email: agilitynut@hotmail.com
Loading

New York Mid-Century Modern (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Guggenheim Bandshell
Lincoln Center
New York, NY		 Vivian Beaumont Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, NY
The Guggenheim Bandshell was built in 1969 as part of Lincoln Center in Damrosch Park. The structure is made of concrete. Visible in the photo just next to the Bandshell is the Metropolitan Opera House completed in 1966. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Vivian Beaumont Theater was designed by Eero Saarinen and built in 1965. There are other 1960s buildings at Lincoln Center including Alice Tully Hall from 1969 by Pietro Belluschi. For more, see this website.

Joseph Curran Building
New York, NY
The Joseph Curran Building was designed by Albert Ledner and completed in 1964. It was originally built as the headquarters for the National Maritime Union. Now known as the O'Toole Building, it has been threatened with demolition for years. As of 2011, there is hope that the building will be adapted. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY
The Guggenheim Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built from 1956-1959. As the exterior suggests, the interior features the unique spiral ramp exhibition space inside. It was intended to resemble the interior of a nautilus shell. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Whitney Museum
New York, NY
The Whitney Museum was designed by Marcel Breuer and built in 1966. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

TWA Terminal 5
JFK Airport
Brooklyn, NY		 Control Tower
LaGuardia Airport
Queens, NY
TWA Terminal 5 was designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962. It closed in 2001 and was threatened with demolition. As of 2005, it is now being restored by Jet Blue Airways. The concrete building features a wing-like, vaulted roof and an expressionistic interior. It is stunning both inside and out. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

The LaGuardia Control Tower (aka Building 88) is 150' tall and was built in 1964. Its porthole windows remind me of the Wonder Bread design. For more, see this website.

New York State Pavilion
Flushing, NY
shelter structures
Flushing Marina, NY
The New York State Pavilion was created for the 1964-1965 World's Fair. It still stands, in ruins, in limbo between destruction and potential reuse. The steel and concrete Pavilion was designed by Philip Johnson. Included in the Pavilion was the Tent of Tomorrow which features sixteen 100' tall towers that once supported a canopy. On the ground underneath it is a huge map of New York State made of terrazzo panels. There is now work going on to restore this map. The Pavilion also includes three observation towers (90', 185' and 250' tall). These towers were reached by capsule-shaped elevators which are still visible. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

These two shelter structures were designed by Felix Candela for the 1964-1965 World's Fair. For similar Candela designs, see this website.

Lassie Coats
Long Island City, NY
The Lassie Coats building was constructed in 1958. It now houses the Structural Display Co. For more, see this website.

More NYC Mid-Century Buildings:
Madison Square Garden: 1, 2 (New York)
United Nations: 1, 2 (New York)

Touch of Italy
Tonawanda, NY
The round Touch of Italy restaurant appears to be mid-century. I believe Touch of Italy has been here since 1984. Does anyone know what this place was originally and when it was built?

European Health Spa
Scarsdale, NY
This mushroom-shaped Jack LaLanne's European Health Spa was designed by Don Parry and built in 1969. There was a restaurant, gym and lounge inside. The business has been closed for many years. I don't know if there were other round buildings in the chain. Three abstract shapes and a statue of Atlas are installed in front of the building. Parts of Atlas' globe are scattered at the statue's base. Office plants or outdoor plants have taken over the building's interior. There was talk of demolishing it in 2001, however, as of 2010, it still remains. Many former Jack LaLanne's locations are now used by other health clubs but have kept their Atlas statues such as this one in Reno, NV. For more, see this website.