Walk down the corner of Sixth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan and you'll see a lot of glass. It's everywhere. Most of the new towers in Billionaires’ Row look like giant, shimmering toothpicks reaching for the clouds, but 57 West 57th St is different. It's got weight.
Built back in 1928, this building—often called the Corinthian Building—doesn't care about your floor-to-ceiling glass curtains or minimalist lobbies that feel like a high-end dentist's office. It’s a 20-story Art Deco powerhouse designed by Buchman & Kahn. If those names sound familiar, they should; they’re the same minds behind some of the most iconic pre-war architecture in the city.
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Honestly, it’s kinda weird how much we ignore these "mid-sized" legacy buildings while everyone stares at Central Park Tower or 111 West 57th. But here’s the thing: 57 West 57th St is where the actual business of the city gets done. It’s not just a pretty facade with stepped-back terraces. It’s a hub for boutique financial firms, high-end medical suites, and creative agencies that want the prestige of a 57th Street address without the sterile vibe of a 2020s skyscraper.
What’s Actually Inside 57 West 57th St?
People think Midtown is just empty offices and tourists buying overpriced pretzels. They’re wrong.
Basically, the building is a masterclass in mixed-use longevity. You’ve got roughly 170,000 square feet of space. The ground floor has been home to big names like Victorian Gardens and various high-end retailers over the decades. But the real action is upstairs.
You’ve got firms like Regis Management and various family offices that keep a low profile. It’s the kind of place where you see people in tailored suits who probably own half the block but don't want their names on a digital billboard. The floor plates are smaller than the massive "open plan" nightmares you find in Hudson Yards. We’re talking 7,000 to 10,000 square feet. This is perfect for the "boutique" crowd. It feels private. It feels like you’re in a real building, not a glass box.
The Architecture is the Real Flex
Buchman & Kahn didn’t just throw some bricks together. They used a limestone and brick facade with these incredible Art Deco details that most people walk right past.
The setbacks are the best part.
Because of the 1916 Zoning Resolution, buildings had to get thinner as they got taller to let light hit the street. At 57 West 57th St, this created these awesome outdoor terraces. If you’re lucky enough to work in one of the upper-floor suites, you basically have a private backyard overlooking Sixth Avenue. That’s a massive lifestyle perk in a city where "fresh air" usually means standing near an AC intake.
Ownership and the "Old School" New York Real Estate Game
You can't talk about this address without talking about the LeFrak family.
They’ve owned this building for a long time. In a world where private equity firms flip buildings every five years like they’re trading cards, the LeFraks are the definition of "long-term holders." They’ve put significant money into renovating the lobby and the elevators over the last few years.
Why does this matter?
Because it changes how the building is managed. When a family office owns the dirt, they care about the tenant relationship. They aren't trying to squeeze every cent out of a five-year pro forma to impress a board of directors. They want stability. They want the building to look good in fifty years.
Currently, the building maintains a high occupancy rate even when the rest of Midtown is "struggling" with the work-from-home shift. Why? Because people actually want to be at this intersection. You’re two blocks from Central Park. You’re right next to the N, R, W, and F trains. You can walk to lunch at Le Bilboquet or grab a quick bite at the subterranean food halls nearby.
The 57 West 57th St Myth: It’s Not Just "Another Office"
There’s a misconception that these older Midtown buildings are obsolete.
"The ceilings are too low!"
"The tech is too old!"
That’s mostly marketing fluff from developers trying to lease out $200-per-square-foot space in the new towers. In reality, 57 West 57th St has been gutted and retrofitted with high-speed fiber, modern HVAC systems, and LEED certifications. You get the 1920s soul with 2020s Wi-Fi. It’s the best of both worlds, honestly.
Also, let’s talk about the light. Because it sits on a corner, it gets incredible northern and western exposure. If you’re an artist or an architect—or just someone who doesn't want to live in a fluorescent-lit cave—that natural light is a game-changer.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
Everyone calls this "Billionaires’ Row" now.
But 57 West 57th St was here first.
It’s not part of the ultra-luxury residential boom; it’s the commercial anchor that makes the neighborhood livable for professionals. It provides a contrast to the "pencil towers" like 432 Park or 111 W 57th. Those buildings are mostly empty pied-à-terres for the global elite. This building is full of people actually working.
Investing or Leasing: What You Need to Know
If you’re looking at space here, you need to be prepared for the price tag. It’s not cheap.
Rents in this corridor can easily swing between $80 and $120 per square foot depending on the floor and the view. You’re paying for the 10019 zip code. You’re paying for the fact that your clients know exactly where you are the moment you say the address.
Here is the breakdown of what actually makes this building work for businesses:
- Visibility: You are on the corner of 57th and 6th. Your brand is associated with the heart of Manhattan.
- Proximity: You can be at a meeting in the Plaza Hotel in four minutes.
- Character: Your office won't look like a generic WeWork. It has casement windows and real stone.
- Management: Having a landlord like the LeFrak Organization means the heat actually works and the lobby is always polished.
Why 57 West 57th St Still Matters in 2026
The "death of the office" was greatly exaggerated.
What actually died was the "boring office."
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People don't want to commute to a soul-crushing cubicle in a windowless block. They want to go somewhere that feels like New York. They want to walk out of their office and see the horse carriages heading toward the park. They want to see the Art Deco brass in the lobby.
57 West 57th St offers that "New York-ness" that a glass skyscraper in a new development just can't replicate. It has a history. It has weathered the Great Depression, the 70s fiscal crisis, and the pandemic. It’s still standing. It’s still full.
For anyone looking to understand the New York real estate market, look past the shiny new spires for a second. Look at the corners. Look at the limestone. That’s where the staying power is.
Actionable Steps for Navigating 57 West 57th St
If you are a tenant, a visitor, or just a real estate nerd, here is how to handle this building:
- Check the Floor Plans: If you are leasing, look for the "C-line" or corner units. The light from the Sixth Avenue side is superior to the mid-block views.
- Respect the Landmark Status: Don't expect to be able to rip out original architectural elements if you’re doing a build-out. The building is part of a storied history, and the owners keep it that way.
- Use the Transit: Don't try to drive here. Between the 57th St-7th Ave station and the 57th St F-train station, you are better off on the subway. Traffic on 57th Street is a permanent nightmare.
- Verify Availability Directly: Because this building is privately held by a major landlord, sometimes the best spaces aren't even on the public listing sites. Reach out to the LeFrak leasing office directly or use a tenant rep who has a relationship with them.
- Look Up: Next time you’re at the corner, don't just look at the storefronts. Look at the upper-tier setbacks. That’s where the architectural genius of Buchman & Kahn really shows.
This isn't just a building; it's a testament to the idea that if you build something with quality materials and a bit of style, it never really goes out of fashion. It just becomes a classic.