Macmillan moved out in 2019, and the building’s office floors have been empty since then, according to ArchPaper. In October 2023, the building’s owners, a group led by Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate, announced that they would convert the building into luxury housing, a process that is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. Currently, 60 condos are planned across the building’s 22 stories.
The ground floor will be used for retail tenants, as it is currently. T-Mobile has a store on the base.
Architectural Details of the Flatiron Building
Exterior Design
The most distinctive feature of the Flatiron Building is the very thing it’s named for—its unusual triangular shape, resembling a clothes iron. This shape was necessitated by the specific plot of land it was on, where 5th Avenue and Broadway taper toward each other. Among its most notable details is the reinterpretation of classical Greek columns. Like predecessors, the façade is divided into a base, shaft, and capital. The building is clad in glazed terra-cotta and limestone, with plenty of Beaux Arts decorative elements such as oriel windows, cornices, and moldings that reward a closer look.
Interior Design
Now that the Flatiron is being converted into luxury residential units, the interiors are in a state of flux. As detailed by CoStar News in 2023, many of the floors have been stripped down to make way for the conversion and the existing historic staircase is being taken out and replaced with two staircases. Regardless of the interior finishes, the developers will certainly have to get creative to make the more angular sections of the building suitable for residential use.
How to Visit the Flatiron Building
Unlike other iconic New York City buildings, such as the Empire State Building and One World Trade, the Flatiron Building is not open to the public, save for its retail space. The best way to experience the building as a tourist is from the outside, and an afternoon in Madison Square Park can offer you a pleasant close-up view, free of charge.
