135 Madison Avenue (New York City, New York)

USA / New Jersey / West New York / New York City, New York / Madison Avenue, 135
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174-foot, 13-story Beaux-Arts office building completed in 1911. Designed by Terry & Tench Company, it has a 3-story limestone base (painted dark-grey in 2023), 7-story red brick mid-section, and 2-story crown (three stories at the southwest corner). The west facade on Madison Avenue has four bays, and the south facade spans five bays.

The limestone piers sit on grey granite bases, framing storefronts as well as a main entrance in the northern bay on the avenue, and two service bays near the east end of the south elevation. The 2nd floor has iron-framed tripartite windows with transoms that have rounded corners.The top of each pier is ornamented with a swagged circle. A band course separates the 3rd floor, which has three windows per bay, divided by stone pilasters. The main piers have carved panels with hanging pendants. The base is topped by an entablature with simple circles along the frieze, and a dentiled cornice above.

The dark-red brick midsection also has three windows per bay, grouped under white stone lintels. A few of the windows at the lower floors on 31st Street have been replaced by metal louvers, as well as three at the northern side of the middle floors on Madison Avenue. The 10th floor has stone piers with ornament including lion's heads; it is topped by a stone cornice.

The crown has paneled stone piers, ornamented at the top of the 12th floor, where each bay has a keystone. The three windows have grey iron frames and spandrels between the 11th & 12th floors. A green copper roof cornice with modillions and finials caps both facades, except at the bays at the southwest corner. Here both facades rise to a 13th floor, with each bay having four multi-paned industrial style windows, and a simpler copper cornice. Above this cornice is a low-sloped red tile pyramidal roof at the corner.

The north elevation is clad in plain red brick with a few small windows. The east elevation is clad in brown brick. The ground floor is occupied by B&B Italia furniture, and Harooni rugs.
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Coordinates:   40°44'45"N   73°59'1"W
This article was last modified 5 months ago