685 First Avenue

685 First Avenue is a newly constructed, mixed-use apartment tower; with a black-glass exterior that projects unparalleled light experiences. It is Richard Meier's tallest building in New York City, with 42 floors, housing 143 condo apartments in the top 16 floors and 430 rental units on the lower floors, containing 1 to 4 bedroom residences.

The condominium building is located in the heart of a vibrant, bustling neighborhood, providing the residents access to Queensboro Bridge, New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, Dover Street Market and many other iconic dining and recreational spots at an unbelievably short distance.

The building is an icon with its spectacular exterior, aesthetic interiors and conveniences. Amenities include a 70 ft. lap pool, fitness center, children's playroom, dining room, lounge, library and a sprawling 110-car garage.

CITY REALTY ARTICLE

This handsome, black-glass, 43-story mixed-use apartment tower at 685 First Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets near the United Nations and the Tudor City residential complex was completed in 2018 by the Solow Building Company, which is famous for its sloping, black-glass skyscraper at 9 West 57th Street. 

This building was designed by Richard Meier, the architect of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the white modernist towers at 173 and 176 West Street and 165 Charles Street all in a row facing the Hudson River in the Far West Village. 

The building has 143 condominium apartments on the top 16 floors and 430 rental units on the lower floors. 

Mr. Meier, who is a Pritzker Prize winner, was accused of sexual harassment by some former female employees and that charge led Sotheby's, the auction house, to close an exhibition of the architect's collages, which included images of female genitalia, according to a March 14, 2018 article by Robin Pogrebin at The New York Times.  The show had opened in the second floor gallery at the York Avenue and 72nd Street quarters of the auction house February 28 and was to run through March 29. 

Mr. Meier offered an apology and took a six-month leave from his firm. 

"After the Times report," the article continued, "Kent Kleinman, the dean of Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art and Planning, announced...that the school would now decline Mr. Meier's recent gift to name the chair of architecture department." 

A March 27, 2018 article by Amy Plitt at ny.curbed.com noted that "the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects rescinded a previously announced for Mr. Meier's firm's work on the Leblon Offices in Rio de Janeiro."  The article also noted that "Meier's name has been scrubbed from the website" for the First Avenue project" and "there is no mention of Meier in the project's sales gallery."

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