After over 120 years as a commercial building, the Flatiron Building will shine brightly as a new condo development. Literally. The distinct triangular building at 175 Fifth Avenue will be illuminated for the first time in its history when it reopens as luxury apartments. As first reported by the New York Post, the LED lighting scheme, designed by L’Observatoire International and approved by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, will be most prominent on the top five floors beneath the building’s signature cornice, then cascade downward to emphasize its architectural details, which have been restored as part of a multi-year renovation.
“For a real estate family with over 80 years of experience in New York City, there’s no greater thrill, or responsibility, than stewarding a landmark as essential to the city’s fabric as the Flatiron Building,” Daniel Brodsky, owner of the Brodsky Organization, which is overseeing the building’s restoration and conversion, told the Post.
“We’re honored that the Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved the building’s first-ever exterior lighting plan, allowing this icon to shine nightly for the first time in its 123-year history.”
Originally designed by architect Daniel Burnham and completed in 1902 as the Fuller Building, the Flatiron has become one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks. Known for its unique triangular shape, Beaux-Arts facade, and steel-frame construction, it was one of the world’s first skyscrapers.
Over the years, the building has hosted a diverse array of tenants, including two basement restaurants, clothing and toy companies, magazine and publishing houses—but it has always been used exclusively for offices and commercial purposes.
In 2021, the building became the center of a contentious legal battle among its former owners—GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, ABS Real Estate Partners, and Nathan Silverstein. The four partners sued Silverstein, who held a 25 percent stake, seeking a partition sale. They claimed he made poor business decisions after the building’s sole tenant, Macmillan Publishers, moved out in 2019 after 60 years, as 6sqft previously reported.
That March, the building went to auction to resolve the dispute, receiving a winning bid of $190 million from Jacob Garlick of Abraham Trust. However, after Garlick missed the down payment deadline, the property returned to auction and was ultimately sold to Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate for $165.1 million, who effectively acquired Silverstein’s 25 percent stake.
GFP and Sorgente have partnered with the Brodsky Organization to redevelop the building, converting its former office and commercial space into 38 luxury condos, with 40 storage units, and two commercial units. Earlier reports detailed a plan for 60 residences.
The redevelopment included a comprehensive, multi-year restoration, which has replaced all of the building’s windows—more than 1,000—and meticulously restored thousands of terra-cotta fixtures, each hand-replicated by a California manufacturer. A detailed restoration of the building’s six-foot-tall cornice was also completed.
For the new apartments, the development team enlisted AD100 designer William Sofield’s Studio Sofield to reimagine the building’s interior for modern living. Sofield is designing both the residences and the amenity spaces.
According to a project representative, the interiors will honor the building’s legacy while incorporating contemporary touches inspired by original materials, such as historic railings, original ironwork, and marble mosaics.
Approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the new lighting design is the latest addition to the restoration project.
Other planned upgrades include an updated lobby, new elevators, upgraded retail frontage and storefront louvers, and facade changes to the 21st floor behind the roof parapet, according to Yimby.
The restoration is expected to be completed in 2027. Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group is the exclusive sales and marketing firm for the Flatiron Building.
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