Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building is a very tall building.

It has a shape like a triangle. This shape looks like a clothes iron.

It sits on a small piece of land. The land is shaped like a triangle too. This is because the streets meet at an angle.

The building has a strong steel frame. This frame helps it stand up against the wind.

Workers used tools to join the steel beams. They worked very fast to build it.

People think this building is a symbol of the city. It is a very famous sight to see.

The Flatiron Building is a famous skyscraper in New York City.

It has 22 stories and a unique shape. The building is a triangle. This shape looks like a flat iron used for clothes.

It sits on a block where three streets meet. One street, Broadway, runs at an angle. This creates the sharp point of the building.

Builders used a strong steel frame to make it. This frame helps it stand against strong winds. The steel pieces were cut very carefully. Workers used air tools to join the beams. The outside of the building has many parts. The bottom part uses limestone. The upper parts use glazed terracotta, which are clay tiles with a shiny coating.

Many people call it a symbol of the city. It is a very special landmark. The building opened in 1902. It was built for the Fuller Company. Now, owners plan to turn it into homes. This work should be done by 2026.

The Flatiron Building is a famous skyscraper in New York City.

It is a very important symbol for the city. People call it an icon because its shape is so unique. It sits in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. The building has 22 stories in total. Its triangular shape reminds people of a cast-iron clothes iron.

This is how the building got its name. It stands where Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and East 22nd Street meet.

Building such a tall structure required a very strong design. Engineers at Purdy and Henderson designed a steel frame. This frame was made to handle huge wind forces. It could withstand four times the maximum wind force for the area. The steel pieces were cut very carefully in Pennsylvania. Workers used air-powered tools to rivet the beams together. This was much faster than using steam-powered tools. The outside of the building is divided into three vertical sections. The bottom three stories are covered in limestone. The higher stories use glazed terracotta, which are shiny clay tiles.

The history of this site began long before the skyscraper.

A man named Amos Eno owned the block in 1857. He built several buildings there, including the Cumberland apartment building. He even used a magic lantern to project pictures on a wall. This was a very early way to show news and ads. Later, William Eno bought the lot back in 1899. He sold it to the Newhouse family very quickly. Eventually, the Fuller Company bought the site to build their headquarters.

Construction of the new building happened very fast in 1901.

Architects Daniel Burnham and Frederick P. Dinkelberg designed the tower. Some people even called the project "Burnham's Folly" at first. The building officially opened on October 1, 1902. It was the first skyscraper north of Union Square. The building was originally 20 stories tall. Later, workers added a penthouse and a "cowcatcher" retail space. This small building was named after the device on rail locomotives.

The Flatiron Building connects to many parts of city life. It sits at the edge of the Ladies' Mile Historic District. The building is near the 23rd Street subway station. It has been a protected landmark since 1966. It also joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1989, it became a National Historic Landmark. Today, the building is changing once again. Owners plan to turn the skyscraper into residential condominiums. This big project is expected to be finished by 2026.

The Flatiron Building is a world-famous skyscraper in Manhattan, New York City.

It stands as a quintessential symbol of the city. The structure is a 22-story, steel-framed triangular tower. It is located at 175 Fifth Avenue. This site sits in the Flatiron District neighborhood. The building's unique shape earned its name. It resembles a cast-iron clothes iron.

The building anchors the south end of Madison Square. It also marks the northern end of the Ladies' Mile Historic District. Because of this iconic landmark, the surrounding neighborhood is named the Flatiron District.

The building occupies a specific triangular city block. This block is bounded by Fifth Avenue to the west. Broadway runs along the east side. East 22nd Street forms the southern boundary. The western and eastern facades converge at a single point. This point creates a "peak" at the northern corner. This corner is where Fifth Avenue and Broadway meet East 23rd Street. The shape exists because Broadway runs diagonally against the Manhattan street grid. While the name suggests a specific shape, the site is actually a scalene right triangle. Above the ground level, all three corners of the triangle are rounded.

Architects Daniel Burnham and Frederick P. Dinkelberg designed the tower.

The Fuller Company developed the building as its headquarters. They acquired the site from the Newhouse family in May 1901. Construction moved very quickly during this period. The building officially opened on October 1, 1902. In its early days, some people called the project "Burnham's Folly." Originally, the building was only 20 stories tall. Later, workers added a penthouse and a "cowcatcher" retail space. This low attached building was named after the device found on rail locomotives.

The building's appearance follows the logic of classical architecture. The facade is divided vertically into three distinct sections. This design mimics the components of a classical column. The base consists of three stories clad in limestone. The upper stories are covered in glazed terracotta.

The structural engineering was handled by the firm Purdy and Henderson. They designed a steel frame to ensure stability. This frame was built to withstand four times the maximum wind force of the area. This strength was vital for such a tall, narrow structure. Workers used air-powered tools to rivet the steel beams together. This method was much more efficient than using steam-powered tools.

The history of this lot involves many different owners and uses. In 1857, Amos Eno purchased the entire block for $32,000. He built the Cumberland, a seven-story apartment building. Eno even used a magic lantern to project images on the building's walls. These projections showed news bulletins and advertisements. Tens of thousands of people would gather in Madison Square to see them. After Eno died in 1899, his assets were liquidated. His son, William Eno, bought the lot back for $690,000. This price was more than 20 times the original cost from four decades earlier. William sold the lot to the Newhouse family just three weeks later for $750,000.

Construction of the steel frame was a massive undertaking. The American Bridge Company manufactured the steel in Pennsylvania. The frame rose above street level by January 1902. However, several delays slowed the progress. A delay in steel shipments occurred first. Then, a blizzard hit in February. A strike at the Hecla Iron Works also caused problems. This factory was responsible for the elevators and handrails. Despite these hurdles, the steel was so precisely pre-cut that pieces connected without any alterations. The frame was finished by February 1902. Workers began installing the terracotta tiles as the top stories were being built.

The Flatiron Building holds significant historical status. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1966. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It achieved the status of a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The building has seen many changes in management and ownership. The Equitable Life Assurance Society took over in 1933. Helmsley-Spear managed it for much of the late 20th century. Today, the building is entering a new era. In October 2023, owners announced a conversion project. The skyscraper will be turned into residential condominiums. This project is planned to be complete by 2026.