Flat Iron Building
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Architect: Daniel H. Burnham
Year Completed: 1902
Location: 175 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York
Style: Beaux Arts
Daniel H. Burnham was an important business man, architect and urban planner. He was one of the Chicago School architects who helped develop and refine the modern skyscraper. However, Burnham's choice of a classically-inspired style for the major buildings of the 1894 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago changed the face of architecture for many years.
The Flat Iron Building is an example of the style that was to follow after this World's Fair. It also has the honour of being the oldest surviving skyscraper in New York City.
The building is Italian Renaissance style and features tripartite construction, a common choice for skyscrapers of this era. Tripartite buildings are based on a Greek column with three distinct portions that resemble the base, shaft and capital. For this building, wide windows and limestone characterize the base portion. The middle portion is shaft-like, and the top portion features arches that are topped by an ornate cornice.
The second picture above was taken from the Empire State Building and the third picture was taken from across 5th Avenue.