Former Citicorp Center is now NYC’s youngest landmark building

Two weeks ago, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate 11 historic buildings in Midtown East as city landmarks. Now, yet another building within the neighborhood has been given landmark status.

The former Citicorp Center, now known simply as 601 Lexington Avenue, is the latest site within Midtown East to get protected, bringing the total number of individual landmarks in the area to 50.

Jeff Stvan/Curbed Flickr Pool

“The Citicorp Tower’s distinctive features make it one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in New York City,” LPC chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a statement. “Today we ensured that future generations will enjoy this irreplaceable part of our skyline.”

The building was designed by Hugh A. Stubbins & Associates and built from 1973 to 1978. The 59-story office tower has a few distinctive features, including its 45-degree angular roof, and its base of four stilt-like columns. Saint Peter’s Church is also on site—a condition of the skyscraper’s rise—and those four columns allow the larger tower to cantilever over the church. The intertwined buildings are also accompanied by a privately owned public space that connects to the Lexington Avenue-53rd St subway station.

The buildings within the area were a high priority for the Landmarks Preservation Commission to protect before the Midtown East rezoning initiative, which will eventually lead to the creation of more than a dozen new commercial buildings (including the supertall-to-be One Vanderbilt).

The former Citicorp Center is now the city’s youngest landmark. Other buildings to have recently obtained landmark status in Midtown East include the Hampton Shops Building, Pershing Square, Hotel Lexington, and several more.

• 11 historic Midtown East buildings landmarked in one fell swoop [Curbed]
• City finally issues proposal for Midtown East rezoning [Curbed]