You’ve seen it. Even if you don’t know the address, you’ve definitely seen that sloping, bell-bottomed curve cutting through the Midtown skyline. It’s impossible to miss. Standing at the base of 9 West 57th St and looking up is a disorienting experience because the building literally peels away from you as it rises.
It’s bold.
Designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and completed in 1974, this skyscraper isn't just an office building; it’s a power move in architectural form. While most developers try to squeeze every square inch of rentable space out of a lot, the Solow Building—as it’s officially known—uses a massive, sloping travertine plaza and a concave facade to create breathing room. Honestly, in a city where every inch is a battleground, that kind of spatial luxury feels almost aggressive.
People call it the Solow Building after the late Sheldon Solow, the developer who bet everything on this strip of 57th Street. He wasn't exactly known for being easy to work with, but he had an eye for prestige that transformed this specific block into the "Billionaire’s Row" precursor we see today.
The Architecture of 9 West 57th St
The first thing most people notice isn't the glass. It's the "9."
That giant, red, steel sculpture of the number nine sitting on the sidewalk of 57th Street is a landmark in its own right. Created by graphic designer Ivan Chermayeff, it serves as a bit of a whimsical counterpoint to the sheer, intimidating scale of the black glass towering behind it.
The curve isn't just for show. Bunshaft designed the building with a tapering slope to comply with New York City’s zoning laws regarding "light and air." Most buildings use setbacks—those wedding-cake tiers you see on the Empire State Building—to let sunlight hit the street. Bunshaft decided to do it with a single, elegant swoop.
The north and south facades are draped in dark tinted glass, framed by exposed steel girders on the sides. It looks like a high-tech machine. Inside, the views are legendary. Because it sits right across from the Plaza Hotel and the low-rise southern edge of Central Park, the unobstructed views of the greenery are better than almost anywhere else in the city. If you’re on the 40th floor, it feels like the park is your private backyard.
Why the Rent is So Ridiculous
If you want an office here, bring your checkbook. And then maybe a second one.
9 West 57th St has consistently commanded some of the highest rents in the world, often crossing the $200 per square foot mark back when $100 was considered "premium." You might wonder why anyone would pay that when there are shiny new towers in Hudson Yards or the newly renovated One Vanderbilt.
It comes down to two things: prestige and scarcity.
The tenant roster is a "who’s who" of the financial world. We’re talking about massive private equity firms, hedge funds, and boutique investment banks. Apollo Global Management is a major anchor here. KKR was a long-time tenant before moving to Hudson Yards. Tiger Global Management and Dan Loeb’s Third Point have called it home.
Basically, if you’re a fund manager and you tell a client your office is at 9 West 57th, they know exactly how much money you’re making. It’s a shorthand for "we have arrived."
Solow was famous for being extremely selective about who he let into the building. He would famously leave floors vacant for years rather than lower the rent or accept a tenant he didn't think fit the "vibe" of the tower. That artificial scarcity kept the building's aura of exclusivity intact for decades.
The Controversy and the Legacy
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for this glass giant. Sheldon Solow was a litigious man, to put it mildly. He was involved in dozens of lawsuits over the years, ranging from disputes with tenants to battles with the city.
There was also the "black glass" controversy early on. When it was built, critics complained that the dark, reflective surface was too cold and imposing. It didn't have the warmth of the limestone buildings nearby. But over time, that coldness became its signature. It’s the "Darth Vader" of the New York skyline—intimidating, sleek, and undeniably powerful.
In recent years, the building has had to face the reality of a changing Manhattan. With the rise of the "supertall" skinny towers on 57th Street like Central Park Tower and 111 West 57th, the Solow Building is no longer the tallest or newest kid on the block.
However, the floor plates at 9 West 57th St are much larger than those in the new pencil towers, which are mostly residential anyway. For a massive trading floor or a global headquarters, the 30,000-square-foot plates in the base of the building are still incredibly functional.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
Most tourists walk past 9 West 57th on their way to Fifth Avenue shopping or Central Park without realizing they are standing in front of the engine room of global capital.
The "9" sculpture is the most photographed part, but the real soul of the building is the lobby. It’s a cathedral of travertine and art. Solow was a massive art collector, and he displayed works by Matisse, Giacometti, and Miró in the public spaces. It’s one of the few places in New York where you can see museum-quality masterpieces just by peering through a window on your way to lunch.
Interestingly, the building also has a "sister" of sorts. 1114 Avenue of the Americas, known as the Grace Building, was also designed by Bunshaft and features the exact same sloping curve. But while the Grace Building is white and sits near Bryant Park, 9 West 57th is the darker, more famous twin.
Actionable Insights for Visiting or Business
If you’re planning to engage with this iconic piece of New York real estate, keep these things in mind:
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- The Best View: You can’t just walk into the offices, but you can get the best view of the building’s profile from the corner of 58th Street and 6th Avenue. From there, the curve is most dramatic against the backdrop of the park.
- Art Hunting: Take five minutes to walk through the plaza. The sculpture is a great photo op, but look through the glass into the lobby to see the rotating selection of world-class art. It’s free, and it’s better than some galleries.
- Business Context: If you are a startup or a mid-sized firm, don't expect to get a lease here unless you have a massive balance sheet. The building caters to established institutional capital. However, many smaller firms look for "sub-leases" in the building to get the 9 West address without the 15-year commitment.
- The Neighborhood: The area around 9 West 57th St is undergoing a bit of a culinary renaissance. While it used to be just "power lunch" spots like the nearby Grill, newer, more accessible options are opening up toward 6th Avenue to cater to the younger employees of the tech firms moving into Midtown.
The Solow Building remains a testament to the idea that architecture isn't just about housing people; it's about projecting an image. In a city of a thousand skyscrapers, it still manages to stand out by simply leaning back and letting the rest of the world look up.
Whether you love the dark glass or find it imposing, you have to respect the sheer audacity of the design. It changed the way we look at 57th Street, and fifty years later, it hasn't lost a bit of its edge. If you find yourself in Midtown, take a second to stand at the base of the curve. It’s one of the few places in the city where the architecture actually feels like it’s moving.