59 West 12th Street Building vs 277 Park Avenue Building


Comparing the 59 West 12th Street Building and the 277 Park Avenue Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in New York, NY, and were both designed by Emery Roth & Sons. However, they were completed more than 33 years apart.
This offers a unique perspective on how the architect's style and the city's architecture evolved over time.
Height & Size
The 277 Park Avenue Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 686ft (209m) with 50 floors above ground, while the 59 West 12th Street Building reaches 0ft (m) with 17 floors above ground.
Of course, each project may have faced different briefs or regulatory constraints, which we don't really know about and could also explain the outcome.
Architectural Style
The 59 West 12th Street Building was designed in the Art Deco style, while the 277 Park Avenue Building reflects the principles of International Style.
At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.Built 33 years apart (1931 vs 1964), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.
Uses
The 59 West 12th Street Building is primarily residential, while the 277 Park Avenue Building is primarily commercial.
The 59 West 12th Street Building offers 103 residential units.
The 277 Park Avenue Building also provides 40 parking spaces.
Structure & Facade
These two towers illustrate the many possible ways to combine structure and enclosure in skyscraper design.
59 West 12th Street Building | 277 Park Avenue Building | |
---|---|---|
Emery Roth & Sons | Architect | Emery Roth & Sons |
1929 | Construction Started | 1962 |
1931 | Year Completed | 1964 |
Art Deco | Architectural Style | International Style |
Residential | Current Use | Commercial |
17 | Floors Above Ground | 50 |
Bricks | Main Facade Material | Glass, Steel |
Bing & Bing | Developer | Stanley Stahl |
NY | State | NY |
New York | City | New York |
59 West 12th Street | Address | 277 Park Avenue |