The Helmsley Building

The Helmsley Building

Towering over one of the most luxurious thoroughfares in the world, The Helmsley Building straddles Park Avenue. Located directly north of Grand Central Terminal, the building stands in 34 opulent stories of glory. The Helmsley Building was built in 1928 by the New York Central Railroad as part of the “Terminal City” complex developed around Grand Central Terminal. It was originally called the New York Central Building and was built to house the offices of the railroad. The railroad employed noteworthy architects Warren & Wetmore to design the building’s fabulously ornate rooftop lantern and the prominent gilded clock and gilded figures on the fantastic facade. Real estate megadeveloper Harry Helmsley purchased the building and extensively renovated the interior and exterior. Helmsley also renamed the building after himself and positioned it as the centerpiece of his commercial real estate empire. In 1998, Helmsley’s widow Leona sold the building once again to Richard Kalikow. The Helmsley Building is known as the most prominent “drive through” building in New York, as it features two distinct driveways that funnel traffic from the north side of Park Avenue to the south side.