Author | Lucía Burbano
Branded as “monstruous” by The New York Times or a “stingy piece of pie” by The New York Tribune, the Flatiron building, also known as Fuller, was ridiculed by everyone when it was built in 1902. As critics of the time were sure that its triangular shape and location among two major intersections would not withstand strong gusts of wind.
However, over the years, the Flatiron skyscraper has not only managed to stay up, but it has also become one of the most iconic buildings in New York and the United States.
History and origin of the Flatiron skyscraper
The Flatiron skyscraper, officially called the Fuller skyscraper after the name of the client who requested the construction, was commissioned by the company directed by George Allon Fuller, founder of the company with the same name and the largest construction firm in the United States at the time.
The Chicago construction firm commissioned the architect Daniel H Burnham to design its offices in New York. Apart from the Flatiron skyscraper, Fuller had a massive influence on the architecture of New York, since it was the construction firm behind numerous emblematic skyscrapers and buildings including the New York Times Building, the Plaza Hotel and Savoy-Plaza Hotel, which have defined the city’s skyline.
Flatiron, the historic landmark of Fifth Avenue
The Flatiron building is located at 175 on the famous Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In 1901, when the construction work on the building began, it was one of the main commercial centers of New York. Skyscrapers were being built across the city to demonstrate the economic power of what was then considered the most elegant street in the city at the beginning of the 20th century.
Although its nickname -Flatiron- is often related to a household iron, it was, in fact, the name given to the triangle block formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 22nd Street and 23rd Street.
Renaissance palazzo with Beaux-Arts styling
The building’s triangular shape is governed by the shape of the aforementioned plot and it presented some challenges, since it is only two meters wide at the point where the two longest sides of the building come together.
The design, created by Daniel H. Burnham, a famous architect who belonged to the Chicago School of Architecture, established the start of the Beaux-Arts movement, a relatively short-lived movement that began in 1895 with buildings characterized by their symmetry and the inclusion of numerous architectural elements, such as balconies, pilasters or balustrades.
Esthetically, there is also an Italian and French renaissance influence. Its structure imitates that of a classic Greek column, since its facade is divided into three elements; base, shaft and capital, with limestone at the bottom changing to glazed terra-cotta as the floors rise.
The vestibule has mosaic floors with ornamental and decorative features. The first 12 floors, with high ceilings, were designed to accommodate art galleries. Lastly, the upper part of the Flatiron skyscraper is built in Art Deco style, with zigzags, stars and sun-like patterns.
The Flatiron building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, and National Historic Landmark in 1989.
Construction in record time
The Flatiron building was one of the first steel-skeleton structure in New York and a reinforced frame with a facade made with limestone and glazed terracotta. An incredible 3,500 tons of steel were used.
The architects used the then-revolutionary curtain wall method. Taking advantage of a change to New York City’s building codes in 1892, which eliminated the requirement that masonry be used for fireproofing considerations. This opened the way for other architectural possibilities.
Once construction began in the summer of 1901 the building went up at an amazingly fast pace of one floor a week. All the steel parts were meticulously pre-cut off-site and put together very quickly.
By February 1902 it was complete, and by mid-May the building was half-covered with terracotta tiling. The Manhattan neighborhood watched on in awe as this giant construction game was put together and completed in just one year.
On completion, many leading experts expected the building to blow over in the first strong wind. But Purdy and Henderson, the building’s structural engineers, had anticipated this problem: since the building was quite narrow and therefore had less volume to resist wind load they strengthened the structure with steel.
This enabled it to withstand four times the amount of wind force. In 1905, three years after completion, a penthouse level was added at the top of the building as well as a basement, making a total of 22 floors. A retail space at the front of the building was also added in order to maximize the use of the building’s lot and generate extra income.
Height and interior design
The Flatiron building was never the tallest building in New York and it never intended to be, since its triangular shape was attractive in itself. The 87-meter 22-story building served as the Fuller offices until 1929 and then had a variety of tenants; which included the Imperial Russian Consulate, the crime syndicate Murder Inc. during the Prohibition period in the 1920s-30s and the Macmillan publishers between 1959 and 2004.
Given the triangular shape of the structure, the office space was extremely narrow and difficult to furnish. Tenants described it as a “den” of strange-shaped rooms.
A Facelift and a Focus on Luxury
The building, vacant since 2019, is set to complete a roughly four-year exterior and interior rehabilitation by the end of 2026, led by The Brodsky Organization in collaboration with GFP Real Estate and The Sorgente Group, with SLCE Architects as executive architect and Studio Sofield in charge of interior design.
The work includes the following:
Restoration of the facade and exterior ornamentation
On one hand, the work focuses on restoring or replacing thousands of original terracotta pieces from 80 years ago to match the original details. The work is entirely handcrafted, involving hand-pressing, glazing, and firing these new terracotta pieces. Masonry joints have also been addressed, and structural cracks have been repaired.
In terms of energy efficiency, more than 1,000 windows have been replaced with modern units that replicate the historic profiles while meeting current performance standards for insulation and durability.
The main cornice, two meters high, has been restored piece by piece, with suspended scaffold systems installed to reach all sides of the facade.
Interior Conversion and Modernization
The Flatiron building’s interior remodel transforms the offices into approximately 38 luxury condominium units, taking advantage of the building’s unique shape to include large windows that maximize natural light in the living spaces.
The interiors, designed by Studio Sofield, combine historic materials, such as the original ironwork and marble mosaics, with contemporary design.
Plans also include upgraded lobby spaces, new elevators, and other interventions consistent with high-end condominium standards.
New Exterior Lighting
In 2025, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an LED lighting plan designed by L’Observatoire International. Once completed, the system will illuminate the building for the first time in its 123 year history, highlighting its Beaux-Arts details and enhancing its architectural presence.
The lighting will be more intense on the top five floors, beneath its distinctive cornice, and will cascade downward to accentuate the sculptural elements of the facade.
Given that the Flatiron building is a New York City landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restoration is subject to strict preservation regulations.
Changes to the facade are minimal and aim to preserve the original historic character, while modern interventions such as lighting, climate control systems, and glazed windows are integrated in a way that does not detract from the original design.
Flatiron in film and television
Its cinema premiere was in ‘Bell, Book and Candle’ in 1958 and with James Stewart and Kim Novak starring in a romantic scene that took place on the building rooftop. Today, the Flatiron building is often used in TV commercials and documentaries as it is an easily recognizable symbol of the city.
It features in the opening credits of the Late Show with David Letterman or during scene transitions in the TV sitcoms ‘Friends’, ‘Spin City’. It was “partially destroyed” in the movie ‘Godzilla’ in 1998, and it was used for the ‘Daily Bugle’ offices, where Peter Parker works as a freelance photographer, in Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy and Channel 6 News headquarters where April O’Neil works in the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ TV series.
Frequently asked questions about the Flatiron building
Why is it called the Flatiron Building?
Because of its triangular shape, which resembles a cast iron flatiron.
When was it built?
It was completed in 1902, making it one of the earliest skyscrapers in New York City.
Why is it triangular?
Because of its wedge shaped site at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
Is the Flatiron the narrowest building in New York City?
It is one of the most famous narrow buildings, but not the narrowest. Among historic buildings, that distinction belongs to 75½ Bedford Street in Greenwich Village, built in 1873 and measuring just 2.9 meters wide.
Why is the Flatiron Building in New York City vacant?
The departure of its last tenant, Macmillan Publishers, in 2019 left all office floors unoccupied. Combined with the need for renovation and modernization, this made leasing the building both unattractive and technically complex.
When will its restoration be completed?
Between late 2026 and early 2027.
Photographs | Unsplash/Cayetano Gil, Flickr/Wally Gobetz, Library of Congress, Wikipedia Commons, Eloi_Omella/iStock
