Chronicles: The Flatiron Building

Built in 1902, the Flatiron building has become an iconic symbol of New York, gracing postcards and the openings of both Friends and The David Letterman Show. It is one of the world’s first skyscrapers and at the time it was built, was one of the tallest buildings in New York City.

The striking triangular building, originally known as the Fuller Building, was created by Chicago’s Daniel Burnham as a vertical Renaissance palazzo with Beaux-Arts styling. It’s positioning takes advantage of the intersection of Broadway and 5th Avenue, giving those lucky enough to score the ultimate corner office, a clear view all the way up Broadway to the Empire State Building. It’s height was a great feat at the time it was built and people in the neighborhood were placing bets on how far the debris would fall when the building came down. While most new buildings were still being constructed with stone, the Flatiron Building has a steel skeleton which allowed its 21 stories to be built; it is only the outside that is made of limestone and terra-cotta. Those who doubted the Flatiron’s reliability had to eat their words when it became obvious the building wasn’t coming down; becoming such a symbol of Manhattan that the neighborhood around it became known as the Flatiron District.
 
Flatiron Building
1 E 23rd St, New York‎

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