Built in NYC in 1958, the Seagram was the first of Mies' well-known international style office towers, found most notably in New York, Chicago and Toronto. While 60+ years after completion it may not seem that these fine towers were so groundbreaking, but at the time, there were few examples of unapologetic international-style buildings and most of them were designed by SOM: the Lever house, Inland steel and the United Nations Headquarters.
So in 1958, when the building was completed, it was a major breakthrough, especially in the way Mies gave back to the city a well-proportioned public space by siting his tower all the way at the back of its lot.
I've been there several times and it never fails to impress. Granted, I'm a devoted Miesian (I was lucky to study in Crown Hall), but Mies had an unparalleled ability to not design exquisite buildings, owing to his obsessive detailing, but also surround them with serene, pleasant and perfectly functional public spaces (OK maybe not in the dead of winter).
Last time I went I had the pleasure to experiment with video and showcase the building in my own way, sadly I wasn't allowed to film inside. Check out the video above.
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