The construction of the 24-story glass and stainless steel Lever House, completed in 1952, heralded the beginning of a new wave in American skyscraper design and a turning point in the history of modern architecture. Lever House established the suitability of the International Style for office building design and signaled the transformation of the style from one associated with an idealistic European social movement into one symbolizing corporate America. Gordon Bunshafts design is especially dramatic because the slab is set perpendicular to Park Avenue and appears to float above the one-story base and open plaza. The building was restored in 2003 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the original design firm.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +0000