One Chase Manhattan Plaza

History and architecture

Faced with shimmering panels of natural color and black-enameled aluminum, H-shaped mullions and glass, One Chase Manhattan Plaza is among the largest and most important 20th century skyscrapers in New York City. The project was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (hereafter SOM), with J. Walter Severinghaus as partner in charge, Gordon Bunshaft overseeing the development of the design, and Jacques E. Guiton as lead designer. It was one of the leading architectural firms working in the International Style and had been responsible for such pioneering modern works as Lever House (1950-52) and Fifth Avenue branch of the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (1953-54).

Chase merged with the Bank of the Manhattan Company in 1955 and the new headquarters was planned to consolidate 8,700 employees under a single roof. David Rockefeller played a leading role in the project; as executive vice president he convinced Chase to remain downtown and hire SOM, resulting in an 813-foot-tall slab-like tower that dramatically altered the skyline and character of the financial district. At that time, few buildings had been constructed downtown since the early 1930s and One Chase Manhattan Plaza signaled a new start for this historic area.

Not only did it stand out sharply from its older masonry neighbors, but the planning of the site, incorporating an irregularly shaped 2½ acre plaza, established a welcome break from the narrow, twisting streets that characterize much of the neighborhood. Construction started in 1957 and the tower was mostly complete by 1961. The south plaza and basement levels were dedicated in 1964, incorporating a “Sunken Garden” by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Resting 16 feet below the plaza, this serene work of art is visible from above and through curved glass windows that separate it from the bank’s main branch located on the concourse level.