A Closer Look at the Chanin Building

They look like bulls to me.

The Chanin Building is absolutely beautiful….and I’m actually lucky enough to work there. In many ways it out-shines the adjacent Chrysler Building.

Compared to the detailing inside the main lobby, the outside is utterly plain. Unfortunately they don’t allow photography inside, though it is a public space with an arcade of stores and a Subway entrance – so it’s easy enough to walk around and admire. The metal work all around the space (including vents, lights and railings) is all stunning. It’s art deco at its finest. And to the management’s credit, it’s all in very good condition

I’ve always liked the giant antenna mast that currently sits at the top of the building. It looks like it should be broadcasting some golden-age radio station.

I’m trying to figure out what angle that postcard illustration is from. I’m guessing we’re looking south-west with Lexington in the foreground and that red brick building on the right is where the Grand Hyatt now stands.

Were you aware that the Chanin building has an observation deck? Like many of NYC’s decks, it was closed to the public by the insurance companies in the 1970s, though still open to employees until the 1990s. Maybe one of your film crews could gain access…

Nice post! Actually those animal heads look more like Roman centurian unifroms. To my eye I can clearly see the collar and shoulder openings. And what look like a representation of a torso. And then the capes they wore hanging in the back.
But thats just me

Oh, man, the Chanin Building! LOVE it. I worked at the Grand Hyatt for 10 years, all through the 1980s, and was lucky enough to have views of the Chrysler Building, the Chanin Building, and the old Bowery Saving Bank. Lex & 42nd is a GREAT intersection for architecture!

I confess I never saw those upper elements, though. Thanks so much for bringing them to my attention!

Hey – just discovered your site thanks to a mention on Kennethinthe212. Great work, Scout! And yes, I think they’re bulls or cows or something — I’ll look today, since I work at 42nd and Fifth, and arrive via GCT every day.

I met my beautiful wife 56 years when I was a young account executive with McCann-Erickson’s International Division then headquartered in the Channin Building. She started out as my executive assistant but when I realized I couldn’t get any work done around her, I arranged for my boss to take her as his EA. We were both quite serious about other people when we met but cupid had other plans for us. Office romances being frowned on in those days, no one knew we were dating until the day we announced we were getting married. Anyhoo, a few years back after raising four great kids and now living in Dallas, TX, we decided to visit some of our old haunts in NYC. When we got to the Channin it was a Saturday and security was so tight no one was allowed to go anywhere within the building without proper identification or permission. So, sorry to say, we were not able make it to the 47the floor where our family had gotten its start. Now you know why the Channin is so special to us. Maybe next trip.