On my walk to Social Eatz on Memorial Day, I walked past two buildings that I just knew had to be mentioned in my trusty Inside the Apple. So, while chowing down on FABULOUS food, I tried to find them (yes, I carry it with me everywhere like a tourist). And I found them in Chapter 158! That means that you get to see them too!
First up, the Lever House.
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Both of the buildings are said to be the first skyscrapers in NYC that broke from the mold of so-called "classic" skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. Lever House was completed in 1952 and was for Lever soap company as part of its move to be "closer to the action" of advertising. (Think Mad Men). It's *only* 21 stories and has a second story garden that is only accessible to employees.
Next up is the Seagram Building.
This building was built in 1958 to celebrate Joseph E. Seagram Corporation's centennial and was the distillery's new headquarters. Notably, this building had floor to ceiling windows with no sills or interior ledges for the first time ever. It was considered the "Rolls Royce" of office buildings. The "sweeping" plaza was also the inspiration for other office buildings. However, I don't know why they had this in their plaza:
Why the desk lamp is melted into the poor stuffed bear's head is beyond me. I found it rather disturbing actually. Apparently, the lamp is on and for sale at Christie's this fall.
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