| Address: | 200 Park Avenue | Class: | A |
| Cross Streets: | 44th & 45th Streets | Size: | 3,140,000 SF |
| Year built: | 1963 | Architect: | Emery Roth & Sons, Pietro Belluschi, Walter Gropius |
The MetLife Building, previously known as Grand Central City and the Pan Am Building, is a controversial Midtown Manhattan landmark. Built in 1960 as the headquarters of Pan American World Airways, the Brutalist office tower was panned by critics because of its huge size that overshadowed other buildings in the area, particularly the Helmsley Building. It was designed in the International Style by Emery Roth & Sons, Pietro Belluschi and Walter Gropius.
MetLife acquired the building in 1981 and renamed it, then in 2005 it sold it to Tishman Speyer. While the tower’s imposing design was criticized by many, the building proved popular among corporations because of its large floor plates and excellent location. The MetLife Building was the largest office space building by square footage in the world when it was completed.
3 MSF of LEED Silver, Class A Office Space
The MetLife Building at 200 Park Avenue features 3 million square feet of Class A Grand Central office space across its 58 stories. The tower also incorporates more than 100,000 square feet of retail space, and connects to Grand Central Terminal through a passageway in the lobby. In 2002, the building was renovated, and now boasts LEED Silver certification for its energy efficient features.
Tishman Speyer and its joint venture partner Irvine Company are currently undertaking a massive renovation of the building’s lobby. The project will redevelop the original passageway between 45th Street and Grand Central Terminal, which was closed in the 1980s. The building owners will also modernize all lobby technology and introduce various new amenities for tenants.
Getting to and from the MetLife Building
The lobby of 200 Park Avenue connects commuters to Grand Central Terminal, with more than 250,000 people passing through on a daily basis. The building’s excellent location provides easy access to Metro North and Amtrak trains, as well as major subway lines, including the 4, 5, 6, and 7 trains.
Who is renting office space at the MetLife Building?
The MetLife Building has always been a popular choice for large corporations looking for quality financial services space. The building’s high-profile tenant roster currently includes CBRE, Freddie Mac, Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, Citibank and Barclays, among many others. The tower’s retail space houses Swarovski and three restaurants.
How much is the rent price for office space at the MetLife Building?
Office asking rents at the MetLife Building are roughly on par with the Midtown Manhattan average of $87 per square foot. The building’s excellent placement right above Grand Central Terminal and its large, energy efficient floor plates make it highly appealing to established corporations and financial services businesses.
