Helmsley Building

Helmsley Building
Former names	New York General Building (1958–1978) New York Central Building (1929–1958)
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Office
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts
Address	230 Park Avenue New York, NY 10169 U.S.
Coordinates	40°45′16″N 73°58′33″W / 40.75444°N 73.97583°W / 40.75444; -73.97583
Construction started	1927
Completed	1929
Renovated	2004
Owner	RXR Realty
Height	565 feet (172 m)
Technical details
Floor count	35
Lifts/elevators	25
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Warren and Wetmore
Developer	New York Central Railroad Company
Website
helmsleybuilding.com
New York City Landmark
Designated	March 31, 1987
Reference no.	1297 (exterior) 1298 (interior)
References
[1]

The Helmsley Building is a 35-story skyscraper at 230 Park Avenue between East 45th and 46th Streets, just north of Grand Central Terminal, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It was built in 1929 as the New York Central Building and was designed by Warren & Wetmore in the Beaux-Arts style. It was the tallest structure in the "Terminal City" complex around Grand Central prior to the completion of what is now the MetLife Building.

The Helmsley Building carries vehicular traffic through its base: traffic exits and enters the Park Avenue Viaduct through two portals passing under the building. The lobby of the building is between the vehicular portals. Flanking the viaduct's ramps are passageways connecting 45th and 46th Streets, with entrances to Grand Central Terminal.

Before the construction of Grand Central Terminal, the area to the north of the predecessor Grand Central Depot was occupied by an open-air rail yard; the tracks and depot were operated by the New York Central Railroad. After the terminal was completed in 1913, the tracks were buried under a series of buildings that were constructed over the tracks as part of the Terminal City development. The New York Central Building was erected for the railroad between 1927 and 1929 as the last major structure to be built within Terminal City. It was renamed the New York General Building in 1958 and the Helmsley Building in 1978, though ownership was changed several times afterward. The building's facade and lobby became New York City designated landmarks in 1987.