The 599 Lexington Avenue, a towering icon in the centre of Midtown Manhattan, is one of the spectacular monuments of modern architecture and corporate honour. This 50-story office building is one of the skyscrapers in New York, NY 10022, a Class A office building managed by the Boston Properties (BXP) company, strategically located and featuring the latest amenities and architectural significance. Regardless of whether you are a business person looking to rent a work area, a tourist trying to hike through the city, or just someone with an interest in this building, this paper will give an authoritative review of one of the most prominent buildings in the business world: 599 Lexington Avenue.
History and Architectural Significance
The first New York City building of Boston Properties, headed by real estate magnate Mortimer Zuckerman, at 599 Lexington Ave, was completed in 1986. The building was constructed at a cost of around $300 million on a site purchased in 1984 for $84 million; it was designed by the renowned Edward Larrabee Barnes, with the assistance of John My Lee Architects. It was built 653 feet (199 meters) and 51 stories tall, after which it shares the 104th place among the tallest buildings in New York City with the Silver Towers. Its contemporary architectural form, with clean lines and the use of steel frames and a glass curtain wall system, forms the facade, fitting perfectly into the Manhattan skyline while also adhering to the concept of minimal ornamentation and functionality.
An outstanding feature is the lobby of the building, with its dramatic 50 ft high glass-framed atrium hung with a colourful art installation by Frank Stella, his Salto nel Mio Sacco. An FXFowle Architects 2016 renovation redesigned the entryway, utilizing transparent walls, higher ceilings, and white and green marble panels to create an illusion of a cloud through softly lit glass baffles. The LEED Gold certification of the building by the U.S. Green Building Council makes it a symbol of sustainability, incorporating sustainable practices such as energy-efficient systems and various eco-friendly materials. Being non-load-bearing, its curtain wall system is anchored to a steel and concrete frame that can accommodate multiple interior layouts, making it suitable for different office designs.
Site and Accessibility
In the Plaza District, at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and East 52nd-53rd Streets, 599 Lexington Avenue is located on the Midtown Campus of BXP, directly opposite the Citigroup Center (601 Lexington Avenue). It is situated in the prime location of Turtle Bay, offering an unparalleled connection to Manhattan’s business, dining, and cultural centers. Close to Rockefeller Centre, it is just a few steps to Grand Central Terminal, which can be reached in a 10-minute walk. The area is also home to food destinations such as The Hugh, Sweetgreen, and Juice Generation. The hotels in the area, such as the Courtyard by Marriott and The Benjamin Royal, cater to their guests’ needs, and schools like P.S. 059 Beekman Hill International make the area even more attractive.
A strong point is open transportation. The building has direct access to the Lexington Avenue53 53rd Street subway, located 0.03 miles away, with the 6, <6>, E, and M trains. It takes a 5-minute walk to reach the 5 Av/53 St station, and 7 minutes to get to Grand Central Madison, a significant train access point for lines such as the Babylon Branch and Port Jefferson Branch. With buses such as M103, BM2, BM3, and QM42, bus stops at Lexington Ave & E 52nd St and Lexington Av/E 53rd St are within a 2-minute walk. It’s perfect and seamless connectivity with the transport network in New York is what renders 599 Lexington Avenue very accessible and easy to commute to and visit.
Construction Build Characteristics and Facilities
Located at 599 Lexington Avenue, which spans 1.1 million square feet of space on a 1-acre lot, the single-purpose office tower comprises 90 percent of its usable space dedicated to commercial offices. It contains 36 units with office space available, ranging in size from 2,094 to 25,938 square feet, which can accommodate various businesses of different sizes. Exceptional tenants include Commonwealth Bank (Level 30) and TD Securities, which indicates a high status for the building as the center of financial and corporate organizations. First-floor retail at Lexington Avenue and 52nd and 53rd Streets has brought lively energy, and the presence of such amenities as onsite management (weekdays, 8:30 AM to 6 PM), 24-hour security services, and 24 elevators will ensure operational effectiveness.
The Boston Properties Property Management Office is located on the C-2 Level and can be contacted at (212) 308-6661. All calls beyond office hours are transferred to the lobby security desk. Although there is no parking information available for the building, its vicinity offers Central Parking (0.03 miles) and Alpha Garage (0.28 miles). The central core design of the building allows flexible workstation designs, 910 feet in height, HVAC, and tenant control, and full-floor elevator availability to long-term lessees. It is situated near cultural and commercial environments, which enhances its attractiveness as an ideal workplace.
Rules and Guidelines of Operation
As a high-profile commercial building, 599 Lexington Avenue has stringent operational rules in place to ensure safety and efficiency. There is controlled access for authorized personnel and visitors who must report to the badging room. Taking photographs within the premises is not allowed to guard the privacy and intellectual property of the tenants. Tenants and guests will observe professionalism, and security officers will be readily available at all times to address any complaints. The processes of sustainability are enforced by management in the building, which is consistent with the LEED Gold status and encourages tenants to adopt more eco-friendly operations.
Among the available spaces, companies such as CBRE and SquareFoot help find suitable ones, whose rents range between $ 65.00 and $ 90.00 per square foot, corresponding to the high-priced districts of the area. Long-term leases (more than three years) are customizable, which means they include the ability to adjust the office layout, as well as the right to sublet the office. This is particularly appealing to businesses that are on the rise.
Reputation and Cultural Significance
The 599 of Lexington Avenue has already established a strong reputation as a Class-A office building with a reliable location strategy, modern construction, and powerful features. Reviews on the internet, including those on MapQuest, attest to its credibility and customer satisfaction, as evidenced by one of the tenants in Corporate Suites Business Centers, who observes, ‘I have rented an office here for nearly four years…’ I can not imagine a reason why I should even consider going elsewhere.” The site gains in cultural significance through its use in the media, particularly as the Moramax building in the film Big Business and as the model of a Paramount backlot in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode titled “Past Tense I,” as described on X.
Since its completion, the building has been the recipient of architectural awards for both its contextual design in relation to the Citigroup Center and its integration into the spine of the Midtown Manhattan skyline. Nevertheless, a few criticisms are cited regarding the expensive rent prices and competitive leasing space that is synonymous with Manhattan’s Plaza District. Nonetheless, its LEED Certification at the Gold level, combined with easy access to transit and development services and facilities, makes it a high-end office destination.
Why 599 Lexington Avenue Stands Out
599 Lexington Avenue is not only a corporate address but also a symbol of the vibrancy of the business community in Manhattan. The modern construction, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, combines both efficiency and beauty, while its good location and transportation make it a desirable destination for professionals. The sustainability orientation of the building, as well as the flexibility of its office panels and prominent tenants, make it one of the pillars in Midtown’s business infrastructure. There is a joke that you are either a business in need of an address you will be proud of having, or a visitor in Manhattan, and in both instances, 599 Lexington Avenue provides you with the prediction of how the city is architecturally and economically vibrant, so it should also be familiar to you.