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MetLife Building

A towering International Style skyscraper at 200 Park Avenue, once the Pan Am Building, known for its massive scale and controversial history in Midtown Manhattan.

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Where is the MetLife Building located?

The MetLife Building is located at 200 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, situated above Grand Central Terminal and between the roadways of the Park Avenue Viaduct.

What is the building known for?

It is known as an International Style skyscraper that was the world's largest commercial office space by square footage at its opening. It is also recognized for being one of New York's most controversial skyscrapers due to its dominant presence over Park Avenue.

Was it always called the MetLife Building?

No, it was originally built as the Pan Am Building to serve as the headquarters for Pan American World Airways. MetLife purchased the building in 1981 and later replaced the Pan Am branding with its own.

How tall is the building?

The building is 808 feet (246 meters) tall and consists of 59 stories.

Who designed the MetLife Building?

The building was designed in the International style by Richard Roth (Emery Roth & Sons), Walter Gropius, and Pietro Belluschi.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

The MetLife Building, located at 200 Park Avenue, is a 59-story International Style skyscraper that stands 808 feet tall. Designed by architects Richard Roth, Walter Gropius, and Pietro Belluschi, the structure was completed in 1962 and formally opened on March 7, 1963. It is one of the city's first precast concrete curtain walls, a design inspired by Milan's Pirelli Tower and an unrealized project by Le Corbusier. Originally known as the Pan Am Building, it served as the headquarters for Pan American World Airways. At its opening, it was described as the world's largest commercial office space by square footage, containing approximately 390,700 square meters of office space. This unprecedented volume of office space and its dominant presence over Park Avenue led to it being derided as a 'behemoth' and regarded as one of New York's most controversial skyscrapers. Ownership has shifted over the decades. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company bought the building in 1981 for $400 million, and a decade later, replaced the Pan Am logo on the building's crown with its own. Following the decline of the airline, the Pan Am lettering was removed entirely by 1992. In 2005, the structure was sold to a consortium of new owners for a record $1.72 billion. Today, the building sits atop Grand Central Terminal, providing a highly convenient location in Midtown Manhattan. As of September 2024, it remains the 42nd-tallest building in New York City and the 88th-tallest in the United States.

Visitor tips

  • View the building's massive facade from the Park Avenue Viaduct to appreciate its scale.
  • Look up at the building's crown to see if you can spot the peregrine falcons, Lois and Clark.
  • Combine this stop with a visit to Grand Central Terminal, which the building sits directly above.

Nearby context

The MetLife Building is a dominant landmark in Midtown Manhattan, positioned between the roadways of the Park Avenue Viaduct and sitting directly atop Grand Central Terminal, the city's primary transportation hub.

Sources

Evidence and links