An established presence in the New York real estate community, Mckenzie Foster excels in transactions that provide buyers and sellers with the best possible results. Mckenzie Foster, who writes the blog The Sky’s the Limit NYC, has a passion for delving into historic real estate.
One unique older high-rise that often goes unnoticed in Midtown Manhattan is the Graybar Building, erected at 420 Lexington Avenue in the mid-1920s by Sloan & Robertson. It was central to the East Midtown development “Terminal City,” which was situated above New York Central Railroad-owned railroad tracks. As such, the office tower encompassed various train platforms and an expansive public passageway connecting Grand Central Terminal to Lexington Avenue.
At the time of its completion in 1927, the 30-story structure, named after major tenant the Graybar Electric Company, represented the largest office building in the world. It featured Byzantine and Art Deco aesthetics, with portals framed by monumental stone reliefs. In a whimsical and enduring touch, sculpted rats appear to climb elements of the complex at the south portal at 43rd Street. These were envisioned by architect John Sloan as referencing New York City’s maritime history as a seaport and transportation center.
One unique older high-rise that often goes unnoticed in Midtown Manhattan is the Graybar Building, erected at 420 Lexington Avenue in the mid-1920s by Sloan & Robertson. It was central to the East Midtown development “Terminal City,” which was situated above New York Central Railroad-owned railroad tracks. As such, the office tower encompassed various train platforms and an expansive public passageway connecting Grand Central Terminal to Lexington Avenue.
At the time of its completion in 1927, the 30-story structure, named after major tenant the Graybar Electric Company, represented the largest office building in the world. It featured Byzantine and Art Deco aesthetics, with portals framed by monumental stone reliefs. In a whimsical and enduring touch, sculpted rats appear to climb elements of the complex at the south portal at 43rd Street. These were envisioned by architect John Sloan as referencing New York City’s maritime history as a seaport and transportation center.
