Preservation Commission Approves 550 Madison Ave Renovation

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The city Landmarks Preservation Commission approved renovation plans for the postmodern skyscraper 550 Madison Avenue after architects pared-back their proposal following the building's designation as a city landmark, the tower's owners announced Tuesday.

The LPC voted on the project Tuesday — which will modernize the skyscraper's interior spaces and overhaul its privately-owned public space while preserving 94 percent of the building's exterior — and added slight modification to the plan, a commission spokeswoman told Patch.

"We are very excited to start exterior work, and continue ongoing interior improvements, to restore the building to its original prominence as a top Class A commercial destination in New York City. With modern interiors, a world-class public open space, and preserved façade, the building will once again attract top companies to East Midtown," Erik Horvat, Director of Real Estate at Olayan America, said in a statement.

Horvat added that Olayan America and development partners RXR Realty and Chelsfield are looking forward to finalizing renovation plans with the city.

Modifications made by the commission include:

• Leaving existing exterior faces of the tower's granite columns exposed within new interior spaces;
• Revealing additional historic stone at columns and other interior surfaces where feasible;
• Retaining the building's historic paving;
• Selecting materials and finish for the garage, canopy and party wall that are more compatible with the original pink granite of the tower.

Admirers of 550 Madison Avenue's distinct look don't have much to fear. About 94 percent of the building's exterior will be retained during the renovation, which is a far cry from the firm's original plans.

Snøhetta announced plans in 2017 to replace the tower's iconic facade with large glass windows, upgrade retail space in the building's base floors and double the building's public space to include a large outdoor garden.

Plans for features such as upgraded retail, office and public space are still included in Snøhetta's new designs, but the facade will largely remain untouched. In fact, developers say they will restore some original architectural details of the building by removing former renovations.

The firm plans to remove upper portions of the existing four-story annex in the back of the building, an altered glass roof and side street enclosures that were built in the 1990s in order to create a large, open public garden in the exterior of the building.

The city Landmarks Preservation Commission voted in July to extend landmark designation to the Philip Johnson- and John Burgee-designed tower. At just 34-years-old the skyscraper is younger than many other New York City buildings given individual landmark status.

The Madison Avenue tower was built between 1978 and 1984 on Madison Avenue between East 55th and 56th streets. The building's postmodern design — featuring a pinkish-gray granite facade, flat arches and a unique broken crown — has generated is share of admirers for bucking prominent trends of New York City skyscraper design. The building is considered the first skyscraper designed in the postmodern style.

Exterior renderings courtesy LMNB & Snøhetta. Garden renderings courtesy Moare & Snøhetta.