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MetLife Building is a 59-storey skyscraper in New York City. It is located at 200 Park Avenue, next to Grand Central Terminal.
The MetLife Building was originally known as the Pan Am Building. When it was completed on 7 March, 1963, it was the largest commercial office building in the world. Its construction was met with much disapproval from New Yorkers because its size blocks out the sky - this, ironically, from a company that is opening the skies, for everyone to travel.
The MetLife Building was designed by Walter Gropius, Emery Roth and Sons, and Pietro Belluschi. The original owner, Pan American World Airways occupied 15 floors of the building. This was reduced to four, when Pan Am sold it to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1981. Pan Am moved out in 1991 before closing down for good.
In 2005, MetLife sold the building to a joint venture comprising Tishman Speyer Properties, the New York City Employees' Retirement System, and the New York City Teachers' Retirement System, for US$1.72 billion, the record price at that time for an office building in the United States.
The MetLife Building used to have a rooftop helipad where passengers can fly to the JFK International Airport in 7 minutes. The services was stopped when a accident on 16 May 1977 killed five people.
How to reach the MetLife Building
Take the 4, 5, 6 or S train to the Grand Central / 42nd Street subway station. Walk north along Park Avenue and you will see the MetLife Building immediately after Grand Central Terminal.Return to New York City Attractions
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