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Landmarks
510 Fifth Avenue - Manufacturers Trust Company Building - Application to install a security desk and modify partitions at the elevator lobby
WHEREAS, 510 Fifth Avenue is located at the Southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street, with frontage on both; and
WHEREAS, the building was designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrell with Gordon Bunshaft as partner in charge, with Eleanor H. LeMaire responsible for the interiors, and opened in October 1954 as the Fifth Avenue office of the Manufacturers Trust Company; and
WHEREAS, the building is considered a major example of mid-20th century Modernism with many distinctive elements, and was designated an exterior landmark in 1997 and an interior landmark in 2011; and
WHEREAS, the application is a request to install a security desk and modify partitions at the elevator lobby in the West 43rd Street entrance; and
WHEREAS, the modification of the partitions replaces a drywall partition that is not historic in material and blocks the original glass wall to the rear space with a glass wall that is designed to more closely represent the original intent; and
WHEREAS, a non-original door is being covered with salvaged marble that matches the marble panels throughout the lobby; and
WHEREAS, the application requests replacement of a non-historic reception desk with a desk that is not indicative of the style of the original interior designs throughout the structure; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to replace their proposed desk with a desk that more closely represents the original designs that were used in the bank, including a design in keeping with mid-century Modernism and that uses walnut for the desk construction covered by a top in the same white marble consistent with the design of the historic teller desks; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Community Board 5 recommends approval of the application for 510 Fifth Avenue.