Walk down Sixth Avenue—or Avenue of the Americas, if you’re being fancy—and everything starts to look the same. Glass. Steel. More glass. People in suits moving way too fast. But 1185 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 is different. It’s not just another skyscraper. It’s a 42-story beast that basically anchors the Rockefeller Center submarket without ever being as flashy as the Rainbow Room or the skating rink.
Most people just walk past it. They see the massive plaza and the "1185" branding and keep moving toward Radio City. That's a mistake. If you’re into New York real estate, or if you just work in Midtown, you know this building is a heavyweight. It was built back in 1971. That was a weird time for NYC architecture—the "Brutalist-lite" era where everything had to feel massive and immovable.
The Architecture of 1185 6th Avenue
It’s a Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) design. If that name sounds familiar, it should. They’re the same folks behind the Burj Khalifa and One World Trade Center. At 1185 6th Avenue, they went with this vertical limestone and glass look that makes the building feel even taller than its 550 feet.
The most striking part? The "through-block" galleria.
It connects 46th and 47th Streets. Honestly, it’s one of the best "secret" shortcuts in the city. When it’s raining and you’re trying to get from Bryant Park up to the Diamond District, cutting through 1185 saves your life. And your hair. It’s a Privately Owned Public Space (POPS), which is a very New York thing where developers get to build higher in exchange for giving the public a place to sit.
Who Actually Works Here?
This isn’t a building for tech startups or quirky creative agencies. It’s a power center. We're talking big-league law firms and financial institutions.
King & Spalding is a massive tenant here. They take up a huge chunk of the upper floors. You’ve also got the National Hockey League (NHL) nearby, though they moved their primary headquarters to One Manhattan West recently. For a long time, 1185 6th Avenue was synonymous with big-ticket corporate law and traditional finance.
The ownership is a big deal too. SL Green Realty Corp owns it. They’re the biggest office landlord in New York. When SL Green owns a building, it means the lobby is going to stay polished and the elevators will actually work. They’ve poured millions into renovating the lobby and the elevators over the last few years because, let’s be real, a 1970s office lobby can feel like a tomb if you don't touch it up.
The 10036 Vibe
Living or working in the 10036 zip code is chaotic. You’re right on the edge of Times Square, but 1185 6th Avenue is just far enough north to avoid the worst of the Elmos and the tourists. It’s the "corporate" side of 10036.
Why the Location Wins
- Subway Access: You have the B, D, F, and M trains literally at your doorstep at the 47-50th Sts-Rockefeller Ctr station.
- The Food: You’re steps away from the Halal Guys on 53rd (worth the line, usually) and high-end spots like Ocean Prime.
- Proximity: You can walk to Grand Central in ten minutes. Maybe twelve if the sidewalk traffic is bad.
It’s funny. 1185 6th Avenue New York New York USA 10036 sounds like a formal mailing address you’d see on a legal summons, but for the thousands of people who go there every day, it’s just "the office."
What Most People Get Wrong About This Building
People think these old Sixth Avenue towers are obsolete. They aren't. While everyone is obsessed with the new glass boxes in Hudson Yards, buildings like 1185 have something those places don't: floor plates that actually make sense.
The floors here are about 30,000 square feet. That’s a "sweet spot" for law firms. You can fit a lot of partner offices along the windows. In the newer buildings with floor-to-ceiling glass and weird shapes, you end up with a lot of wasted "dead space" in the middle. 1185 is a rectangle. It’s efficient. It’s boring, but in a way that makes businesses very, very profitable.
👉 See also: 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway: Why This Austin Landmark Still Dominates the Skyline
The SL Green Effect
You can't talk about this address without talking about the 2020s office market. A lot of people predicted the "death of the office." SL Green didn't buy it. They doubled down on their "Class A" properties.
At 1185 6th Avenue, they introduced high-end amenities that didn't exist ten years ago. We’re talking about better air filtration, touchless entry, and upgraded retail at the base. It’s an arms race to keep tenants from moving to the Far West Side.
Realities of the Neighborhood
Look, it’s not all sunshine. Sixth Avenue can be a wind tunnel in January. The noise is constant. If you’re looking for a quiet, leafy neighborhood, 1185 6th Avenue is your nightmare. But if you want to feel the "energy" of New York—that specific vibration where you feel like you’re in the middle of everything—this is it.
The building also sits right near the Diamond District on 47th Street. That adds a weird, frantic energy to the side entrance. You’ll see guys carrying small, nondescript bags worth more than your house. It’s just part of the 10036 ecosystem.
Actionable Steps for Visiting or Leasing
If you're headed to 1185 6th Avenue, don't just wing it.
- Security is tight. This is a post-9/11 New York skyscraper. You aren't getting past the lobby without a pre-registered QR code or a valid ID and a reason to be there.
- Use the Galleria. If you need a moment of zen, the public seating in the through-block corridor is actually decent. It’s a great spot to eat a sandwich when the weather is trash.
- Check the Floor Plates. If you’re a business owner looking for space, ask for the "loss factor" details. 1185 is known for being relatively efficient compared to the older pre-war buildings in the 10017 zip code nearby.
- Commuter Hack. If the 6th Ave subway is delayed, remember you’re a short walk from the 1, 2, 3 at Times Square or the N, Q, R, W at 49th Street. You are never actually stuck here.
1185 6th Avenue represents the transition of New York from the gritty 70s to the polished corporate era. It’s a survivor. It’s stayed relevant while dozens of other buildings from the same era have been torn down or converted into condos. It’s a workhorse of a building in a city that usually prefers show ponies.
If you find yourself standing in that plaza, look up. The scale is incredible. It’s a reminder that New York was built on this kind of massive, unapologetic ambition. Whether you're there for a court deposition or just passing through the galleria to stay dry, 1185 is a foundational piece of the Midtown skyline that isn't going anywhere.