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New York Mid-Century Modern Buildings (page 1)

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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 this website. [map]

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

former 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. It was later known as the O'Toole Building and had been threatened with demolition for years. These photos are from 2009. In 2014, the building was saved and now houses the Lenox Hill Healthplex. For more, see this website. [map]

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 this website. [map]

former Whitney Museum (now Frick Madison)
New York, NY
The Whitney Museum was designed by Marcel Breuer and built in 1966. These photos are from 2009. The museum moved to a new location in 2015. This building has been rented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the next eight years for the display of contemporary art. The building now houses the Frick Madison. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

TWA Terminal 5
JFK Airport
Brooklyn, NY		 Control Tower [gone]
La Guardia Airport
Queens, NY
TWA Terminal 5 was designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962. It closed in 2001 and was threatened with demolition. When this photo was taken in 2005, the building was being restored for Jet Blue Airways. In 2013, it was announced that the building would be converted into a hotel, restaurant, and conference center. The TWA Hotel opened in 2019. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The La Guardia Control Tower, aka Building 88, was 150 foot tall and was built in 1964. In 2010, a new control tower was built and this one was demolished.

New York State Pavilion
Flushing, NY
shelter structures
Flushing, NY
The New York State Pavilion was created for the 1964-1965 World's Fair. The steel and concrete structure was designed by Philip Johnson. It features three observations towers which are 90 feet, 185 feet, and 250 feet tall. These towers were reached by capsule-shaped elevators which are still visible. After being abandoned for decades, there is hope that the Pavilion can be restored. The Tent of Tomorrow, which is part of the Pavilion, features sixteen 100-foot-tall towers that once supported a canopy. These photos are from 2005. In 2015, the Tent of Tomorrow was repainted. On the ground underneath the structure is a huge map of New York State made of terrazzo panels. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

These two shelter structures were built as pavilions for the 1964-1965 World's Fair Marina. They were part of the US Coast Guard's Exhibition Hall and were originally enclosed by glass walls. They were designed by Peter Schladermundt. The third pavilion is now used as a cabin in the Adirondacks. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

former Barkin, Levin & Co
Long Island City, NY
The Barkin, Levin & Co. building was designed by Ulrich Franzen and built in 1958. The building housed the Structural Display Co. when this photo was taken in 2009. It now houses a DHL shipping office. For more, see 1 and 2. [map]

More New York City:
New York Public Library, Francis Martin Branch (Bronx)
Brooklyn Public Library, Highlawn Branch (Brooklyn)
Pan American Worldport Terminal (Brooklyn) [gone]
Fire Station (New York)
Lasker Rink (New York)
Madison Square Garden: 1, 2 (New York) [map]
United Nations Building: 1, 2 (New York) [map]
Great Hall (Queens)

Touch of Italy
Tonawanda, NY
The round Touch of Italy restaurant was built by 1969. It was originally a Jesters Hamburgers. There were at least two other locations, in Blasdell and East Aurora, both gone. The first location, with the same design, opened in Blasdell in 1966. It was designed by Lurkey & Zimmerman. These buildings originally had 52-foot-tall spires on the roof. I believe Touch of Italy has been here since 1984. For more, see this website. [map]

European Health Spa
Scarsdale, NY
This mushroom-shaped Jack LaLanne's European Health Spa was designed by Thomas J. Walters and built in 1969. There was a restaurant, gym and lounge inside. The business has been closed for many years. I'm told there was another location with a building like this in or near Wilmington, DE. I don't know if there were any others. Three abstract shapes and a statue of Atlas are installed in front of this Scarsdale 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 2019, 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. [map]

NY Misc.
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NY Motels NY Offices NY Residential NY Roofs

Mid-Century Modern Buildings
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