Sanctuary From the Elements

In the Details...

By CARTER B. HORSLEY
April 3, 2008

Building arcades, famous in Paris, where they line the bases of most buildings along the Rue de Rivoli, are rare in New York. While the city has flirted with plaza designs in an effort to expand open spaces in dense neighborhoods, it has not focused on arcades, though they are ideal for providing widened pedestrian areas.

Still, Manhattan does boast some of these architectural gems, and perhaps their most ardent lovers are the smokers at office buildings, who have been forced outdoors in recent years and seek shelter under them.

One of the city's first major arcades was created at the Barclay-Vesey Building at 140 West St., designed by Ralph Walker of McKenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin in 1927. Taking advantage of building incentives that were part of the 1969 Lincoln Square special zoning district, Seymour Milstein built arcades at One Lincoln Plaza at 20 W. 64th St. and at 30 Lincoln Plaza, one block to the south. The arcades, designed by Philip Birnbaum in 1971 and 1979, respectively, are successful because they are high enough to avoid being claustrophobic and wide enough to permit some sidewalk cafés. Undoubtedly, the city's most famous arcades are at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The New York State Theater, designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster in 1964, and Avery Fisher Hall, designed by Harrison & Abramovitz in 1962, have the most handsome arcades in the city.

One of the Manhattan's sprightliest arcades can be found at 777 Third Ave., an office building designed by William Lescaze and erected in 1963 by the William Kaufman Organization. The arcade is highlighted by a large, red swing seat in the shape of a piano lid that was designed by Theodore Ceraldi and is suspended under the arcade.

The Kaufman Organization also created the handsome curved arcade at 17 State St., which pairs well with the reflective-glass curtain wall, designed by Richard Roth Jr. in 1989. Another curved arcade can be found at the so-called Lipstick Building at 885 Third Ave., designed in 1986 by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. And a third arcade with angled columns is at 9 W. 57th St., designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1974.

Mr. Horsley is the editor of CityRealty.com.