World Apparel Center (New York City, New York)

 office building, skyscraper, 1969_construction, International style architecture

502-foot, 42-story International-style office building completed in 1969 for Benjamin Swig and Jack Weiler. Designed by Irwin S. Chanin, the building replaced the former Metropolitan Opera House. Its form is a boxy tower with lower wings on the north and south, both not quite as wide as the main bulk of the tower. All the facades have vertical window bays separated by projecting concrete fins. There are black metal spandrels between the windows in each bay.

The fins and window bays begin above a 2-story base of metal and glass, with storefronts on the ground floor and large show-windows on the 2nd floor. A 2015 renovation replaced the original base cladding of black metal panels with more glass, including a projecting storefront along 7th Avenue. There are wide entrances and exits to the underground parking garage on the north side, on 40th Street. The lower wings set back above the 13th floor. At the top of the tower is a double-height mechanical floor with black metal panels; the concrete fins extend all the way up to the roof line.

Besides the lobby space, the ground floor is occupied by a Chase Bank branch, Gregorys Coffee, H&R Block, and a Starbucks Coffee.

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