NEW YORK | American Standard Building | 337 ft / 102 m | 23 Floors | 1924
 

American Standard Building, AKA American Radiator Building, 40 West 40th Street (Raymond Hood & André Fouilhoux, 1924).

The American Radiator Building (since renamed to the American Standard Building) is a landmark skyscraper located at 40 West 40th Street, in midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was conceived by the architects John Howells and Raymond Hood in 1924 and built for the American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Company. The structural form is based on Eliel Saarinen's unbuilt competition entry for Chicago Tribune building.
The architects combined Gothic and modern styles in the design of the building. Black brick on the frontage of the building (symbolizing coal) was selected to give an idea of solidity and to give the building a solid mass. Other parts of the facade were covered in gold bricks (symbolizing fire), and the entry was decorated with marble and black mirrors. Once again, the talents of Rene Paul Chambellan were employed by Hood and Howells for the ornamentation and sculptures.

In 1998, the building was sold to Philip Pilevsky for $150 million. Three years afterwards, the American Radiator Building was converted into The Bryant Park Hotel with 130 rooms and a theatre in the basement.

The landmark status of the exterior required the conversion pay special attention to the renovation of the facade decor, and prohibited proposed changes such as bigger guestroom windows. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID068-A01.jpg
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http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/Midtown045.jpg
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http://www.deadprogrammer.com/photos...ator-build.jpg
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A flippin' gem is what this is. Great details, great location. Great color.

A true gem of a building, yet often overlooked and forgotten.

a jewel, no doubt...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ORKCITY335.jpg

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Here's Saarinen's Tribune Tower entry (mentioned as an influence in the intro):

http://images.ewins.com/digital_asse...405863&mdx=800
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The American Standard Building is one of my all time favorites. It combines Gothic style with the setbacks that became common in the Art Deco designs to come.

That 2nd place Tribune Tower design is probably the most influential building that was never built. Detroit has at least one example in the David Stott Building (constructed in 1929). There may be many buildings in other cities that owe their inspiration to it.

This is one of my favorite buildings in New York, and I would say my favorite "shorter" New York building. In spite of how many skyscrapers New York has and any how many there are that are taller and more well known than this one, it really stands out as a gem.

Few people have heard about this building, which is a total shame.

This is among my favorite buildings. It's an absolute gem, as others have said. The epitome of class; it just oozes exuberance.

so art deco!!!! LOVE IT!

This is my 2nd or 3rd favorite building ever, period. It stands in a league of its own special brilliance.

I know the western portion has been under the endangered wrecking ball alot in the past decade. But I believe it was saved, and rightfully so.