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Landmarks
The Feil Organization & FXcollaborative application to add a new Anchor Tenant Entrance to The Look Building at 488 Madison Avenue.
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 38 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, The applicants are proposing to add a new anchor tenant storefront entrance to the 51st street side of The Look Building, located at 488 Madison Avenue; and
WHEREAS, This building is located along the entire west side of Madison Avenue, and along portions of the north side of 51st Street and the south side of 52nd Street, directly north of St. Patrick’s Cathedral; and
WHEREAS, The 23 story building was designed by Emery Roth & Sons and was completed in in 1950, and is an excellent example of mid-20th Century International Style modernism; and WHEREAS, The Look Building was designated a New York City Landmark in 2010; and
WHEREAS, The building’s entire original brushed and polished stainless steel and clear glass storefronts from the 3rd floor and below were replaced in 1996 with dark glass; and
WHEREAS, In 2015 all of the dark glass storefront was replaced with a brushed and polished stainless steel and clear glass storefronts in keeping with the original design, including a new canopy over the main entrance on Madison Avenue; and
WHEREAS, A new anchor tenant storefront entrance is proposed at the middle of the 51st Street façade at 15 East 51st Street; and
WHEREAS, This new entrance will have 9’-3” high, clear glass and stainless steel double doors which are recessed into the façade and align with the bottom of the 3rd mullion of the existing adjacent stainless steel storefront; and
WHEREAS, Directly above the doors and covering the entire entrance recess is a new canopy similar in design to the primary entrance canopy with polished and brushed stainless steel elements and free standing stainless steel letters on top to identify the tenant; and
WHEREAS, The new canopy at 12” is smaller in height and at 2’-0” is shallower in projection from the façade than the primary entrance canopy which correctly emphasizes that it is a secondary entrance; and WHEREAS, The new canopy will only have two downlights located in its underside and the stainless steel letters will not be illuminated; and
WHEREAS, The width of the double doors at 6’-6” will comply with ADA regulations and the doors will have an automatic opener and tenant card reader at its side; and
WHEREAS, The entrance recess will be framed with rounded stainless steel elements similar in design to the primary entrance; and
WHEREAS, The new entry doors will lead into a vestibule with a matching pair of doors which then leads into the new double height lobby; and
WHEREAS, A new granite stone base will be provided to match the adjacent granite stone base; and
WHEREAS, No original building fabric from 1950 is being removed to create this new entrance; and
WHEREAS, The new entrance is in keeping with the original design and 2014 renovation; and
WHEREAS, The design of the new entrance is harmonious with the 2014 Madison Avenue primary entrance while clearly emphasizing its status as a secondary entrance; and
WHEREAS, The Committee requested that the design team consider muting the light levels in the new two story lobby to minimize light spill through the clear glass onto the street at night; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends APPROVAL of the application for the new tenant anchor storefront at The Look Building at 488 Madison Avenue.