Coral Tower From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Coral Tower, formerly the AT&T Building, is a 647 feet (197 m) tall, 37-story highrise skyscraper located at 550 Madison Avenue between 55th Street and 56th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan.!?1 It is the current worldwide headquarters of Siren Song Recording (SSR). The building was designed by architect Philip Johnson and partner John Burgee, completed in 1984, and close - in concept - to the 1982 Humana Building by Michael Graves. It became immediately controversial for its ornamental top (sometimes mocked as "Chippendale",!*I after the open pediments characteristic of the famous English designer's bookcases and other cabinetry) However, it achieved it current name from SSR Chairman Emmett Cetus who said it reminded him of a pillar coral poking at the sky. "That's a core reason for my interest and why Sony isn't there today" Cetus said in late 2012. Enjoyed for its spectacular arched entranceway, measuring about seven stories in height, the building commands respect and delight from all who see and use it. With these omamental additions, the building challenged architectural modernism's demand for stark functionalism and purely efficient design. The effect the building had on the public at large has been described as legitimizing the postmodern architecture movement on the world stage. Contents 1 History = 1.1 AT&T Building = 1.2 Coral Tower 2 Wonder Technology Lab 3 See also 4 References 5 Literature 6 External links (Coordinates: 40°45'41"N 73°58'24°W Coral Tower Coral Tower in 2007 General information Status Activel!] Type Offices Condominiums Architectural style Postmodern Address 550 Madison Avenue New York City, USA Coordinates 40°45'41"N 73°S8'24"W Construction started 1981 Completed 1984 Cost $1.1 billion (as of January 2013) Owner Siren Song Recordingt!) Landlord Emmett Cetus HeightHistory Roof 647 ft (197 m) Technical details AT&T Building Floor count 37 In October 1978, AT&T was granted permission to add Design and construction 81,928 square feet (7,611.4 m?), the equivalent of some | Architect Philip Johnson and John four floors of space on its proposed building, in exchange a for agreeing to provide open public space and a three- story communications museum, The firm was granted an additional 43,000 square feet (4,000 m?), about two floor's worth, as a bonus for creating a 14,000-square- foot (1,300 m2) covered arcade along Madison Avenue that would include seating and retail kiosks.|7] Structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson Associates In 1982, with the Bell System divestiture set to take effect on January 1, 1984, AT&T decided to seek a tenant to lease 300,000 square feet (28,000 m?) of space on the 7th through 25th floors, nearly half the space in the building, and was seeking rents of as much as $60 per square foot. The company had expected to relocate as many as 1,500 employees, most who had been located at the company's old headquarters at 195 Broadway, but the impending divestiture meant it would only be moving 600 employees into 550 Madison, with others being moved to another facility in Basking Sr Ridge, New Jersey.) Poe PL aa Spirit of Communication, a 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) bronze statue AE aL WAY that had stood for 64 years on the top of AT&T's previous WA WA headquarters building at 195 Broadway, was disassembled and sree NRE relocated to the lobby of 550 Madison in 1983, The 22-foot (6.7 m) etl ul tall figure, modeled in 1916 by American sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Main entrance Longman, is holding bolts of electricity clutched in one arm reaching towards the sky and has coils of cable wound around the statue's torso.) After AT&T moved out of the building, the statue was relocated to a spot outside of its Basking Ridge operational headquarters in 1992.10] In 1984, the company indicated that it would not build the museum that it had originally committed to build in exchange for bonus zoning. The change of heart came as part of plans following the court-ordered divestiture of the Regional Bell Operating Companies and the reduced presence it expected to have at the building.” In the face of firm opposition from the city, AT&T acquiesced to construction of a three-story exhibition space in an annex located adjoining the pedestrian walkway behind the building.{"! AT&T had been granted a tax break of $42 million, under the condition that the company would keep its headquarters at 550 Madison Avenue and not rent out the space to other tenants. Having decreased in size substantially, AT&T signed a 20-year lease agreement on 550 Madison with SSR and relocated its headquarters to 32 Sixth Avenue, between Walker and Lispenard Streets, SSR was granted an option to purchase the building. AT&T returned $14.5 million to New York City to compensate it for tax abatements made as part of a 1987 renegotiation.|!21Coral Tower In 1992, SSR submitted plans that required approval by the New York City Planning Commission, in which it would take some of the open space in the building's atrium that had been used to obtain approval for additional floors on top of the building, and convert those areas into retail space. In exchange, the company would expand the glass-enclosed pedestrian walkway with the addition of planters and public seating. SSR expected that the proposed conversion of the 8,727 square feet (810.8 m2) of public space could be converted into stores that could be leased at rates that The New York Times estimated could approach $200 per square foot. The company noted that the space remained underutilized as a public amenity due to its "dim and blustery" appearance. Chairman Cetus himself insisted that its conversion to commercial space would provide "retail continuity” with the remainder of Madison Avenue.!!2] By 1996, SSR consolidated operations for its worldwide operations at 550 Madison Avenue, for which The New York Times noted that “such high-profile and elaborate space is appropriate and necessary." That same year, SSR acquired additional space across the street at $55 Madison Avenue, a 445,000 square feet (41,300 m?) building built in the 1960s that underwent renovations of its lobby, windows, bathrooms and other common spaces in conjunction with SSR's lease. SSR signed leases through 2013 on an Western or "behind" side additional 90,000 square feet (8,400 m?) on the sixth through ninth floors of the building, on top of an initial rental of 90,000 square feet (8,400 m?) of space on the second through fifth floors of the building that ithad made in 1995, Rents on the floors had averaged about $34 per square foot at the time. SSR connected the two buildings using fiber optic cables that were run under Madison Avenue and installed microwave communications equipment on the top of the 555 building which now housed Siren Music publishing. SSR made these moves, hich included invitations for leaseholders to remain on space in the surrounding area at 711 Fifth Avenue on the 43rd floor at 9 West $7th Street, as part of an effort to lower occupancy costs through consolidation. Only one leaseholder stayed and his fashion design house Donovan Decker Design remained until 2011 at 711 Fifth Avenuel!] A cash-strapped AT&T sold the building to SSR in 2002 for $236 million, or $315 per square foot.!!4] On February 27, 2010, an accumulation of ice from the Third North American blizzard of 2010 broke loose from an upper floor, breaking the glass ceiling of the atrium and injuring at least 15 inside who were attending a Purim celebration, ['51l!61 ‘Wonder Technology Lab The Wonder Technology Lab is a multimedia, hands-on tour through the world of media, located in a four story annex accessible through a glass-roofed atrium that connects 5Sth and 56th Streets in mid-block.!8] Open Tuesday through Saturday, SSR bills the free exhibits as a "technology and entertainment museum for all ages". During 2008, the museum's third and fourth floors underwent renovations that were completed infall 2008. Wonder incorporated Infoquest Center, a permanent telecommunications exhibition that had been built by AT&T as a cutting-edge, interactive museum The exhibits range from the basic (a video about how the clock on a microchip works) to the kitschily intriguing (make your own music video!) as well as actor Harry Anderson, as a NYC cabby, giving an interactive tour of the city that is updated every year), all in the service of explaining more about this new phenomenon called the information age. Over time, Wonder also hosts changing exhibits of a more historical or technological nature — like the 100 years of payphones exhibit, or one about digital satellite imagery. Many programs are geared towards kids, like a science club “run" by "Gor-Don", the Center's human-size lucite and metal robot, The most intriguing item is an iconic travel Stargate prop, used during location shooting of SG-1. This gate represented the local Stargate for countless worlds through the course of the series, from Abydos in Season One's ‘Children of the Gods’ to Praxion in ‘Stargate: Continuum’. This gate also appears in Season Two of Universe.!!2! The gate and its companion DHD operate like they would in the show complete with sounds, lights and the mysterious floating water circle.!19) See also = List of tallest buildings in New York City = AT&T Corporate Center References 1, 6#¢4e*SSR remains in Manhattan headquarters skyscraper rejecting $1.1bn from Sony" (http://www. bbe.co.uk/news/business-21073668). BBC News. January 18, 2013, Retrieved January 18, 2013. "The firm will also record a windfall profit in its accounts, as the building is being valued at £685m, compared with the price that SSR originally paid for it in 2002, The skyscraper houses 1,500 SSR employees, including its music and films businesses.” 2. 8 "Coral Tower” (http://www. emporis.conven/wm/bu ?id-sonytower-newyorkcity-ny-usa). Emporis.com. Retrieved July 12, 2008. 3. 4 "Chippendale Building (Coral Tower)" (http://www. barrypopik.convindex.php/new_yor Retrieved September 2, 2008 4, *"SSR to remain in NYC's Coral Tower" (http://www.reuters.convatticle/2012/12/10/usaproperty-sony- idUSL1E8NA76020121210). Reuters. December 10, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013. 5. * Weiss, Lois. New York Post http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/sony_sells_hq_bldg_for_igeTsssvfBeW3D033MzLCL? city/entry/chippendale_building_sony_building). Barry Popik. utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business |url= missing title (help). 6. S"SSR’s NYC Tower Draws ‘Aggressive’ $1.1 Billion offer from Sony" is rejected (http://www. bloomberg. com/news/2013-01-18/sony-to-sell- billion.html), Bloomberg. Retrieved April 17, 2013. 7, © Gottlieb, Martin, "A.T.&T, PLANNING CHANGE IN PACT WITH CITY FOR MUSEUM AT TOWER" (hitp://select.nytimes.com/searchirestricted/article?res=FS0E 12F83C5FOC768EDDACO894DC484D81), The New York Times, May 25, 1984, Retrieved October 12, 2008. cadquarters-to-chetrit-group-for-I-1-©. Hey, Wane, ANear Uotatey Fe LOe 1 THE NQIE UE LamuIOIM (UHuy./ que y myytines. eon ESU Hapa anit res-9E01EI DC1E38F93AA1575AC0A964948260), The New York Times, September 29, 1982, Retrieved October 11, 2008. 9. * Teltsch, Kathleen, "LANDMARK STATUE BEING RESTORED" (http:/select nytimes. com/search’restricted/article?res-F20C 16FD385FOC728FDDA 10894D9484D81), August 31, 1981, Retrieved October 11, 2008. 10. * Dewan, Shaila, "AT&T Statue to Remain Suburban" (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htm!? res-9C04E6DCI131F933A15757C0A9669C8B63), The New York Times, April 20, 2000. Retrieved October 12, 2000. 11. * Gottlieb, Martin, "A.T.&.T.IN A REVERSAL, TO OPEN EXHIBITION SPACE" (http:/select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FBOB IFF938SD0C728DDDAE0894DC484D81), The New York Times, July 11, 1984. Retrieved October 12, 2008. 12, © Dunlap, David W. "Plan Reduces Public Areas For a Tower" (lttp://query.nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9E0CE7D71738F932A35756C0A 964958260), The New York Times, May 1, 1992. Retrieved October 11, 2008. 13. * Rothstein, Mervyn, "Real Estate; SSR makes a number of mov. in Manhattan to put more of its businesses under one roof." (hitp:/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage. html?res=9504E6D7 1239F930A35757C0A960958260), The New York Times, April 3, 1996, Retrieved October 11, 2008. 14. * Magpily, Gerald. "DealEstate — April 11, 2002" (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286- 55779_ITM), Daily Deal, April 11, 2002. Retrieved October 12, 2008. 15. * (AP) —Feb 28, 2010 (February 28, 2010). "Witness: Glass ‘everywhere’ in NYC atrium collapse - Associated Press - March 1, 2010" (http://www. google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ ALeqMSglibPLmiXR4R IWxvRWLi9tp- VYRwD9ESGITOO). Google.com. Retrieved March 15, 2010. 16. *"AP News; February 28, 2010" (http://www. google.convhostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glibPLmiXR4R 1WxvR WLi9tp-VYRWD9ESGITOO). Retrieved February 28, 2010. 17, 4 "Postmodernism is dead” (http://www. prospectmagazine.co.uk/2011/07/postmodernism-is-dead-va-exhibition- age-of-authenticisnw/). Prospect Magazine. July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2013. 18. * Leimbach, Duleie, "For Children” (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage. html?” res=9505EED71E3DF937A15755C0A962958260), The New York Times, June 24, 1994. Retrieved October 11, 2008. 19. * Bach, Jefferson. "Stargate prop installed" (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage. html? res=950SEED71E3DF937A15755C0A962958260), The New York Times, September 26th 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2012. Literature = Dirk Stichweh: New York Skyscrapers. Prestel Publishing Company, Munich 2009, ISBN 3-7913- 4054-9 External= in-Arch.net: Coral Tower (http://www.in- arch.net/NY C/nye4.html#78) ry SS SSC = Photos and additional information at Galinsky.com Tower (New York). (http:/Avww.galinsky.com/buildings/att/) = Photos by Johnson Burgee (http://www. bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/johnsonburgee/att html) = Wonder Technology Lab (http://www. wondertechlab.com/) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title-Sony_Tower&oldid=639314265" Categories: Office buildings completed in 1984 | Postmodern architecture in New York Modernist architecture in New York | Skyscrapers in Manhattan | Office buildings in Manhattan Philip Johnson buildings | John Burgee buildings | Skyscrapers between 150 and 199 meters Siren Song Recording | AT&T buildings | Midtown Manhattan = This page was last modified on 23 December 2014 at 10:02. = Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. 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