Park Avenue transforms before your eyes. Here stands Lever House, a testament to architectural innovation. This iconic office building rises 307 feet into the New York City skyline. It stands at 390 Park Avenue. Constructed between 1950 and 1952, Lever House embodies the International Style.
Gordon Bunshaft and Natalie de Blois from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed it. Lever House was originally the headquarters for Lever Brothers. This soap company was a subsidiary of Unilever. Its sleek design broke away from traditional masonry buildings. Lever House was only the second skyscraper in New York with a glass curtain wall. The United Nations Secretariat Building was the first.
The design incorporates ideas from Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Its form includes a plaza and a slab that occupies only a quarter of its lot. This layout complied with the 1916 Zoning Resolution. The design ensured ample natural light for all offices.
Did you know Lever House has a unique public space? The ground level features an open plaza with a garden. It is legally a privately owned public space. The owners close the plaza to the public for one day each year. This protects against the city taking ownership.
Above the plaza, a glass and stainless steel curtain wall rises. This was the second curtain wall in New York City. The first was on the United Nations Secretariat Building. The glass panes are fixed and cannot be opened. This design choice reduced operating costs. It also kept the building clean.
A special window-washing scaffold cleaned the facade every six days. Lever Brothers wanted Lever House to be a symbol of everlasting cleanliness. The building’s design became a template. Many structures worldwide copied Lever House’s innovative style.
Inside, the space was designed for Lever Brothers’ employees. Much of Lever Brothers’ staff was female. The offices were designed as spaces that women would enjoy working in. The building featured modern amenities. It had air conditioning and a mail conveyor system.
Lever House faced potential demolition in the 1980s. Fisher Brothers planned a 40-story tower on the site. Preservationists rallied to save it. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Lever House as a landmark in 1982. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Unilever moved most of its offices in 1997. RFR Realty took over. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill renovated Lever House. It became a standard office building with multiple tenants.
Lever House remains an architectural marvel. It significantly impacted Park Avenue’s development. The building transformed the avenue from residential to International-style offices. Its design continues to inspire architects. Lever House is a testament to innovative design and corporate vision. It earned multiple architectural awards. It stands as a proud landmark in New York City.