Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center was named after John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who leased the space from Columbia University in 1928 and developed it from 1930. Rockefeller initially planned a syndicate to build an opera house for the Metropolitan Opera on the site, but changed his mind after the stock market crash of 1929 and the withdrawal of the Metropolitan from the project.
At street level, the plaza has about 200 flagpoles. At varying intervals, the flags of United Nations member countries, the flags of United States states and territories, or various decorative and seasonal flags are flown; during U.S. holidays, every flagpole carries the Flag of the United States.
Rockefeller Center represents a turning point in the history of architectural sculpture: it is among the last major building projects in the United States to incorporate a program of integrated public art. Sculptor Lee Lawrie contributed the largest number of individual pieces – twelve – including the statue of Atlas facing Fifth Avenue and the conspicuous friezes above the main entrance to the RCA Building.
Paul Manship’s highly recognizable bronze gilded statue of the Greek legend of the Titan Prometheus recumbent, bringing fire to mankind, features prominently in the sunken plaza at the front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The model for Prometheus was Leonardo (Leon) Nole, and the inscription from Aeschylus, on the granite wall behind, reads: “Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends.”
A large number of other artists contributed work at the Center, including Isamu Noguchi, whose gleaming stainless steel bas-relief, News, over the main entrance to 50 Rockefeller Plaza (the Associated Press Building) was a standout. At the time it was the largest metal bas-relief in the world. Other artists included Carl Milles, Hildreth Meiere, Margaret Bourke-White, Dean Cornwell, and Leo Friedlander.
Rockefeller Center is a complex of commercial buildings between 48th and 51st streets in New York City. Built by the Rockefeller family.
Rockefeller Center Buildings
– One Rockefeller Plaza
– 10 Rockefeller Plaza
– 30 Rockefeller Plaza (30 Rock)
– 1240 Avenue of the Americas
– 50 Rockefeller Plaza
– 1230 Avenue of the Americas: Simon & Schuster Building
– 1260 Avenue of the Americas: Radio City Music Hall
– 1270 Avenue of the Americas – American Metal Climax Building
– 600 Fifth Avenue – Etihad Airways occupies the 20th Floor
– 610 Fifth Avenue: La Maison Francaise
– 620 Fifth Avenue: British Empire Building
– 626 Fifth Avenue: Palazzo d’Italia
– 630 Fifth Avenue: International Building
– 636 Fifth Avenue: International Building North
– 1271 Avenue of the Americas – Time-Life Building
– 1251 Avenue of the Americas – Exxon Building
– 1221 Avenue of the Americas – McGraw-Hill Building
– 1211 Avenue of the Americas – News Corp. Building
– 745 Seventh Avenue – Barclays Capital
– 1251 & 1211 are independently owned