings.
A groundbreaking ceremony occurred in 1959. The south tower opened in 1960. Model apartments showcased different styles. These included Danish, Italian, and Japanese styles. The movie theater opened in 1962.
Zeckendorf Property Corporation sold Kips Bay Plaza to Alcoa Corporation in 1962. In 1972, William Zeckendorf Jr. purchased Kips Bay Plaza. The name changed to Kips Bay Towers. Lee National Corporation bought a majority stake in 1979. They planned to convert the buildings into condominiums.
Kips Bay Towers Inc. presented a condo offering plan in 1980. Sales were temporarily halted in 1983. A state judge ruled the condo offering plans were valid in 1984.
The site allocated for a professional building remained vacant. It became Greenberg Hall in 1986. The towers were renovated in the 2000s and 2010s. Solar panels were installed in 2009.
Today, Kips Bay Tower South stands as a residential icon. Its brutalist design and rich history make it a unique landmark in Manhattan.