Developers Propose New Chrysler Building Observation Deck

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The new owners of iconic Midtown Manhattan skyscraper the Chrysler Building are planning to add an observation deck to the landmarked tower, according to a presentation submitted Tuesday to the city Landmarks Preservation Commission.

RFR Realty, which bought the historic building for just $150 million in 2019, presented plans drawn up by the Gensler architecture firm to construct an observation deck at a terrace on the Chrysler Building's 61st floor.

The terraces, located on the north and south side of the tower's 61st floor, would be outfitted with new glass observation screens and new automatic sliding doors providing access to the decks. Windows on the east and west sides of the floor would be replaced to provide visitors additional viewpoints from inside the building, according to Gensler's presentation.

Visual impact to the exterior of the landmarked building appears to be minimal and limited to the 8-foot-tall glass panels that protects observers, according to Gensler's presentation.

The proposal will add additional tourist activity to the Chrysler Building, which functions primarily as an office building. Tourists are currently limited to viewing the building's exteriors and its lobby.

German-born investor Aby Rosen's firm RFR Holdings bought the Chrysler Building from Tishman Speyer and an Abu Dhabi government fund for about $150 million in 2019, representing a massive loss for the previous owners. The Abu Dhabi fund paid about $800 million in 2008 to take a controlling stake in the building.

The Chrysler Building stands 1,046-feet-tall on the corner of East 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. The landmarked tower was completed in 1930 and stood as the world's tallest building for just under a year until the completion of the nearby Empire State Building. The 77-story building is often counted among New York City's most impressive architectural marvels and an icon of the Art Deco style.