Pfizer World Headquarters Annex (New York City, New York)

 office building, skyscraper, 1962_construction

351-foot, 31-story office building originally completed in 1962 with 25 floors as the Winstar Building. Designed by Robert L. Bien, it had a black glassy addition designed by Emery Roth & Sons built in 1974 that brought the total floors count to 31. The original building is clad in dark-grey brick with band of four windows in each bay, of which there are ten along the avenue, six on the north facade, and seven on the south facade. The main entrances are on 44th Street, in the three eastern bays, the center of which has a pair of revolving doors. The rest of the ground floor bays have plate-glass storefronts with light-grey metal spandrels separating the 2nd floor, and with projecting Art-Deco style brass-and-frosted glass light fixtures on each pier. There are service entrances in the eastern two bays on 43rd Street, with dark-grey metal louvers above them at the 2nd & 3rd floors.

These two bays set back above the 6th floor, and the rest of the south half of the building sets back above the 10th floor. The north half extends to the full height of 31 floors, while the addition rises from the setback at the south half of the building, seeming to cling to the original building like a glassy outgrowth. It has a black glass curtain wall and deliberately clashes with the original building. The contrast between the two forms makes the new glass appear even slicker, more fluid, than it would on its own. And to further defy the original, it has many setbacks, slinking away from the viewer, while the main structure stands strong.

On 44th Street, there is a small plaza at the east end of the building, extending back for five bays along the east facade. The ground-floor storefronts are occupied by Le Pain Quotidien bakery/cafe, UPS Store, Tap NYC, Vino 43 Wine & Spirits, Bento Sushi & Noodles, a Starbucks coffee, and a TD Bank branch.

In 2004, the building was purchased by Pfizer and had the interior rebuilt by Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors with Martin E. Rich Architect and Perkins & Will as consultant.