Lipstick Building

In the heart of Midtown, a slender, crimson skyscraper pierces the New York skyline. This, my friends, is the Lipstick Building. Its elliptical form and vibrant hue have earned it a memorable nickname. The Lipstick Building stands as a testament to the innovative vision of architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Their design, commissioned by developer Gerald D. Hines in 1981, intended to create a “memorable landmark” amidst the cityscape. The Lipstick Building, officially known as 885 Third Avenue or 53rd at Third, truly stands out on Third Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets. Completed in 1986, this 34-story office building reaches a height of 453 feet. Its unique elliptical shape was a strategic response to the city’s zoning considerations at the time. It allowed pedestrians to easily navigate the corners and maximized light and air for the building itself. The building’s form is not a perfect ellipse, but rather a complex polygon with over a hundred sides. This design allows for the striking setbacks above the 19th and 27th floors, while maintaining the overall lipstick-like silhouette. The façade, a blend of red Imperial granite and stainless steel, further emphasizes the building’s resemblance to its namesake. The red granite panels, interspersed with gray-framed ribbon windows and stainless-steel accents, create a visually captivating effect. Adding to this distinctive appearance are the 28 double-height columns at the base. These columns, a combination of stainless steel and granite, rise 28 feet, supporting the structure while also creating a covered arcade around much of the building’s perimeter. The Lipstick Building’s unconventional design presented unique engineering challenges. The building’s elliptical shape, coupled with its location on Third Avenue, made it vulnerable to strong northward winds. To counter this, structural engineer Irwin Cantor designed a central core and a tube support system, ensuring the building’s stability. Inside, the Lipstick Building originally boasted four marble-paneled elevators, each featuring a different color of marble. While part of the lobby was later converted into a café, the building maintains a significant presence with almost 580,000 square feet of rentable space. Some of this space was even secured through a deal involving improvements to the nearby Lexington Avenue/51st Street subway station. Throughout its history, the Lipstick Building has been home to various tenants, from financial firms like Morgan Stanley to the infamous Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. It has also seen its share of financial ups and downs, with changes in ownership and even a bankruptcy filing in 2010. Yet, it remains a prominent fixture of the New York City skyline, its bold design continuing to spark conversation and capture the imagination.