As the only skyscraper designed by legendary Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, 51 W 52nd Street is a New York City architectural icon. When CBS CEO William Paley acquired the site in 1960, he tapped Saarinen to build what the architect would later dub “the simplest skyscraper in New York.”
Saarinen’s design was indeed simple – classic, symmetrical and minimalistic, with a palette of sable granite, statuary bronze, and light travertine. Characterized by its revolutionary design and its dark granite diamond-shaped piers, the so-called “Black Rock” provided CBS with a dramatic, 880,000-square-foot headquarters building that rose like solid rock from the ground.
In addition to its distinct design, the building offered flexible, column-free floor plates, abundant natural light, floor-to-ceiling windows, direct access to the retail, dining and entertainment offerings in the heart of Midtown and close proximity to Grand Central Terminal and Central Park. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission named 51 W 52nd Street a landmark in 1997.
When Harbor Group acquired the property in 2021, elements of the structure had become out of sync with a contemporary office environment. Notably, the tinted glass between the piers obscured the lobby, and the building’s original programming did not accommodate contemporary space users, who seek a host of in-building amenities.
Harbor Group began the process to re-imagine the building as a dynamic, contemporary office destination, embarking on a repositioning plan that would transform the property into a market-leading trophy asset, upgrading it to modern standards while maintaining its distinct architectural pedigree.
The project reflects the post-covid workplace dynamic. To accommodate tenants, who must coax their employees to work from the office, property owners must rethink their spaces and activate underutilized spaces, creating exclusive amenities, including lounge spaces, conference facilities, food and beverage offerings, and fitness and spa facilities.
These amenities provide significant utility to tenants, allowing them to benefit from access to social hubs and gathering spaces without dedicating space for these uses in their own suites. The amenities also foster the creation of “third-space,” places that exist between home and the traditional office, offering a platform to build social connections. The repositioning of 51 W 52 embraced trophy-caliber amenity offerings to position the property for contemporary tenants while honoring Saarinen’s original design intent.
To begin, the team restored the landmarked sunken plaza, which had been designed by Saarinen to allow the tower to “stand alone with air and light around it.” Over time, the addition of planters and signage had compromised the purity of Saarinen’s original vision. In collaboration with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, Harbor Group and its architectural team – Vocon and MdeAS – executed a restoration that simplifies the plaza experience, exposing the original stone seating ledges and specifying new accent lighting to enhance the public space.
The renovated 52nd Street lobby showcases Saarinen’s original palette of sable granite, statuary bronze, and light travertine. Modern elements were thoughtfully selected to enhance the experience Saarinen envisioned, including a sparkling light installation suspended from the 20-foot-high ceiling, a glowing onyx reception desk, and the restoration of the original rich bronze fin walls that flank the building’s lobbies. At the same time, the 53rd Street lobby was re-imagined as Club 53, a tenant lounge and mixer club. Curated with original Knoll and Saarinen furniture and illuminated by a second monumental light installation, the new space provides a superior hospitality experience while preserving Saarinen’s design elements.
In addition to new elevators, a restored elevator bay and a rooftop garden, the repositioned 51 W 52 also capitalizes on previously underutilized space at the lower level, beneath the building and the plaza, to create a world-class amenity suite for tenants. A Saarinen-inspired staircase connects Club 53 to this level, where a private cocktail lounge, fitness center, flexible forum, and shared conference rooms have been added. In the spirit of Saarinen’s original design, a tranquil reflective pool connects these spaces with modern simplicity.
The careful design of the stair’s double stringers allows them to act as a structure, reducing the amount of required steel and increasing visibility to the water below. The cocktail lounge, with design elements reminiscent of the CBS Headquarters’ original ground-floor restaurant, completes the amenity space. The dark granite from the lobby carries down to the walls of the lower level and slowly gives way to a new material palette of terrazzo, dark oak wood flooring, and black lacquered diamond-shaped piers. Classic furniture and high-end materials create the ultimate, refined hospitality experience.
By making thoughtful design updates and incorporating inspiration from Saarinen’s other buildings alongside his original furniture designs, the new 51 W 52nd Street highlights the history of a New York City icon while creating a contemporary environment that appeals to top tenants.
Editor’s Note: Sofia Juperius, NCIDQ, is senior associate, design director, amenities market leader at Vocon.
