CLIENTL&L Holding Company

SERVICESBuilding Renovation, Interiors

LOCATIONNew York, NY

SIZE650,000 sq ft

STATUSCompleted 2010

CERTIFICATIONLEED Gold® Core & Shell

STUDIOS transformed this landmarked building into a sustainable, modern, Class A office building, worthy of its location on Madison Square Park. The complete historic restoration and strategic additions make this property a destination for commercial and retail tenants alike.

Modern lobby in a neutral palette (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Modern lobby in a neutral palette (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Lobby details (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Lobby details (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Grid of LED lights and view up into the building's courtyard (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Grid of LED lights and view up into the building's courtyard (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)

Established as an anchor of one of New York City’s newest commercial districts in 1909, 200 Fifth Avenue had fallen into a period of underutilization nearing the end of the 20th century. L&L Holding Company brought STUDIOS onto their team to give the building new life and bring it into a thriving new future. The restoration included complete window and storefront replacement, as well as full interior renovations and strategic additions.

200 Fifth Avenue is a U‑shaped building, which creates issues of circulation for tenants with long travel distance between dead ends. STUDIOS identified available FAR that allowed for a four story addition, connecting the ends of the u-shape on the first four levels. A new long-span, curtain-walled addition was added to the rear of the courtyard allowing the major tenant, Grey Group— whose new headquarters were also designed by STUDIOS— to have a contiguous workspace that is efficient and easy to traverse.

Entrance off of Madison Square Park (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Entrance off of Madison Square Park (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)

By relocating mechanical equipment out of the courtyard, STUDIOS created an architectural centerpiece which unites the interior building and can be enjoyed by all tenants. A modern, light-filled, vertical garden with planted facades was created, re-establishing a signature feature of the property. The sleek architectural palette of the entry and lobby reappears in the details of the new courtyard with stark white stone paving and integrated seating as well as a white terracotta rain screen to match the existing cladding.

Landscaped courtyard with view into Grey Group's headquarters (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Landscaped courtyard with view into Grey Group's headquarters (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Long-span glass addition and stepped landscape (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Long-span glass addition and stepped landscape (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Courtyard landscape concept pulls in from Madison Square Park and up through the courtyard
Courtyard landscape concept pulls in from Madison Square Park and up through the courtyard
Transparent facade and surrounding existing terracotta cladding (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Transparent facade and surrounding existing terracotta cladding (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Landscaped courtyard and addition (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)
Landscaped courtyard and addition (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)

200 Fifth Avenue is the first New York City landmark to earn LEED Gold Core & Shell and the oldest structure to be LEED Gold certified. Sustainable strategies and attributes include:

  • an extensive rainwater recovery system,
  • green roof,
  • highly reflective roof paving to reduce heat island effect
  • use of certified wood
  • planted walls reduces heat buildup on the facades
  • bountiful daylighting throughout the project.
Lobby, before
Lobby, before
Courtyard, before
Courtyard, before
Internal courtyard facades, before
Internal courtyard facades, before

Press and Awards

PHOTOGRAPHYNikolas Koenig, Alan Schindler

PHOTOGRAPHYNikolas Koenig, Alan Schindler